Want Some Wicked Oblique Exercises? This is The Place to Be!

Resistance Twists

This is a great exercise. All it requires is a mat to sit on and a resistance band (which costs peanuts!) There are machines in the gym that do exactly this, except for them you would probably have to mortgage your house!

1. Get yourself a resistance band, they are great pieces of equipment!
2. Sit in the position shown below and wrap the band around your foot.
3. Hold the handles of the band together with both hands.
4. Twist your body as shown below, keep a straight back (don't hunch)
5. Twist as far as you can, try to get a 90 degree twist.
6. Remember to keep a controlled movement.
7. Slowly move back to the start position.
8. Repeat until you get the 'good burn'!.
9. Change sides.

The Killer Twists

These make you feel like jello! They're great for your obliques and will really help you tone up. The great news is, they work your thighs and butt too!

Killer Twists can be a little tough to explain. Hopefully we've managed though. Look at the pictures and read it carefully.

1. Get yourself a weight - a medicine ball or milk dumbottle will do the job.
2. Stand with your legs just wider than shoulder width apart.
3. Face your body towards one side and hold the weight above your head.
4. This is the starting position.
5. Lower the weight and turn your body towards the other side.
6. Bend at your knees and crouch down towards the floor.
7. Remember to keep a controlled movement.
8. Slowly move back to the start position.
9. Repeat.
10. Change sides.

Knee Kicks

This is a killer! It's good for your self defense skills too. Tom does a martial art called Kempo. That's where he picked this one up.

1. Hold the kicking bag with both hands.
2. Make sure your hands are a little further than shoulder width apart.
3. Stand with one leg in front of the other.
4. Using your back leg, kneed the bag with as much force as you can.
5. Waste that bag!
6. Do it again and again and again.

Medicine Ball Mini Twists

These oblique exercises are quite nice and relaxing. They don't overly work any area, but are good for toning your obliques. Come on, who doesn't want an easy exercise which tones?

1. Get a weight - A medicine ball or a milk dumbottle.
2. Hold it in both hands.
3. Make sure it is being held at around your chest level.
4. Make sure that you elbows are at about 45 degrees.
5. Stand with your feet a bit more than shoulder width apart.
6. Keep your feet facing forwards throughout this exercise.
7. Turn your body and the weight to one side swiftly.
8. Make sure you don't fling yourself, your movements must be controlled.
9. Now, immediately do the same thing turning to the opposite side.
10. Do as many of these as you require for your workout.

Sideways Sit-Ups

Ouch! These are really good oblique exercises. It's sometimes quite difficult to target the oblique's but this exercise does it perfectly. It's really nice working with the swiss ball because it takes a lot of pressure off your joints. Another great thing is that swiss balls have become so cheap lately.

1. Buy yourself a swiss ball. They're awesome for oblique exercises.
2. Find a wall, or something to hook your feet into.
3. Put the center of your body onto the swiss ball.
4. Your back should be nice and straight, not twisted like a roller coaster!
5. Try to pull your upper body towards the sky.
6. Squeeze your obliques at the top of the movement.
7. Hold for about 1-2 seconds.
8. In a controlled movement, lower yourself.
9. Your body will be almost straight now.
10. Do it again!

Dumbbell Side Dips

Another great one for targeting your oblique's! Wow, now there's definitely no excuse to be carrying that 'muffin effect' which hangs over you pants. Are you excited about getting sexy!?

1. Find 2 weights and hold one in each hand.
2. Stand up straight with your feet about shoulder width apart.
3. Bend your body whilst lowering one weight closer to the floor.
4. Go as far as you can.
5. In a controlled motion, raise up again.
6. Do this on the other side.
7. Repeat the whole exercise.

Unsure of how many reps and sets to do? Check out our fitness training at home table.