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Home > Get Healthy > Fitness > The best exercises for a strong core

The best exercises for a strong core

A strong core serves as your body's powerhouse by protecting your inner organs and helping you stand taller. Here are seven exercises that will tone and strengthen your midsection to give you killer-looking abs as well

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Getting started

Equipment: A mat, a stability ball and a three- to five-pound dumbbell.

Warm-up: March in place or walk briskly for about three minutes.

Repetitions: Begin with two sets of each exercise, working up to three sets as your abs get stronger. Perform each for the suggested reps or time (or less if you can’t hold good form). You should be able to do two sets of three moves in about six minutes (about eight to 10 minutes including warm-up).

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3 Comments

Ellie, If you keep your head & neck in a netural position & lift using your shoulders & uppper back it should keep you from straining your neck. Keep your fingertips just behind your ears, this position will keep you from pulling on your neck.

Submitted by Joan on Sun, 2012-06-03 2:42pm.

Does anyone have a trick how not to strain your neck while doing crunches and such? The tongue on the roof or back of my mouth does not work.

Submitted by Ellie on Thu, 2012-05-31 7:13pm.

The title of this article is misleading. You can't get killer abs with ab specific exercises; you have to shed the fat. If anything focusing on your abs without removing the layer of fat first will make you look rounder. Abs are made in the kitchen (and some cardio). Maybe including a diet and a cardio routine with this workout would have been better?

Submitted by jessica on Wed, 2012-05-30 3:33pm.