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Single-Leg SquatsTraditional squats are an excellent exercise for working your abs, butthis single-leg variation will have them working even harder to stabilizeyour trunk as you lower and lift.

How to do it: Stand on your left leg, right knee bent and foot lifted offthe ground, holding dumbbells by your sides. Bend your left knee andsquat down, hinging forward at the hips and reaching dumbbellstowards your left foot as right leg moves slightly back to helpcounterbalance the body. Fully extend your left leg to return to start.That's one rep. Do up to 3 sets of 10 repetitions on both legs.

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15 Unexpected Exercises That Work Your AbsChisel your core and so much more with these sneakysculpting movesBy Jessica Smith

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Single-Leg BridgeLift your buns, tone your thighs, strengthen your back, and sculpt yourabs (they have to work even harder to stabilize your torso with one legin the air) with this bridge variation.

How to do it: Lie faceup with your arms pressed against the floor byyour sides, knees bent, and feet flexed (only your heels should touchthe ground). Extend your right leg up to the ceiling as straight aspossible, keeping your foot flexed. Tighten your abs, press downthrough left heel, and lift hips as high as possible. Lower hips to lightlytap the floor. That's one rep. Do up to 3 sets of 15 repetitions on eachleg.

Side KickIt may not look like it, but this martial arts move is one serious abstoner—your obliques and abdominal wall muscles have to work duringthe entire exercise to balance your body while you lift and extend yourleg.

How to do it: Stand with arms bent, hands in fists by your chin. Rotateyour right heel in towards your body and shift weight to your right foot.Bend your left knee, flexing foot, and lift leg up to hip height, aimingright heel to the side. Extend your left leg out to the side, as if pushingsomething away from your body with your heel. Bend your knee back in(try not to lower leg in between repetitions if possible). That's one rep.Do up to 3 sets of 15 repetitions on each leg, switching sides after eachset.

If this is too tough, try lowering your leg for the kick and/or holding ontoa chair or wall with your right hand to help keep your balance.

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Windmill Squat PressThis total-body exercise relies heavily on your abs and back muscles tocontrol your range of motion and perform the full press properly.

How to do it: Stand with your feet slightly wider than hip width, holdingone heavy dumbbell (10 lbs or more, depending on level) overheadwith your left arm, palm facing in, right arm down by your side. Lowerinto a squat, looking up at your left arm as your torso rotates to keep itstraight up above your shoulder. Your palm should turn away from bodyat this point. Reach your right arm straight down to floor and try to tapthe ground lightly with your fingertips. Press up through your left sideand keep left arm extended as you return to start. That's one rep. Tryup to 3 sets of 15 reps on each side.

Bear CrawlThe forwards and backwards motion of this crawling move will workyour abs like crazy, along with your shoulders, legs, and butt.

How to do it: Start on all fours, brace your abs in tight, and lift yourhips slightly to raise knees off the floor. Step forward with right handand right foot, and then immediately do the same with the left side.Build up your speed until you are crawling forward quickly (taking about10 total 'steps') and then reverse your movement, stepping backwardswith the right hand and foot, followed by the left, for 10 steps. That'sone set. Try 3 sets total, taking a brief rest in between sets.

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Overhead Uneven Farmer's WalkThis move looks deceptively simple, but with the right amount of weight(grab a set of dumbbells that are challenging to raise over your head),your abs will be working overtime to help stabilize your spine with everystep. Get even more abdominal recruitment using an uneven load:Grab a weight with your left hand that's about twice as heavy as thelighter weight in your right.

How to do it: Stand with your feet hip width, holding dumbbellsoverhead, palms facing in. Brace your abs in tight. Slowly start to walkforward, taking about 25 total steps (avoid letting the weights driftbehind your head, and try not to overarch your back as you walk).Switch hands with your weights, and then walk back to starting position.That's one set. Try 3 sets total, taking a brief rest in between sets.

Single Arm Crossover CurlThis cross-lateral exercise sculpts your arms and fires up yourabdominals in order to stabilize your body.

How to do it: Stand with feet together (or make it easier by standingwith feet hip width), knees slightly bent, holding dumbbells (heavyenough to fatigue your arms in 10 repetitions). Engage your abs andkeep your body as still as possible as you curl your right arm acrossyour body towards your left shoulder, palm facing up. Lower arm andrepeat with left arm. That's one rep. Try up to 3 sets of 10 repetitions.

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Unilateral Military PressThis challenging move requires a lot of core work to build balance andstrength at the same time.

