Abs are hard! If you are looking to do some core work and haven’t done any exercise at all in a while, check out this 30-day program designed to take your core (more specifically, your abs, obliques, and deep abdominal muscles) from 0 to 100 in a month. Sound crazy? We promise if you stick with us, we’ll get you there!

Whether you want to rid lower back pain or are dead set on losing belly fat, strengthening your core is a great place to start. As a major muscle group, your core is command central for strength, helps you move your lower and upper body more effectively, and lowers your risk of injury.

Perform each move for the specified number of reps or time before moving to the next. Complete one to three laps each day.

Many people don’t realise that the core is more than just the abdominal muscles, too. It also includes your lower back and hips. This month, we’re asking you to skip the sit-ups. Instead, perform a 30-day ab challenge that not only nails each of your abdominal muscle groups, it works your core’s endurance too.

Hover:

How to:

  • Begin on all fours on a yoga mat with your toes tucked under and your knees are below your hips and your hands directly under your shoulders.
  • Engage your core and elevate both of your knees until they’re just an inch or two off of the mat.
  • Hold this position for the specified amount of time.

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Side Plank On Knees:

How to:

  • Start by lying on your left side on a yoga mat with your legs stacked on top of one another, bending both knees to a 90-degree angle.
  • Place your left forearm firmly on the floor, ensuring that your elbow is directly below your shoulder and that your forearm is parallel to the short edge of your mat.
  • Gently raise your hips off the mats so that your body forms a straight line from head to knees.
  • Hold this position for half of the specified amount of time before repeating on the other side.

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Reverse Plank:

How to:

  • Begin seated on a yoga mat, legs straight out in front of you, and place your hands behind you slightly wider than your shoulders.
  • Using your glutes, press your heels into the floor to lift your hips so your body forms a straight line from your chest to your heels.
  • Keep your shoulders in line with your wrists and press your palms into the mat.
  • Hold this position for the specified amount of time.

Related article: Ready To Lose Belly Fat? Here Are 10 Belly Blasting Exercises To Do At Home

Plank:

How to:

  • Start by placing your forearms firmly on the mat, keeping your elbows directly below your shoulders.
  • Extend both legs behind you and elevate your hips off the mat, resting on the balls of your feet.
  • Your body should form a straight line from your head to your heels.
  • Hold this position for the specified amount of time.

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Side Plank:

How to:

  • Start by lying on your right side on a yoga mat.
  • Place your right forearm firmly on the floor, ensuring that your elbow is directly below your shoulder and your forearm is parallel to the short edge of your mat.
  • Extend both legs and raise your hips off the mat, placing your left foot on top of your left.
  • Hold this position for half of the specified amount of time, before completing the remaining time on the other side.

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Table Top:

How to:

  • Begin seated on a yoga mat with the soles of your feet on the floor and your hands resting slightly wider than your shoulders.
  • Press your heels into the floor to lift your hips so that your body forms a straight line from your chest to your knees.
  • Hold this position for the specified amount of time.

Related article: Use This Week-Long Menu Of Healthy, Easy Breakfasts To Power Your Workout And Start Your Days Off Right

In And Out Plank:

How to:

  • Start by placing your forearms on the mat, keeping your elbows directly below your shoulders.
  • Extend both legs behind you and elevate your hips off the mat.
  • Your body should form a straight line from your head to your heels.
  • While keeping your hips as still as possible, step your left foot outwards slightly, followed by your right.
  • Then step your left foot inward, followed by your right to return to the starting position.
  • That’s one rep.
  • Repeat for the specified amount of time.

Related article: Three Workouts With Only Four Moves Will Help Get You The Lower Body You Deserve

Side Plank And Hip Lift:

How to:

  • Start lying on your left side with your legs stacked on top of one another and your knees bent at a 90-degree angle behind you.
  • Place your left forearm on the floor so that your elbow is directly below your shoulder and that your forearm is parallel to the short edge of your mat.
  • Gently raise your hips off the mat.
  • Your body should form a straight line from your head to your knees.
  • Lower your hips toward the mat slightly.
  • Then, immediately use your obliques to elevate your hips to the starting position.
  • That’s one rep.
  • Repeat for the specified number of repetitions on each side.

Related article: Tone Your Entire Body With Just Dumbbells And A Bench-Find Out How With 8 Moves

Bent Leg Raise:

How to:

  • Start by lying on your back with your hands beneath your tailbone.
  • Keeping your feet together, elevate your legs off the mat slightly, and draw your knees in toward your chest.
  • Then, exhale as you slowly extend your legs to return to the starting position.
  • That’s one rep.
  • Repeat for the specified number of repetitions.

Related article: Tone Your Abs, Sculpt Your Tush Plus Strengthen Your Arms With This Effective Plank Workout

Mountain Climbers:

How to:

  • Place both hands shoulder-width apart on the mat and both feet together behind you, resting on the balls of your feet.
  • This is your starting position.
  • Keeping your left foot on the floor, bend your right knee and bring it in towards your chest.
  • Then, extend your right leg to return to the starting position.
  • Continue alternating for the specified number of repetitions.

Related article: Mix Up Your Core Workout With These 5 Exercises That Hit Every Angle Of The Abs

Heel Tap:

How to:

  • Start by lying flat on your back with your arms by your sides, your knees bent, and your feet flat on the floor.
  • Slowly lift your head, shoulder blades, and arms off the floor.
  • Then bend your torso to the right, reaching for your right ankle.
  • Return to the starting position and bend your torso to the left, reaching for your left ankle.
  • That’s one rep.
  • Continue alternating for the specified number of repetitions.

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Crunch:

How to:

  • Start by lying flat on your back on a yoga mat with your arms by your sides, your knees bent, and your feet flat on the floor.
  • Engage your abdominal muscles by drawing your belly button in towards your spine.
  • Place your hands at the base of your skull and exhale as you lift your shoulders off the ground and lift your chest upward.
  • Lower your body to return to the starting position.
  • That’s one rep.
  • Repeat for the specified number of repetitions.

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Russian Twist:

How to:

  • Start by lying flat on your back on a yoga mat with your arms by your sides, your knees bent, and your feet flat on the floor.
  • Slowly lift your head, shoulder blades, and arms off the floor.
  • Lean back so you’re balancing on your sit bones.
  • While keeping your lower body as still as possible, twist your torso to the right and gently touch your elbow on the mat next to your right hip.
  • Untwist your torso to return to the starting position then twist to the left.
  • That’s one rep.
  • Continue alternating for the specified number of repetitions.