How to Work Obliques With the Weighted Twisting Crunch

One of the most popular exercises for abdominal muscles is the crunch. However, if you have those dreaded "love-handles," excess fat on the sides of your abdomen known as the obliques, then ordinary crunches will not help. You will need to do the weighted twisting crunch to really target those obliques. Here's how to do this variation of the regular crunch.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Lie on your back on the floor or on a workbench. Bend your knees and place your feet flat on the floor or bench.

2. Hold a weight plate behind your head with both hands or on your chest with your arms folded across it to hold it in place. Keep the weight relatively light.

3. Lift your shoulders off the floor or bench as if you are doing a regular crunch. Slowly twist your torso to one side so one shoulder is even with the opposite raised knee.

4. Lower slowly to the starting position, then repeat, twisting to the other side. This is one complete weighted twisting crunch.

5. Repeat steps one through four for the desired amount of repetitions. Complete two to three sets of an equal amount of repetitions to best achieve the desired results from the weighted twisting crunch.

Tips & Warnings

• Reduce the weight if you are unable to complete the number of repetitions with a smooth movement.
• You can vary the weighted twisting crunch by lifting your feet off the floor and bending your lower body up so your knees meet your elbows for each crunch.
• Do not lift with your neck as you move through the weighted twisting crunch. Lift with your abdominal muscles only.
• Stop the exercise immediately if you feel any pain associated with the movements.

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