6 Dumbbell Moves For Better Abs | YMCA of Middle Tennessee

A strong core doesn’t just involve sit-ups to strengthen your abs. We’re here to show you how to work your abdominal muscles, obliques and glutes to strengthen, tone and build endurance.

Reece Royster, personal trainer at the Downtown Nashville YMCA, recommends trying the following exercises without weights at first to master the movements. He stresses the importance of proper form to all of his clients. Once you’ve got the technique down, you can add in dumbbells or even a barbell for several of these exercises, depending on what’s most comfortable. 

If you’re not sure where to start or how much weight to use, Reece encourages a little assessment before you dive in. Pick up a set of dumbbells you’d like to try, and perform one of these core exercises 10 times (called repetitions, or “reps”). Pause, and repeat the exercise for a second set. If the exercise is too easy, you may want to move up a few pounds. If you’re compromising your form or technique because the weights are too heavy, pick up lighter dumbbells. Let’s get started!