6 Best Side Ab Workouts for a Lean, Tight Tummy

Achieving a lean, tight tummy isn’t just about doing countless crunches or focusing solely on the front of your core. To sculpt a toned waistline, you need to target your oblique muscles—the muscles running along the sides of your abdomen. These side ab muscles are key to a balanced, lean torso and are crucial in enhancing overall core strength. When trained effectively, they create definition in your waist, giving it that “tight” appearance while also improving your overall core stability and helping to prevent injuries. To keep you sculpt a leaner, tighter tummy, I’ve curated the best side ab workouts that’ll challenge the obliques from various angles.

By incorporating these exercises into your fitness routine, you’ll tone your waistline and strengthen your entire midsection. Side ab exercises help promote balance and mobility, making everyday movements more fluid and reducing strain on your lower back. Whether you’re aiming for visible definition or simply want to tighten up your tummy, these workouts are a great addition to your regimen.

These workouts are suitable for most fitness levels, and they require minimal equipment. Aim to incorporate these exercises into your routine two to three times a week, ensuring that you maintain proper form and engage your core throughout each movement.

Now, let’s explore the six best side ab workouts for a toned tummy.

Workout #1: Side Shredder

What You Need: No equipment is needed. This workout will engage your obliques and help to slim down your waistline by targeting your side abs from multiple angles.

The Routine

• Bicycle Crunches – 3 sets of 20 reps per side
• Side Plank Hip Dips – 3 sets of 15 reps per side
• Russian Twists – 3 sets of 25 reps per side

1. Bicycle Crunches

1. Lie flat on your back with your hands behind your head and legs raised.
2. Twist your torso to bring your right elbow toward your left knee as you extend your right leg.
3. Switch sides, bringing your left elbow toward your right knee, mimicking a cycling motion.
4. Continue alternating for the prescribed reps.

2. Side Plank Hip Dips

1. Start in a side plank position with your right elbow directly under your shoulder.
2. Lower your hips toward the ground, then raise them back up to the starting position.
3. Complete all reps on one side before switching to the other.

3. Russian Twists

1. Sit on the floor with your knees bent and feet lifted, and lean back slightly.
2. Twist your torso to the right, then to the left, bringing your hands to the side of your body with each twist.
3. Perform the prescribed number of reps per side.

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Workout #2: Waistline Toner

What You Need: No equipment is needed. This workout specifically targets the obliques to cinch the waist and improve definition.

The Routine

• Standing Oblique Crunches – 3 sets of 20 reps per side
• Windshield Wipers – 3 sets of 15 reps per side
• Side-Lying Leg Raises – 3 sets of 20 reps per side

1. Standing Oblique Crunches

1. Stand tall with your feet shoulder-width apart and your hands behind your head.
2. Lift your right knee up toward your right elbow as you bend your torso to the side.
3. Lower your leg and return to the starting position.
4. Complete all reps on one side before switching.

2. Windshield Wipers

1. Lie flat on your back with your legs extended straight up.
2. Keeping your core engaged, lower your legs to one side in a controlled motion, then bring them back to the center.
3. Repeat on the other side, alternating for the prescribed reps.

3. Side-Lying Leg Raises

1. Lie on your side with your legs stacked on top of each other.
2. Lift your top leg as high as possible while keeping it straight, engaging your obliques and hips.
3. Lower it back down and repeat for the desired reps before switching sides.

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Workout #3: Core Crusher

What You Need: A stability ball. This workout combines traditional ab exercises with challenging side movements to fully engage your obliques.

The Routine

• Stability Ball Oblique Crunches – 3 sets of 15 reps per side
• Side V-Ups – 3 sets of 12 reps per side
• Plank to Side Plank – 3 sets of 10 reps per side

1. Stability Ball Oblique Crunches

1. Sit on a stability ball and walk your feet forward until your back is resting on the ball.
2. Place your hands behind your head and twist your torso, bringing one elbow toward the opposite knee.
3. Repeat for the prescribed reps, alternating sides with each crunch.

2. Side V-Ups

1. Lie on your side with your legs extended and one arm reaching overhead.
2. Engage your obliques to lift both legs and your upper body off the floor simultaneously.
3. Lower back down and repeat for the desired reps before switching sides.

3. Plank to Side Plank

1. Start in a forearm plank position with your body in a straight line.
2. Rotate your body into a side plank, lifting one arm toward the ceiling.
3. Hold briefly, then return to the plank and repeat on the other side.

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Workout #4: Oblique Burner

What You Need: No equipment is needed. This high-intensity workout will torch your side abs and help sculpt a leaner, tighter waistline.

The Routine

• Mountain Climbers with Twists – 3 sets of 30 seconds
• Side Plank Leg Lifts – 3 sets of 12 reps per side
• Seated Oblique Knee Tucks – 3 sets of 15 reps per side

1. Mountain Climbers with Twists

1. Begin in a plank position with your shoulders over your wrists.
2. Drive one knee toward the opposite elbow, twisting your torso slightly.
3. Alternate knees quickly for the duration of the set.

2. Side Plank Leg Lifts

1. Begin in a side plank position with your feet stacked.
2. Lift your top leg as high as possible while keeping your body stable.
3. Lower your leg back down.
4. Repeat for the desired reps before switching sides.

3. Seated Oblique Knee Tucks

1. Sit on the floor with your legs extended and hands supporting you behind your back.
2. Twist your torso and bring both knees toward one side of your chest.
3. Extend your legs back out, then repeat on the opposite side.

Workout #5: Waistline Shaper

What You Need: Light dumbbells. This workout focuses on adding resistance to strengthen and tone your obliques for a more defined midsection.

The Routine

• Dumbbell Side Bends – 3 sets of 15 reps per side
• Rotating Dumbbell Punches – 3 sets of 20 reps per side
• Side Plank Reach-Throughs – 3 sets of 12 reps per side

1. Dumbbell Side Bends

1. Stand tall with a dumbbell in one hand and the other hand resting on your hip.
2. Bend sideways at the waist, lowering the dumbbell toward the floor.
3. Return to the starting position and repeat before switching sides.

2. Rotating Dumbbell Punches

1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand.
2. Rotate your torso as you punch one arm across your body.
3. Alternate sides, twisting your waist as you punch.

3. Side Plank Reach-Throughs

1. Start in a side plank position.
2. Reach your top arm under your body, twisting your torso.
3. Return to the side plank and repeat for the desired reps before switching sides.

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Workout #6: Side Sculptor

What You Need: A resistance band. This workout incorporates banded exercises to engage your side abs and tone your waistline.

The Routine

• Banded Side Plank Clamshells – 3 sets of 15 reps per side
• Resistance Band Russian Twists – 3 sets of 25 reps per side
• Banded Bicycle Crunches – 3 sets of 20 reps per side

1. Banded Side Plank Clamshells

1. Start in a side plank position with a resistance band around your thighs.
2. Lift your top knee while keeping your feet together.
3. Lower the knee and repeat before switching sides.

2. Resistance Band Russian Twists

1. Sit on the floor with your feet lifted and a resistance band anchored behind you or around your feet.
2. Hold the band handles and twist your torso to each side.
3. Perform the prescribed reps per side, keeping tension on the band throughout.

3. Banded Bicycle Crunches

1. Lie on your back with a resistance band around your feet.
2. Perform a standard bicycle crunch, bringing one knee toward your chest while twisting your torso.
3. Continue alternating sides for the duration of the set.

Tyler Read, BSc, CPT