10 Ab-Sculpting Exercises For Your Big Day

Updated on 7/25/2018 at 1:55 PM

The love of your life got down on one knee and popped the question, and now you're making plans for one of the biggest days of your life. You have to find the perfect wedding venue, make sure the décor is perfect, and choose the perfect cake, but what about you?

You know all eyes will be on you on your wedding day, so you want to look and feel your best — and tightening up your core is probably one of the first things on your agenda at the gym. We know you have a limited amount of time to get ready, so we reached out to Sarah Chadwell, NASM CPT, for her advice on the top 10 ab exercises that every bride should do to be ready for the big day.

Up & Down Planks

Begin in plank position with legs straight and forearms resting on your mat. Position your feet hip-width apart.
Brace your core by drawing your navel toward your spine. Now you're in starting position.
Begin the movement by planting your right palm on the mat and straightening your right arm while raising your body upward. Be sure to keep your torso parallel with the floor the entire time.
Next bring your left arm to the same position. You'll end up in a straight-arm plank.
Now, drop your right forearm back down to the mat. Then the left. Now you're back in your original plank position. You've completed one repetition.
On the next rep, alternate the arm you straighten and lower first so that you work both sides of your body equally.
Try to do 3 sets of 10-12 reps with 45-second breaks in between sets.

Crunches

Lie on your back. Bend your knees and place your feet about a foot from your glutes.
Place your hands on the back of your head so that your thumbs are behind your ears. Drop your chin down toward your chest but not touching it.
Pull with your core muscles while simultaneously lifting your head, neck, and shoulder blades off the floor. Pause for a one count.
Slowly lower back down to complete one repetition.
Perform 2 sets of 15-20 reps with 45 seconds of rest between sets.

Reverse Crunches

Lie on your back with your hands on the floor beside you, palms facing downward.
Lift your legs in the air with your knees bent at a 90-degree angle.
Using your lower abs, curl your hips up off the floor, bringing your knees toward your chest. Try not to use momentum.
Slowly lower back down into your starting position.
Complete 3 sets of 10-12 reps with one minute of rest between sets.

V-Sits

Lie flat on your back.
Lift your legs about a foot off the floor or so that your feet point at a 45-degree angle.
Stretch your arms straight out toward your toes. Your arms will be parallel to the floor with your thumbs pointing up toward the ceiling. This is starting position.
To begin the movement, lift your upper body off the floor and bend your knees. Move your torso and knees toward each other. Pause when your body has formed a V-shape.
Slowly lower your upper body back down to the floor while simultaneously straightening your legs back to starting position. Don't lie completely back down. Keep tension in your core by stopping when your feet are pointing at a 45-degree angle and your shoulders are still off the floor.
This completes one rep. Try to do 3 sets of 10 reps of this challenging exercise with 1 minute of rest between sets.

Leg Raises

Lie flat on the ground with hands at your sides.
Raise your legs so that they are perpendicular to your body. Point your toes straight toward the ceiling.
Lower your legs down until your feet are approximately six inches off the floor. Your back should remain flat on the floor throughout the entire movement, and be sure to brace your core by drawing your belly button toward your spine.
Slowly raise your legs back to the starting position to complete one rep.
Do as many leg raises as you can in 45 seconds to a minute. Rest one minute between sets for 3 total sets.

Side Bends

Get into starting position by standing with your feet hip-width apart holding a pair of 5- to 10-pound dumbbells or plates by your sides.
Begin the movement by bending sideways to your right. Squeeze your obliques as you bend.
Return to starting position. Then bend to the left side. This completes one rep.
Repeat this sequence for a total of 10 to 12 reps. Try to do three sets with a 45-second rest between sets.

Bridges

Lie flat on your back. Place your feet hip-width apart about 6 inches from your glutes with your knees bent.
Place your arms at your side on the mat, palms down.
Begin by raising your pelvis up toward the ceiling. Your body will form a 45-degree angle bridge.
Pause and squeeze your glutes for two counts.
Slowly return to the start position. This completes one rep.
Do three sets of 15-20 reps with 45 seconds of rest between sets.

Weighted Straight Leg Crunch

Grab an 8- to 10-pound medicine ball.
Lie flat on your back with your arms fully extended behind you holding the medicine ball in your hands.
Raise your legs straight up in the air so that the flats of your feet are facing the ceiling.
Keeping your arms straight (locked at the elbows), bring the medicine ball up over your chest and lift your shoulders off the mat, pushing the ball toward your feet.
Return to starting position by lowering your upper body all the way back to the floor and keeping your arms locked in the straight position. Your feet should remain lifted in the air. Let the medicine ball touch the floor. That's 1 rep.
Complete three sets of 10 reps with one minute of rest between sets.

Leaning Camel

Kneel on the floor or on a mat (for comfort) with the tops of your feet flat on the floor, toes pointing backward.
Hold a dumbbell or medicine ball in front of your chest with both hands.
Begin the movement by leaning backward, keeping your back flat. Use your quads and core to stabilize you as you lean. When you've leaned back as far as you can, pause.
Slowly return to the kneeling position.
Complete 10-12 reps for 3 sets with 45 seconds of rest between sets.

Flutter Kicks

Lie flat on your back on a mat with your legs straight and your arms extended alongside your hips, palms flat on the mat.
Lift your legs about 6 inches off the ground.
Begin the movement by lifting one leg higher than the other. As you are lowering that leg to starting position (6 inches off the floor), raise the other. This should be a fluid fluttering (or up and down) motion. Your feet should never touch the floor. This keeps tension in your core.
Try to complete sets of 15 to 20 repetitions, or try for a set amount of time such as 30 seconds to a minute (as you build strength).
Complete 3 sets with one minute of rest between sets.