If you want to strengthen and tone your stomach muscles, dumbbell exercises are a fantastic solution. Unlike stomach toning bodyweight exercises, stomach toning dumbbell exercises allow you to increase the resistance as your abs get stronger and develop a good level of core stability. So read on for five of the best dumbbell exercises for toning up your stomach.
1 – Standing Dumbbell Oblique Twist
The standing dumbbell oblique twist is a simple but effective that utilizes a twisting motion while holding light dumbbells. It mainly works your oblique muscles but also does an excellent job of targeting your other core muscles.
To perform the standing oblique twist, you will need a pair of dumbbells. Once you have your dumbbells, follow the instructions below:
- Grab the dumbbells in both hands and stand with your feet a shoulder width apart.
- Raise your arms your arms out to the side so that they are parallel with your shoulders, making sure that you keep your arms straight and your palms facing towards the floor.
- Slowly twist your body to the right as far as it will go, making sure you are fully engaging your core muscles as you twist.
- Slowly twist your body to the left as far as it will go, making sure you are fully engaging your core muscles as you twist.
- Repeat steps 3-4 for 8-12 repetitions.
- Once you’ve done your last repetition, slowly place the dumbbells on the floor and rest for 1 minute.
- After 1 minute, pick the dumbbells up off the floor and repeat steps 1-6 two more times.
- Put the dumbbells back in the correct place so that other gym members can use them.
2 – Standing Dumbbell Woodchopper
The standing dumbbell woodchopper gets its name because the exercise closely resembles the action of chopping wood. It engages all your core muscles and is a fantastic exercise for getting six pack abs.
To perform the standing dumbbell woodchopper, you will need one dumbbell. Once you have the dumbbell, follow the instructions below:
- Grab the dumbbell with both hands and stand with your feet a shoulder width apart.
- Slowly bend your waist, twist to the right and hold the dumbbell just above your right thigh.
- Straighten your waist and lift the dumbbell up above your left shoulder while keeping your arms and your back straight.
- Slowly lower the dumbbell back down to the starting position.
- Repeat steps 2-4 for 8-12 repetitions.
- Once you’ve done your last repetition, slowly bend your waist, twist to the left and hold the dumbbell just above your left thigh.
- Straighten your waist and lift the dumbbell up above your right shoulder while keeping your arms and your back straight.
- Slowly lower the dumbbell back down to the starting position.
- Repeat steps 6-8 for 8-12 repetitions.
- Once you’ve done your last repetition, slowly place the dumbbell on the floor and rest for 1 minute.
- After 1 minute, pick the dumbbell up off the floor and repeat steps 1-10 two more times.
- Put the dumbbell back in the correct place so that other gym members can use it.
3 – Standing Dumbbell Side Bend
Standing dumbbell side bend are another top exercise for the oblique muscles at either side of your core. By doing them regularly, you’ll find that the sides of your torso really tighten up to give you a slimmer, leaner appearance.
To perform the standing dumbbell side bend, you will need one dumbbell. Once you have the dumbbell, follow the instructions below:
- Grab the dumbbell with your left hand, place your right hand on your right hip and stand with your feet a shoulder width apart.
- Bend your waist to the left as far as possible.
- Once your waist is bent as far as possible, straighten your waist and return to the starting position.
- Repeat steps 2-3 for 8-12 repetitions.
- Once you’ve done your last repetition, grab the dumbbell with your right hand, place your left hand on your left hip and stand with your feet a shoulder width apart.
- Bend your waist to the right as far as possible.
- Once your waist is bent as far as possible, straighten your waist and return to the starting position.
- Repeat steps 6-7 for 8-12 repetitions.
- Once you’ve done your last repetition, slowly place the dumbbell on the floor and rest for 1 minute.
- After 1 minute, pick the dumbbell up off the floor and repeat steps 1-9 two more times.
- Put the dumbbell back in the correct place so that other gym members can use it.
4 – Dumbbell Renegade Rows
Dumbbell renegade rows are an extremely challenging exercise that involve lifting dumbbells in a rowing motion while balancing and keeping
your core muscles tight. As well as your core, dumbbell renegade rows also do a great job of building up your arms, upper back and shoulders.
To perform dumbbell renegade rows, you will need two dumbbells. Once you have your dumbbells, follow the instructions below:
- Place the dumbbells on the floor about a shoulder width apart, place one of your hands on each of the dumbbells, straighten your legs out behind you and balance on your hands and toes.
- Once you have your balance, tighten your core muscles and slowly lift the left dumbbell off the floor and towards your chest.
- Once the dumbbell touches your chest, slowly lower it back onto the floor.
- Slowly lift the right dumbbell off the floor and towards your chest.
- Once the dumbbell touches your chest, slowly lower it back onto the floor.
- Repeat steps 2-5 for 8-12 repetitions.
- Once you’ve done your last repetition, rest for 1 minute.
- After 1 minute, repeat steps 1-6 two more times.
- Put the dumbbells back in the correct place so that other gym members can use them.
5 – Side Plank With Dumbbell Lateral Raise
The side plank with dumbbell lateral raise is a variation of a popular stomach toning bodyweight exercise. The addition of a dumbbell makes it very tough to perform but also very rewarding in terms of results.
To perform the side plank with dumbbell lateral raise, you will need one dumbbell. Once you have the dumbbell, follow the instructions below:
- Grab the dumbbell with your right hand and then lie down on the left hand side of your body.
- Place your left forearm on the floor and hold your right arm straight out in front of you, making sure it is parallel with your chest.
- Slowly lift your hips off the floor and balance on your feet and left forearm.
- Once you have your balance, tighten your core muscles and slowly raise the dumbbell up towards the ceiling, making sure that you keep your right arm straight at all times.
- Slowly lower the dumbbell back down so that it is parallel with your chest.
- Repeat steps 4-5 for 8-12 repetitions.
- Once you’ve done your last repetition, grab the dumbbell with your left hand and then lie down on the right hand side of your body.
- Place your right forearm on the floor and hold your left arm straight out in front of you, making sure it is parallel with your chest.
- Slowly lift your hips off the floor and balance on your feet and left forearm.
- Once you have your balance, tighten your core muscles and slowly raise the dumbbell up towards the ceiling, making sure that you keep your left arm straight at all times.
- Slowly lower the dumbbell back down so that it is parallel with your chest.
- Repeat steps 10-11 for 8-12 repetitions.
- Once you’ve done your last repetition, slowly place the dumbbell on the floor and rest for 1 minute.
- After 1 minute, pick the dumbbell up off the floor and repeat steps 1-13 two more times
- Put the dumbbell back in the correct place so that other gym members can use it.
Summary
If you want to tighten up your abs, these five stomach toning dumbbell exercises will certainly do the trick. So take another look at these exercises and start incorporating them into your workout routine today.