Get fit with GBN: Five at-home ab exercises to tone your midriff, improve posture and build strength
Five exercises can strengthen your core
GETTY
A flat stomach is the goal of many dieters and achieving toned abs has benefits beyond what you look like.
A strong core can improve posture and balance, and reduce the risk of injury and back pain.
Ab exercises are key for definition, although it is worth noting slimmers must reduce their body fat in order for their muscles to show.
This can be done by entering into a calorie deficit, which means eating fewer calories than you are burning off. Slimmers can find out more on food swaps to burn belly fat here.
***KEEP YOUR BRAIN SHARP: PLAY THE DAILY GREAT BRITISH CROSSWORD HERE***
Crunches target the lower and upper abs
GETTYSpeaking exclusively to GB News, fitness expert Daniel Herman, from Bio-Synergy, shared some moves for toned abs.
These can all be modified to do at home, and the routine does not take long, meaning it can be tagged onto the end of another workout or you can do it quickly in the morning.
He said: "Abs are something we all want but it's making sure we work them correctly to truly have abs of steel."
Sit-ups
Targets: Upper Abs
Reps: 15-20
"Lie flat on the floor and bend your knees bringing your feet towards you. Place something on your feet to stop you from moving too much. Put your arms on your chest and raise your torso until upright."
Hanging leg raises
Targets: Lower abdominals
Reps: To failure
"Make sure you do not swing your body, keeping your legs close together. When your legs hit the top of each rep hold for one to two seconds before lowering. If doing this at home, make sure that anything you use to hang is strong and secure."
Decline weighted crunch
Targets: Upper abdominals
Reps: 15-20
"When you get to the top of the exercise, rotate your torso slightly. For a variation use the cables -and implement drop sets. This will allow you to really feel the burn."
Being in a calorie deficit is important to burn fat and reveal abs
GETTYToe touches
Targets: Upper and lower abdominals
Reps: To failure
"Lie flat on the floor. raise your legs towards the ceiling while at the same time raising your torso touching your feet with your hands. Make sure the movement is controlled."
Cable wood choppers
Targets: Upper and lower abdominals, obliques and core
Reps: 15-20
"Stand with your feet should width apart. Hold a cable and perform a chopping movement, moving diagonally across your body from shoulder height to knee height. This can be modified to do at home by ditching the cable
"You can perform these exercises in any order, but always remember to perform the movements with control and engage your core," Daniel explained.
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