When I train my abs, I like to choose exercises that stress the abdominal region without directly targeting it. Combine these with direct abs exercises, and you're on your way to a stronger and leaner physique.
Here are 5 of my favorite indirect abdominal exercises:
Exercise 1: The Bulgarian Split Squats
Stand a foot away from a bench and face away from it. Hold, in each hand, a dumbbell. Stand keeping your feet shoulders distance apart.
Keep your back straight and chest out. Lift one foot and put it on the bench behind you. Squat as low as possible and stand up again. Do all the reps with one side and then change feet.
Exercise 2: The 1 Arm Dumbbell Floor Press
Lie on the floor on your back and bend your knees. Hold a dumbbell in one arm and lift the dumbbell above your chest.
Use the other hand as balance. Try doing a slight crunch if you can. Perform the reps and repeat with the other arm.
Exercise 3: DB Clean and Front Squat
Stand with feet shoulder width apart and perform a clean with a dumbbell. Then squat. Repeat.
Exercise 4: DB Split Squat
Stand with the feet placed at a shoulders distance from each other. Then take a dumbbell in the hand and take a big step forward with one leg. Squat.
Rise back up, and repeat. Complete all the repetitions with one leg before switching.
Exercise 5: The DB Alternating Abs Swings
Stand with your feet shoulder apart. Hold one dumbbell in each hand. Swing a dumbbell in the front of the body and the other dumbbell behind your body.
Now reverse the movement bring the dumbbell in front of your body behind your body, and vise versa. You're essentially swinging the dumbbell back and forth behind and front of your body.
Generate the power with your abs.
Start performing these exercises and then you will see the results for yourself.