Perfect abs are a dream for many fitness enthusiasts.
They are also a goal that is really hard to reach.
You need many hours of intense and smart exercising.
If you are looking to get your belly back in shape and ready for the summer check out our 10 ab exercises for a belly makeover.
The great thing about our list is that you do not need many ab exercise equipment to get that flat belly.
1. Situps
The most basic exercise if you are looking to transform your belly into a flat stomach.
It has been a staple of exercising since ancient times.
There are greeks that depict their Olympic athletes doing this exercise.
The beauty of its simplicity is that you can do them everywhere.
Just lay on your back, hands behind your head with your fingers entwined.
Slowly raise your upper body using your abs only.
Once your upper body and the ground form a 90 degrees angle lower your body back into the starting position.
If you are a beginner, look for 3 sets of 10-15 reps.
For those more advanced, do 3 sets of 50-70% of your max reps.
2. Crunches
Crunches are another at home ab exercise.
It is similar to the sit up but it focuses more on upper abs.
Lay again on your back with your hands behind your head.
Slowly lift your shoulder blades forward, using just your abs.
Once you feel your upper abs contract to their max, stay in that position for a few seconds.
After a few seconds lower your body back into the starting position.
Do 3 sets of 15-20 reps.
3. Bicycle crunch
A more advanced version of the crunch exercise but also a key ingredient for every ab workout routine.
Unlike the crunch, it works every muscle in your core.
Start by laying flat on your back.
Raise both your legs up above the ground.
Place your hands behind your head.
Bring one leg towards your chest.
At the same time, try to bring the elbow of your opposite arm towards the knee.
Use your abs only.
If you can, for example, touch the left knee with the right hand, hold the position for a few seconds, and come back to the starting position.
Do the same with the other side.
Try to do 3 sets of 20 reps.
4. Leg Raises
The essential lower abs exercise.
It is also good for your lower back and toning your legs.
Lay on your back or the floor or on a bench.
Your legs extended forward.
Lift them up a bit so that they are not touching the ground.
Slowly lift them up using your abs only.
They have to form a 90 degrees angle with the ground.
Once that happens, very slowly lower them back down.
Do not let them touch the ground.
Repeat.
Do this exercise in 3 sets of 10-15 reps.
5. Plank
An ab exercise for women and beloved by women.
It can seem quite easy but is challenging none the less.
The main benefit of doing plank is the strength of your entire core.
It also helps to engage your lower body, legs especially.
Start in the position of the push-up.
Place your weight from your palms to your elbows.
Hold that position for as long as you can.
Beginners can be happy if they last around 30 seconds.
Try to improve so you can hold the plank for more than 3 minutes.
3 sets of 3-minute planks would be an amazing feat.
6. Side Plank
Next on our list of 10 ab exercises for a belly makeover is an exercise meant for the muscles in your abs that are usually overlooked, the side abs.
Start in the push-up position.
Turn your body on one side.
Try to hold that position for as long as you can.
Your body should be forming a triangle with the ground.
Beginners can be happy with 20 seconds.
Try to do 3 reps of your max time.
7. Ball Crunch
Exercise ball ab workouts are becoming more and more popular.
The workout ball is one of the most popular ab exercise equipment.
For very good reasons.
It helps with additional stress on your abs and brings much more stability to your core.
Carefully sit on your ab exercise ball and try to lay on it as much as you can.
Slowly, be in control of every moment.
Try to lift your upper body while contracting your upper abs, just like you would have done with a normal crunch exercise.
Aim for 3 sets of 10 reps.
8. Situp and throw
The eighth exercise on our list of 10 ab exercises for a belly makeover feature one of the best ab exercise equipment, the medicine ball.
It can be used for almost any ab workout.
It can bring more stability and help you get bigger and stronger abs.
To do this exercise you will need to have a partner.
Start in the sit-up position, with the medicine ball in your hands.
Do a sit up and at your highest point and throw the ball to your partner.
The partner will immediately throw the ball back at you.
Catch it and slowly lower yourself back into the starting position.
Aim for 3 sets of 15 reps.
You and your partner can interchange between sets to keep you both equally engaged.
9. Barbell rollout
One of the rare exercises on our list that you will need to do at the gym.
You need a barbell with fitting weights for yourself.
Start in a push-up position.
Bring your lower body forward so you look like a cat stretching itself.
Slowly, totally in control of every movement, start to roll the barbell forward until you are fully stretched.
Keep your back straight and engage your core.
This is a more advanced and difficult exercise.
Aim for 3 sets of 10 reps.
10. Russian twist with a ball
The final exercise on our list of 10 Ab Exercises for A belly Makeover is the Russian twist.
Sit on the ground.
Hold the medicine ball in your hands, lift your legs up a tiny bit above the ground.
Keep your back straight and engage your core.
Move the ball from right to left, slowly.
Aim for 3 sets of 10 reps.