The bicycle is the most efficient ab sculptor because you're continually moving, so muscles never rest, explains Peter Francis, Ph.D., a professor emeritus of exercise science at San Diego State University who compared 13 common ab moves. Plus, it works both abs and obliques simultaneously.
Try it: Lie faceup, hands behind you head, elbows out. Lift shoulder blades and left leg about 6 inches off the floor as you bring right knee toward chest and twist torso toward right knee so left elbow barely touches it. Switch sides, lowering right leg to 6 inches off the floor and bringing left knee in while twisting torso left for one rep.
Make it harder: Hold a 3- to 6-pound medicine ball at
chest. Continue alternating in a pedaling motion. Try
two sets of 12 reps.
See a video of the move here.
