Best Bodyweight Exercises For Strong Abs

High Knees

You may think this move only targets your lower body, but it will fire up your core, too. Plus, it will give you a burst of cardio to get your heart rate up.

Hold your hands at waist level.
Hop the right knee up toward your hands, then quickly switch legs and hop the left knee up.
This counts as one rep.

Plank

Balance on your hands and toes with your body in one straight line, hands underneath your shoulders and feet hips-width distance apart.
To make this move even more challenging, elevate your feet onto a step, bench, block, or ball.
Hold for as long as you can with correct form.

Plank Jacks

Begin in plank position with your feet together. Keep your upper body stable and engage your abs.
Begin doing jumping jacks with your legs. Hop them wide, then hop them together. This counts as one rep.

Mountain Climbers

Start in a traditional plank — shoulders over hands and weight in your toes.
With your core engaged, bring your right knee forward under your chest, with your toes just off the ground. Return to your basic plank. Switch legs, bringing the left knee forward. This counts as one rep.
Keep switching legs and begin to pick up the pace until it feels a little like running in place in a plank position.

Plank With Shoulder Tap

In a plank, alternate bringing your hand to the opposite shoulder without allowing your torso to twist.

Spiderman Plank (aka Creepy Crawler)

In plank, bring your knee to your elbow and then alternate sides. This counts as one rep. If this is too challenging, just lift your leg open to the side.
Complete the same number of reps on each side.

Down Dog Abs

Start in a Downward Dog pose, actively pushing your weight into your heels while reaching your tailbone to the sky. Lift your left leg up squeezing the left glute.
Exhale, and rock your weight forward over your hands, drawing your left knee toward your nose and pulling your abs to your spine to round your back.
Inhale and lift your left leg up as your push your weight back into your heels. This complete one rep.
Complete the same number of reps on each side.

Plank to Pike Jump

Begin in plank position with your feet together. Keep your upper body stable and engage your abs. Don't let your lower back arch.
Keep your weight in your hands as you draw your navel toward your spine.
Use your abs to pull your your hips directly up while keeping your legs straight, and jump your feet forward, landing in pike position.
Jump your feet back to plank, keeping your core tight and stable. This counts as one rep.

Frogger

Begin in a plank position. Jump your feet to the outside of your hands, coming into a deep squat and keeping your hands on the floor.
Jump your feet back to a plank. This counts as one rep.

Arm Circle Planks

In a plank position, reach your left arm back, and then circle it overhead, bringing your palm back to the floor; repeat on the other side. This counts as one rep.
Complete the same number of reps on each side.

Plank With Bunny Hop

Begin in a plank position with feet touching.
Pull your abs in, and jump your feet to the right, bringing your knees toward your right elbow. Your torso will twist to the right.
To complete one rep, jump your feet back to plank.
Perform the same number of reps on each side.

Alternating Two-Point Plank

Start in a plank position with your hands directly under your shoulders and your feet in line with your hips. Lift your left leg off the ground so your heel is even with your pelvis.
Keeping your torso steady, reach your right arm forward. Really brace through your abs by pulling your navel to your spine. Hold this position for about three seconds. It's harder than you think!
Return to plank, then switch sides lifting your right leg off the ground and reaching your left arm forward. Hold for three seconds and return to plank. This is one rep.
Complete the same number of reps on each side.

Up-Down Plank

Come into plank position with your arms and legs straight.
Beginning with the right side first, lower your elbow to the floor where your hand was. Then lower your left elbow to the floor where your left hand was (now you are in elbow plank, with your forearms parallel).
Come back into the starting plank position on your right hand and then on your left. This completes one rep.

Elbow Plank

Start face down on the floor resting on your forearms and knees.
Push off the floor, raising up off your knees onto your toes and resting mainly on your elbows.
Contract your abdominals to keep yourself up and prevent your booty from sticking up.
Keep your back flat — don't let it droop or you'll be defeating the purpose. Picture your body as a long straight board, or plank.
Hold as long as you can. Aim for 20-30 seconds in the beginning and work your way up to one minute, as you get stronger.

