20 Easy Flat Belly Workouts to Strengthen Your Core 2025

According to Harvard Health, core strength is essential for stability and injury prevention, yet it’s often neglected in typical fitness routines. That’s why we’ve compiled 20 of the easiest and most effective flat belly workouts you can do at home, on the go, or even during a work break. Whether you’re a beginner or just looking for low-impact belly workouts to enhance your fitness journey, this guide is for you.

Let’s dive into the exercises that will help you flatten your stomach, strengthen your abs, and boost your confidence—all without stepping foot in a gym.

1. Plank

The humble plank is one of the most effective ways to engage your entire core while improving stability. It may look simple, but holding your body in a straight line requires focus and strength.

To do it, place your forearms on the ground, elbows under shoulders, and extend your legs behind you. Engage your abs, squeeze your glutes, and hold. Start with 20 seconds and gradually work your way up to a minute or more.This move is excellent for building core endurance, reducing lower back pain, and toning the belly without crunches. Plus, it activates multiple muscles at once—hello, efficiency!

2. Bicycle Crunches

Looking for an exercise that targets the obliques and lower belly? Bicycle crunches are your go-to. This twisting motion mimics pedaling and delivers results. Lie on your back, bring your knees up, and alternate touching your opposite elbow to each knee. Try 3 sets of 15 reps per side. They’re perfect for trimming love handles and strengthening the waistline, making them a must in your core workout routine.

3. Mountain Climbers

If you want a move that combines cardio with core, mountain climbers check both boxes. They’re a dynamic, fat-burning belly exercise that also gets your heart pumping. Start in a plank, then drive your knees to your chest one at a time—fast. Do as many as you can in 30 to 60 seconds. This move helps torch calories, build endurance, and strengthen your core simultaneously. Add them between exercises for a quick sweat boost.

4. Leg Raises

Leg raises target the lower abs, an area many people find challenging. This move helps tighten the lower belly and improve control. Lie flat on your back with legs extended, then slowly raise and lower them without touching the floor. Engage your core the entire time. Focus on slow, controlled movements. You’ll feel the burn in your lower abdomen—just what you need for a flat stomach workout at home.

5. Russian Twists

Grab a water bottle or small weight for this killer waist-defining move. Russian twists engage the obliques and help shrink your side belly. Sit with your knees bent, feet lifted, and twist your torso side to side. Try 3 rounds of 20 reps total. It’s not just about twisting—it’s about control. This simple move can help reshape your waistline and enhance core flexibility.

6. Flutter Kicks

Flutter kicks are small, fast, and super effective. They target the lower belly and build hip flexor strength, all while keeping your core fully activated. Lie back, place hands under your hips, lift legs slightly, and alternate quick up-and-down kicks. The trick is consistency—stay low and controlled for 20–30 seconds per round. This low-impact belly workout is surprisingly challenging!

7. Reverse Crunches

If regular crunches hurt your neck or feel ineffective, reverse crunches might be your solution. They focus on the lower abdominal region, helping you flatten your stomach safely. Lie flat, knees bent, and lift your hips off the floor while bringing your knees toward your chest. Lower with control. This motion keeps tension in your core, not your neck, making it great for beginners and anyone needing a gentle but effective ab move.

8. Side Plank

The side plank works your obliques, hips, and shoulders while improving balance. It’s a powerful way to build side belly strength. Lie on your side, stack your feet, and lift your body with one forearm. Hold for 30 seconds per side. Make it harder by raising the top leg or dipping the hips. It’s a full-body move with a core-centric focus that tones from the inside out.

9. Toe Touches

Want to fire up your upper abs? Toe touches are a fast, effective move that doesn’t require equipment. Lie on your back, legs lifted to 90 degrees. Reach for your toes, engaging your abs with each pulse. Keep your neck relaxed and let your abdominals do the work. You’ll feel your core tightening with every rep.

10. Seated Knee Tucks

This compact core move is great for small spaces and targets the entire abdominal region. Sit on a mat, hands by your sides, feet lifted. Pull your knees toward your chest, then extend legs back out. The motion is small but mighty, making it one of the best easy flat belly exercises for quick core activation.

11. Dead Bug

This oddly-named exercise is a physical therapist favorite for building safe, functional core strength. Lie on your back, arms extended above, knees bent at 90 degrees. Slowly extend the opposite arm and leg, then switch. It’s great for coordination, spine support, and flat stomach results without strain. Perfect for beginners or those recovering from injury.

12. Standing Side Crunches

Prefer staying on your feet? Standing side crunches offer waistline-toning power with no floor work. Stand tall, place hands behind head, lift knee to elbow on the same side. Alternate for 3 sets of 15 reps. This move targets the obliques, increases mobility, and fits easily into a morning or midday routine. No excuses!

13. Scissor Kicks

Like flutter kicks but wider, scissor kicks demand more core stabilization and endurance. Lie on your back and alternate crossing your legs over and under, keeping abs tight and back flat. It’s a challenging lower belly workout that also works your legs, hip flexors, and coordination.

14. Heel Taps

Heel taps are a gentle but effective ab toner, especially great for engaging the obliques. Lie back, bend knees, feet flat. Reach side-to-side to tap your heels while keeping abs tight. This move adds definition to your waistline and is easy on the lower back. Try 3 sets of 20 reps.

15. Bird Dog

Bird dogs are ideal for strengthening the deep core muscles while improving balance and stability. On all fours, extend one arm and the opposite leg. Pause, then switch sides. Focus on keeping your torso steady. It’s a controlled movement that’s deceptively hard—and fantastic for flat belly transformation.

16. High Knees

High knees turn up the heat with cardio-meets-core action. It’s a favorite for burning belly fat and getting your sweat on. Jog in place, lifting your knees high to hip level, arms pumping. Try 30 seconds on, 15 seconds rest. This fast-paced move revs up your heart rate while engaging the abs—perfect for belly fat loss and toning.

17. V-Ups

Looking for intensity? V-ups are one of the best advanced ab exercises for a complete core burn. Lie flat, arms overhead. Simultaneously lift your arms and legs to meet at the top in a “V” shape. It’s a challenging but rewarding move that fires up your entire core and abdominal muscles.

18. Lying Windshield Wipers

This move mimics the motion of windshield wipers—and it’s fantastic for your obliques and spine rotation. Lie flat, arms out, legs lifted and together. Slowly lower your legs side to side without touching the ground. Control is key. It’s not about speed but strength—and the results show in a toned, tight waistline.

19. Marching Glute Bridge

This combo move activates your glutes and abs in one go, helping to improve stability and tone your midsection. Lie on your back, lift into a bridge, and alternate lifting each leg like a march. Keep your hips high and level. It’s low-impact, joint-friendly, and ideal for building foundational core strength.

20. Standing Oblique Crunches

Another great standing ab move, oblique crunches are accessible and effective for core training without the mat. Stand tall, hands behind your head. Bring your elbow down toward the same-side knee as you crunch. Do 3 sets of 15 reps per side. You’ll feel the burn in your sides, and best of all, it takes just minutes.

Conclusion

Flat belly goals? Covered. Whether you’re just starting out or returning to fitness, these 20 easy core workouts will help you strengthen your abs, tone your waist, and feel amazing in your own skin.

And you don’t need hours at the gym. Just a few minutes a day, a bit of consistency, and a little motivation go a long way. Start with 3–5 of these exercises daily and build from there. You’ll not only see results—you’ll feel stronger, stand taller, and move better.

So, what are you waiting for? Your strongest core and flattest belly are just a few reps away. Let’s do this—your future abs will thank you!