1. Oblique Operations
It's nice to sport a set of six-pack abs, but they won't show very well if the skin and muscles on the sides of your abdomen are weak and flabby. To provide a total upper body workout, you must incorporate work on the oblique muscles. Toned obliques make for better posture and they provide a girdle-like support for your waist.
2. Twist and Turn
To add strength to your abdomen and tighten those obliques, lie down on a mat and bend your knees like you're getting ready to do crunches. Stretch your arms out in front as far as you can reach and raise your torso. As you rise to do a crunch, instead, twist your body to one side as far as you can. Quickly reverse and twist to the other side. Don't stop with these twists until your body gives out and you can't do anymore. By waiting for muscle failure, you will work the obliques quickly without having to count or rest in between sides.
3. Weight a While
Stand straight, holding a weight in each hand. If you are new to exercise, start with a one or three-pound hand weight. Hold the weight by your side and twist, moving one arm behind your back in the direction of the twist. Repeat on the other side, returning each arm to its original position. Do this move quickly for ten times on each side, and then repeat the reps in slow motion, holding for a count of six on each twist. Increase the weight as you gain strength.
4. Have a Ball
Put a ball between your knees. You can use a four-pound soft rubber ball or any ball with some give to it. While lying on the floor, bend your knees up and squeeze the ball. Raise your body to touch your elbow to the ball. This move will twist your obliques naturally. Try it standing, by holding the ball between your knees again and bending over to again touch your elbow to the ball.
5. In the Gym
In the gym, you'll find a number of machines that will effectively work the oblique muscles. They all involve twisting of some sort, since that action is the best way to move the group of side muscles. You can add weights to the pulleys and pull them to your sides or lie on sit up machines and twist when you rise.
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