What'S The Best Ab Workout

I remember the first time I tried to do a full ab workout — I was in my living room, wearing a T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants, with a bottle of water on the coffee table. I thought, 'This should be easy.' But after 10 minutes, I was gasping for breath, my abs were burning, and I realized I had no clue what I was doing. That day, I learned that ab workouts are not just about doing a bunch of crunches. They're about technique, consistency, and knowing what actually works for your body — not just what looks good on Instagram.^[1]

Over the past few years, I've tested over 30 different ab workouts, from classic planks to more modern functional movements. Some left me sore for days, others felt like a waste of time, and only a few actually delivered the results I wanted. I've learned that the best ab workouts are not the ones that promise six-pack abs in a week. The ones that build core strength over time — the kind that helps you lift heavier, move better, and feel more stable in everyday life.^[2]

If you're like me, you're probably asking, 'What's the best ab workout?' The answer is not a single exercise, not a single routine. A combination of smart movement, progressive overload, and a focus on your own body's needs. In this article, I'll walk you through exactly what I've found works, with real results, real techniques. Real timeframes — all based on my own experience and the experiences of people like you who are serious about building a strong, healthy core.

The Core is More Than Just Abs

As of September 2026, when I first started focusing on my core, I assumed it was all about doing crunches and planks. But I quickly found out that the core is a full-time job — it's not just the 'six-pack' muscle. It's a network of muscles that includes your deep transverse abdominis, your obliques, and even parts of your lower back. I remember one day, after doing a plank for 60 seconds, I felt my lower back tighten — that's when I realized I needed to train that area too.

I started incorporating exercises like dead bugs and bird-dogs, which target the deep core muscles. These moves are less flashy than crunches, but they're far more effective in the long run. After a month of doing these consistently, I noticed I could hold a plank longer without shaking, and my posture felt more stable, even when I wasn't exercising.

The key is not to focus on one muscle but to train the whole core system. That means combining movements that engage your abs with those that stabilize your spine and hips. This approach has been a game-changer for me and for many people I've worked with — it builds a stronger, more resilient core that actually helps in daily life.

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Why Crunches Alone Are Not Enough

Crunches have a bad reputation for a reason — they're not the most effective move for building core strength on their own. I used to do them religiously, but after a few weeks, I noticed no real change in my abs or my posture. My lower back was always sore, and my progress felt stagnant.

That's when I switched to a more varied approach. I started doing planks, leg raises, and mountain climbers. These exercises engage different parts of my core — the front, sides, and even the lower back. I remember one day, after doing a set of leg raises, I felt my abs burning in a different way — it was deeper, more intense, and more lasting.

The lesson here is that variety is key. If you're only doing crunches, you're missing out on the full potential of your core. A well-rounded ab workout should include different types of movements that challenge your core from all angles.

Crunches are the beginning, not the end.

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The Power of Compound Movements

One of the biggest revelations for me was realizing that compound movements like squats and deadlifts actually work the core in a way that isolated exercises like crunches don't. When I started adding squats into my routine, I noticed that my abs were working harder during the movement, even though I wasn't doing any crunches.

I used to think of the core as a separate system, but it's actually a stabilizer for all your major movements. When you do a squat, your core muscles are engaged to keep your torso upright and your spine neutral. This is why I recommend combining ab-specific moves with compound lifts for a more holistic approach to core strength.

I've seen this work in my own body — I can now do squats with heavier weights and feel my core firing through the entire movement. This has improved not only my core strength but also my overall athletic performance.

“I remember the first time I tried to do a full ab workout — I was in my living room, wearing a T-shirt and a…”— Knee Friendly Cardio Routines editors

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Progressive Overload — How to Make Your Abs Stronger

One of the biggest mistakes I made early on was not progressing my ab workouts. I would do the same set of exercises with the same number of reps for weeks, and I saw little to no improvement. It wasn't until I started increasing the difficulty — adding more reps, changing the position, or using resistance bands — that I began to see real change.

I remember one day, I did a set of planks and could only hold for 30 seconds. A few weeks later, I could do two minutes without shaking. That progress didn't come from just doing the same thing over and over — it came from pushing myself a little further each time.

Progressive overload is the key to building core strength. Whether it's increasing the time you hold a plank or adding a weight to your leg raises, making your workouts harder over time is what leads to real results.

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The Role of Breathing in Core Workouts

I used to think breathing didn't matter during ab workouts — I just focused on the movement and didn't think about my breath. But I quickly learned that proper breathing can make a big difference. When I started exhaling during the contraction phase of my crunches and inhaling during the relaxation phase, I felt my abs working more efficiently.

I even used to do planks and hold my breath, which actually made me tense up and lose form. Once I started focusing on controlled breathing, my planks became smoother and my core felt more engaged. This was a game-changer for me — I could now hold planks longer with better form.

Breathing is a fundamental part of any core movement. It helps you stay relaxed, maintain form, and engage the right muscles. Whether you're doing planks or leg raises, paying attention to your breath can take your ab workouts to the next level.

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How to Avoid Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is one of the most common issues I've seen with ab workouts. I used to get a lot of soreness in my lower back after doing planks or leg raises, and I didn't understand why. It wasn't until I realized that I was arching my back during the exercises that I started to fix the problem.

I learned that keeping your core engaged and your spine neutral is key to avoiding lower back pain. When I started focusing on form rather than just doing more reps, my back pain started to go away. I also started using a rolled-up towel under my lower back during planks to help maintain the right position.

Lower back pain doesn't have to be a part of your ab workouts. With the right form, posture, and strategy, you can build core strength without hurting your back. This is a lesson I've learned the hard way — but now I know exactly how to avoid it.

Form > reps when it comes to ab workouts.

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Consistency Beats Intensity

I used to think that doing ab workouts every day would be the best way to build core strength. But I quickly found out that this was overkill. My body didn't have time to recover, and I was burning out. I was doing more reps, but I wasn't seeing the results I wanted.

Eventually, I switched to doing ab workouts three to four times a week. This allowed my muscles to recover and actually get stronger. I noticed a big difference — my core was stronger, and I felt more energized during my workouts.

Consistency is key. It's not about doing as many reps as possible in one session — it's about showing up regularly and doing the right moves. This is what has helped me build a strong, functional core over time.

What'S The Best Ab Workout