Plank With Knee Taps

Start resting on all fours.
With your palms flat, raise up off your knees onto your toes. Keep your hands directly below your shoulders.
Contract your abs to keep yourself up and prevent your bottom from sticking up. Remember to keep your belly button pulled in.
With your head and spine in line, keep your back flat — don't let it curve. Picture your body as a long, straight board.
With control, slowly tap your left knee to the ground without moving your hips. Lift your left knee back up, returning to the starting position. Repeat the same movement with the right leg. This completes one rep.
Perform the same number of taps on each leg.

Elbow Plank With Hip Dips

From an Elbow Plank position, slowly rotate the spine to lower your right hip to just above the floor. Come back to Elbow Plank.
Now lower the left hip toward the floor.
This counts as one rep.

Knee Driver

Begin in an elbow plank position with the abs engaged.
Draw the left knee into the chest. Then step the foot back to the elbow plank position.
Now draw the right knee into the chest and then step it back to the elbow plank position. This counts as one rep.

Twisting Mountain Climber

Engage your core.
Explosively bring your right knee up toward your left elbow while twisting your obliques.
As soon as you return your right foot to the floor, explode with your left leg, pushing your left knee toward your right shoulder.
This counts as one rep.

Side Plank

Balance on your right hand and the outside edge of your right foot, with your body in one straight line. To modify, stagger your feet and bring your top leg forward.
Hold for 30 seconds on each side to complete one rep.
Complete the same number of reps on each side.

Side Plank With Leg Lift (Right Side)

Balance on your right hand and the outside edge of your right foot, your the body in one straight line. Raise your left arm and leg in the air.
Hold for 30 seconds on each side to complete the rep.
Complete the same number of reps on each side.

Elbow Plank With a Twist Right

In an elbow plank on your right side, twist to bring your left elbow to your right hand.
This completes one rep. Complete the same number of reps on each side.

Side Plank Dips

Begin in a side elbow plank on your right side with straight legs and your feet stacked.
Inhale and lower your pelvis to the floor, so your right hip hovers just off the floor. Exhale and press up through your right waist to lift your pelvis and return to side plank.
This completes one rep.
Complete the same number of reps on each side.

Side-Plank Crunch

Begin in a side elbow plank with your left elbow down and your right hand behind your head.
Keeping your torso stable and your waist lifted, bring your right leg up toward your shoulder to lightly tap your right elbow.
Lengthen your right leg back to the starting position to complete one rep. Be sure to perform a set on both sides.

V-Sits

Lie on your back, and reach your arms rigidly to your side, off the floor. Lift your legs off the floor, and point them, so they are at about a 45-degree angle. Lift your head, so your shoulders are off the floor as well.
When you're ready to begin, lift your upper torso off the floor, and bend your knees. You can lean back to make this move harder or come up more to make it easier. Slowly lower your upper body back down to the floor, straightening out your legs as you do so. Stop when your back is on the floor, but not your head, shoulders, or legs.
This completes one rep.

Crunchy Frog

Begin sitting, balanced just behind your sits bones, and rock back slightly to lift your feet off the floor; gently pull your knees to your chest.
Exhale, pull your navel to your spine, and lean back slightly as you open your arms to the sides and straighten your legs.
Inhale and return to the starting position to complete one rep.

Butterfly Crunch

Lie on your back with your knees open and the soles of your feet together (in a butterfly position). Lengthen your arms overhead so they are resting on the floor.
Exhale and bring your hands and knees toward each other, performing a full-body crunch. Your shoulder blades should be off the mat as you perform a small reverse crunch, lifting your pelvis a bit off the mat. Hold this position for a moment, and really feel your abs squeezing.
Slowly lower your arms and feet back to starting position to complete one rep.

