The most important muscles for keeping your abdominals tight are your transverse abdominis and obliques, according to ExRx.net. Your transverse abdominis muscle wraps around your midsection from one side of your spine to the other. Your obliques start on your lower seven ribs and connect into the sides of your hips. Exercises that target these muscles are the most effective for abdominal tightening. Choosing two exercises for both of these body parts will allow you to get a highly effective workout that tightens your abdominals.
Stomach Hold
The most basic transverse abdominis exercise is called the stomach hold or stomach vacuum exercise. To perform the stomach hold, knee on the floor with your knees spread six inches apart. Place your hands flat on the floor so that your arms are straight and your hands are spaced shoulder-width apart. You need to move your hands far enough away from your knees so that your back is perfectly flat and parallel to the floor. Allow your stomach to relax and hang toward the floor while your back remains flat. Contract your transverse abdominis muscles by bringing the part of your stomach closest toward the floor as close to your spine as you can as if you were "sucking in" your gut. When you are as far in as possible, hold for 30 to 60 seconds while continuing to breathe normally. Perform at least five total holds.
Stability Ball Plank
The stability ball plank also targets your transverse abdominis. Stand next to a stability ball and clasp your hands together. Form a 90-degree angle at your wrists and then place your forearms on the stability ball. Step back with both feet until your back and lower body form a straight line to the floor. Spread your feet more than shoulder-width apart so you have a stable base of support during the exercise. Now, lift your chest off of the stability ball so that a 90-degree angle is formed between your upper arms and forearms at your elbow joints. Hold this position for 30 to 60 seconds and then relax. Again, perform a total of at least five holds.
Side Plank
The side plank challenges your obliques while requiring some assistance from your transverse abdominal muscles. Lie on your right side on the floor, with your legs stacked on top of each other and fully extended. Place your right arm on your body while positioning your left forearm on the floor, with your left elbow bent 90 degrees. Lift your hips up off of the ground, supporting your body weight with your left forearm and your left foot. Continue lifting until a slanted line is formed from your neck to your feet. Hold this position for 30 to 60 seconds and then repeat on your other side. Perform at least three holds for each side.
Mason Twist
While the side plank works your obliques from a stabilizing position, the mason twist trains your obliques during active motion. Sit on the floor and move your legs way from your body so that your heels are on the floor and your knees are bent three to four inches. Lean back at your waist between the floor and fully upright position. Clasp your hands together while holding your arms out in front of your body. Twist right, at your waist, and slightly bend your arms until you can "hammer" or touch your clasped hands on the floor to the right of your body. Once you touch, twist your body in the opposite direction until you can "hammer" the floor to the left of your body. Continue twisting and hammering the floor with your hands until you have touched the floor at least 15 times on each side. Perform at least three total rounds of 15 touches to each side.
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