Adding a twisting element to the crunch activates both your abs and obliques in one move
Crossover Crunch
1. Lie on a mat on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor
2. Rest your hands by your temples and cross your right leg over your left leg so your right ankle is resting on your left knee
3. Contract your abdominals to lift your upper back off the floor as if you are doing a standard crunch
4. As you rise up, twist your torso and touch your left elbow to your right knee, breathing out as you lift up
5. Pause for a few seconds at the top of the move and squeeze your abs, then gently lower to the starting position breathing out as you lower
Bicycle
This involves crunching up to bring together the opposite knees and elbows and is a more rapid exercise
1. Lie flat on your back in the same starting position as the crossover crunch
2. Bring together the opposite knees and elbows and alternate this exercise
Gym ball twist crunch
The use of the gym ball activates the core abdominal muscles to maintain stability
1. Lie on your back on a gym ball with your lower back pressed against the top of the gym ball
2. Bend your legs and keep your feet flat on the floor and rest your hands behind the back of your head
3. Keeping your hips still, flex the waist by contracting the abs and curling the shoulders and trunk upwards and twisting your torso as you rise up
4. Exhale as you return to the starting position
One-arm cable cross crunch
The use of the cable works your abdominals much harder:
1. Kneel on the floor on a mat with the cable in front of you
2. Use your abs to pull the handle down, not your arm
3. Draw your elbow holding the cable down to your opposite knee to create the twist effect