Diamond Sit-Up

Lie on your back, and open your legs into a diamond shape (aka butterfly legs) with the soles of your feet pressed together and knees out wide. Extend the arms overhead.
Inhale to curl the torso up, and tap the floor in front of your feet to stretch your glutes a bit.
Slowly lower back to the starting position.
This counts as one rep.

Reverse Crunch

Lying on your back, lift your legs in the air with your knees bent. Place your hands on the floor beside you.
Without momentum, use your lower abs to slowly curl the hips off the floor and into your chest. Slowly lower them back to the starting position.
This counts as one rep.

Half Banana

Start lying on your back with your arms reaching toward the ceiling.
Exhale and roll up toward sitting while lifting your left leg up. Pause at the top and reach for your toes before rolling down slowly back to the mat, then perform on the other side. This completes one rep.
Complete the same number of reps on each side.

T-Cross Sit-Up

Begin lying on the floor with your arms out wide to the sides, making a T with your body.
Sit up lifting your right leg, and twist to bring your left hand to your right toes. Slowly roll back down, and repeat on the other side.
This completes one rep.
Complete the same number of reps on each side.

Straight-Leg Sit-Up

Begin on your back with your legs straight and arms raised toward the ceiling.
Roll up to sitting, focusing on the abs rounding the back. Roll back down to the mat slowly, one vertebra at a time.
This completes one rep.

Runner's Crunch

Start on your back with your elbows resting on the floor at a 90-degree angle.
With your core engaged, roll up to almost sitting while bringing your right knee up to meet your left elbow. It should feel a little like running.
With control, straighten your leg as you slowly lean your back down, vertebra by vertebra, until your shoulders touch the mat last.
Alternate with your other leg to complete one rep.
Complete the same number of reps on each side.

Pilates Roll-Down

Begin seated at the front edge of your mat, with knees bent and legs parallel. Reach your arms toward the ceiling to lengthen your spine.
Exhale and pull abs deeply toward spine, and begin to roll down the floor one vertebra at a time; the movement should be smooth and controlled. Once your head reaches the mat, reach your arms overhead so they are parallel to the floor.
Exhale and begin to roll up, peeling your spine off the mat and coming all the way to sitting. Inhale your arms up toward the ceiling. This completes one rep.

Hollow Hold

Begin on your back with your legs straight and your arms extended overhead.
Actively press your lower back into the floor and draw your belly button into your spine.
Inhale to slowly lift your shoulders, arms, and legs off the floor. Keep your hands and heels as low to the ground as possible, while still pressing your lower back into the floor. Maintain tight abs and glutes. It's OK to bend your knees if straight legs are too challenging.
Hold for five to 30 seconds to complete one rep.

Double Leg Lift

Lie flat on the ground with your legs extended straight up toward the ceiling. Place your hands underneath the back of your head. Or for added stability, place your arms out to your side, allowing the palms to grip the floor (much like you would in a push-up position).
Pressing your lower back into the ground, slowly lower both legs down toward the floor, then slowly raise them back up to complete the rep. If this is too difficult, lower them as much as you can or lower one leg at a time.

V Crunch

Lie on your back, and lift your legs and arms up, so they are extended toward the ceiling. Lift your upper back off the floor, reaching your hands toward your feet.
Lower your legs toward the floor while reaching your arms overhead, keeping your shoulders off the mat and lower back pressed into the mat.
Repeat the crunch motion to complete one rep.

Bicycle Crunches

Lie flat on the floor with your lower back pressed to the ground (pull your abs down to also target your deep abs). Interlace your fingers, and put your hands behind your head.
Bring your knees in toward your chest, and lift your shoulder blades off the ground.
Straighten your right leg out to about a 45-degree angle to the ground while turning your upper body to the left, bringing your right elbow toward the left knee. Make sure your rib cage is moving and not just your elbows.
Now switch sides, and do the same motion on the other side to complete one rep (and to create the "pedaling" motion).
Complete the same number of crunches on each side.