How to do it: Stand on your right leg with knee slightly bent and leftfoot lifted off the ground, holding dumbbells (heavy enough to fatigueyour shoulders with 10 repetitions). Brace your abs in tight as you bendyour right arm and bring the dumbbell to the outside of right shoulder,palm facing forward. Keeping body steady, extend right arm overhead.Bend your elbow and lower the weight to your shoulder. That's one rep.Repeat 10 times total then switch sides and repeat. Do up to 3 sets of10 repetitions on both sides.

Passing Chest FlyThis double duty move targets your chest, shoulders, and, of course,your abs, as your obliques have to work hard help stabilize your torsoin opposition to the weight.

How to do it: Grab one heavy dumbbell and lie faceup on the floor withboth knees bent, feet lifted 90-degrees above your hips. Brace your absin tight and extend arms above your chest, holding onto weight withboth hands. Grab the weight with your right hand, and extend botharms out to sides (elbows should be only slightly bent, palms facingup), stopping just before arms touch the floor. Use your core muscles tokeep your shoulders and hips pressed into the floor. Keeping armsextended, bring arms back together over chest, pass the weight to yourleft hand, and repeat. That's one rep. Do up to 3 sets of 10 repetitions.

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Renegade RowThis is one of the most challenging ways to work your abs! Your entirecore has to engage to perform weighted rows from this plank position.

How to do it: Start in a full plank position with feet hip-width apart,hands on top of dumbbells. Brace your abs in tight and row your leftarm back, pulling the dumbbell to the side of your body. Gently lowerarm and repeat on the right. That's one rep. Do up to 3 sets of 10repetitions.

Straight-Arm PulldownA sneaky abs toner, the pulling movement of this exercise works yourabdominal wall, back, and the often-overlooked serratus anteriormuscle, which is great for improving your posture.

How to do it: Secure a resistance band at a point that is fixed firmlyabove eye level and hold onto the handles (or the ends if your banddoesn't have handles). Step away from anchor point until there istension on the band with your arms extended straight out in front ofyour chest, palms facing down. Brace your abs in tight, press shouldersdown, and pull arms (keeping them straight) down until they're slightlypast your hips. Return arms to chest level. That's one rep. Do up to 3sets of 15 repetitions.

Want to use heavier weight? Try this at the gym with a straight barattached to a high-point cable.

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Bow and Arrow PullThe rotational pulling motion of this exercise works your back,shoulders, arms, and abs.

How to do it: Secure the center of a resistance band at a sturdy pointat chest level and hold onto the handles. Step away from anchor pointuntil there is tension on the band with your arms extended straight outin front of your chest, palms facing in. Take a wide step back with yourleft foot as your left arm bends, pulling elbow back while keeping it inline with your shoulder and rotating your torso to the left (eyes shouldremain focused front, as if aiming a bow and arrow). Step back andextend both arms to return to start. Repeat on the other side tocomplete one rep. Do up to 3 sets of 15 repetitions.

Want to use heavier weight? Try this at the gym with a double cablepositioned at chest level.

DeadliftsThe key to engaging your abdominals during deadlifts is to keep thembraced into your back (your abs should remain pulled in, but you shouldstill be able to breathe comfortably) during the entire movement. If youdo this, your obliques kick in to prevent shifting from side to side andyour abdominal wall helps support and stabilize your spine.

How to do it: Stand tall with your feet hip width, holding heavydumbbells or a weighted barbell, palms facing in. Pull your belly buttonin toward your spine, soften knees, and keep spine naturally straight asyou hinge forward from the hips until your chest is almost parallel to thefloor, arms reaching down in front of legs. Maintaining a straight spine,slowly return to start. That's one rep. Do up to 3 sets of 12-15repetitions.

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Plank Tuck JumpsThis exercise combines heart-pumping plyometrics with theabs-sculpting power of a plank and tuck movement.

How to do it: Start in a full plank position, feet hip-width apart. Braceyour abs in tight, bend knees, and shift your weight into your arms.Jump up, lifting hips up in the air to bring feet into hands, landing in atuck position on the balls of your feet. Quickly jump feet back out toplank position. That's one rep. Jump in and out as quickly as you canfor up to 3 sets of 20 reps, taking a short rest in between sets to catchyour breath.

Single-Arm Squat ThrustSquat thrusts are a killer cardio exercise, and this single-arm versionreally kicks up the intensity and core-conditioning capacity of every rep.

How to do it: Start standing with your feet slightly wider than hip width.Squat down to the floor and press your right hand into ground justbelow the center of your chest (left arm reaches behind your body).Brace your abs in tight and jump both feet back, landing in a full plankposition. Quickly jump feet back in towards your hands, landing in asquat, and stand up. Repeat using your left arm. That's one rep. Try upto 3 sets of 10 repetitions as quickly as you can, taking a brief break inbetween sets to recover.

Photos by: Vanessa Rogers Photography

Shot on Location at Canyon Ranch Miami Beach

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