Scissor Abs

Lie flat on your back. Extend your arms so they're against the sides of your body with your palms pressing into the floor, or bend your elbows and place your palms under the back of your head. Bend your knees and draw them into your ribs. This will make it easier to pull your navel in toward your spine and actively press your lower back flat on the ground.
Lift both legs straight up toward the ceiling, continuing to engage your abs and pressing your lower back into the ground. Keeping your core strong, slowly lower your right leg down toward the ground until it is a few inches above.
Then slowly scissor your legs, lifting your right leg back up as you lower your left leg down toward the ground. This completes one rep.
Complete the same number of leg lifts on each side.

Pilates Scissors

Lie on your back, and lift your upper body off the floor so your shoulder blades hover.
Lift your right leg off the floor, and bring your left leg to 90 degrees, gently holding the left shin. Keep your upper body lifted as you switch or scissor your legs to complete one rep.
Perform the same number of reps on each side.

Oblique V-Crunch

Lie on your right side, with your left hand behind your head and right hand on the floor.
Press down into your right hand as you raise your straight legs off the floor, bringing your torso toward your legs.
Lower yourself back to the floor with control. This completes one rep.
Complete the same number of reps on each side.

Tabletop to Reverse Pike

Start off sitting on your bum, so your hands are planted eight inches behind you. Bend your knees and place your heels about a foot away from your hips. Make sure they are hips-width distance apart.
Inhale and lift your hips off the ground so your torso is parallel with the floor and your arms are straight. Your hands should be directly underneath your shoulders and your ankles underneath your knees, so make small adjustments if you need to. Lower your head behind you to increase the stretch in your chest and neck.
Hold for a complete breath, and then keeping your arms straight, exhale to lower your hips and straighten your legs, so your hips are hovering above the floor. Engage your abs and try to keep your spine long as you balance on your heels and hands. After a complete breath, inhale and push yourself back into the first position.

Seated Russian Twist

Sit on the ground with your knees bent, pull your abs to your spine, and lean back a few inches while lifting your feet off the floor. Be sure to keep your back straight.
Reach your arms out in front of you, and twist your torso to the right, then to the left, completing one rep.
Complete the same number of reps on each side.

Hip Raise With Leg Extension

Lie on your back. Rest your hands by your sides, palms facing down, or place your hands underneath your butt for a little leverage.
Extend both legs out so they are a few inches above the ground. Draw your lower abs in, pressing your lower back into the floor.
In one fluid motion, bend the knees into the chest, press the hips up as high as you can, lower your hips to the floor, and extend the legs straight out.
This completes one rep.

These Are the 43 Bodyweight Exercises Women Need For Strong, Chiseled Abs

High Knees

Plank

Plank Jacks

Mountain Climbers

Plank With Shoulder Tap

Spiderman Plank (aka Creepy Crawler)

Down Dog Abs

Plank to Pike Jump

Frogger

Arm Circle Planks

Plank With Bunny Hop

Alternating Two-Point Plank

Up-Down Plank

Elbow Plank

Plank With Knee Taps

Elbow Plank With Hip Dips

Knee Driver

Twisting Mountain Climber

Side Plank

Side Plank With Leg Lift (Right Side)

Elbow Plank With a Twist Right

Side Plank Dips

Side-Plank Crunch

V-Sits

Crunchy Frog

Butterfly Crunch

Diamond Sit-Up

Reverse Crunch

Half Banana

T-Cross Sit-Up

Straight-Leg Sit-Up

Runner's Crunch

Pilates Roll-Down

Hollow Hold

Double Leg Lift

V Crunch

Bicycle Crunches

Scissor Abs

Pilates Scissors

Oblique V-Crunch

Tabletop to Reverse Pike

Seated Russian Twist

Hip Raise With Leg Extension