Dumbbell Oblique Exercises To Strengthen and Tone Your Core - AMMFitness (2024)

Contents

1 Dumbbell Russian Twists

2 Dumbbell Side Bends

4 Side Plank with Dumbbell Raises

5 Offset Dumbbell Squat

6 Conclusion

Dumbbell oblique exercises are a great way to get some major definition and tighten up your midsection. There are a couple of specific variations of these exercises, depending on what you’re looking for and how you want to work out.

Although oblique exercises are not as popular as many other types of deadlifts and squats, they are effective in improving your posture, muscular endurance, and strength. With the right technique, you’ll find that dumbbell oblique exercises can be challenging and rewarding workouts.

Here are 5 dumbbell oblique exercises you should include in your workout routine:

Dumbbell Russian Twists

If you want to try a challenging exercise, the dumbbell Russian twist will be a perfect choice. Not only does this exercise help tone and strengthen your deltoids, but it also works out your obliques. If you want to see results faster than you would with standard back exercises, then you’ll want to take advantage of these Dumbbell Russian twists.

Here is how you do this exercise:

  1. Begin seated on the floor with your knees bent and your feet flat on the ground in front of you.
  2. Hold a dumbbell in each hand and extend your arms out in front of you so that they are parallel to the ground.
  3. Twist your torso to the right, then to the left, and continue alternating sides for the desired number of repetitions.

Dumbbell Russian twists are an excellent exercise for your shoulders, especially if you’re using heavy dumbbells. The main thing I recommend doing with this exercise is to make sure you don’t let your arms swing too far forward. Also, keep your back straight so that the movement works only on your obliques and not your lower back.

Dumbbell Side Bends

Dumbbell side bends are one of the best exercises you can do to strengthen your abs and obliques. This exercise targets the rectus abdominis and helps to improve posture. Dumbbell Side Bends is an essential exercise for developing balance and strength in your entire core. With dumbbells, you can choose how much weight you want and how far you want to bend over.

Here is how you do dumbbell side bends:

  1. Start by holding a dumbbell in each hand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
  2. Brace your core and bend at the waist to the side, lowering the dumbbells toward the ground.
  3. Reverse the motion and return to the starting position.
  4. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Dumbbell side bends are one of the best abdominal strengthening exercises. They can be done at home without any special equipment and provide an excellent core workout. If you have solid abdominals and your core is balanced, you will have a much easier time doing daily activities such as lifting objects or bending over to pick up things.

Dumbbell Farmer’s Walks

The dumbbell farmer’s walk is a great exercise for the obliques because it works your upper and lower abs at the same time. You don’t need expensive equipment for this exercise, just a pair of dumbbells. You can use either one or two pairs of dumbbells, depending on how many sets you want to do.

To do this exercise:

  1. Start by standing up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent.
  2. Pick up a pair of dumbbells and hold them at your sides.
  3. Walk forward slowly, keeping your shoulders back and your abs tight.
  4. Walk for 30 to 60 seconds and then turn around and walk back to the starting position.
  5. Repeat for 2 to 3 sets.

The intensity of this workout is high, and you might find yourself gasping for air as you go, primarily if you use two heavy weights together. This exercise is appropriate for all fitness levels, and it hits your entire body. Make sure to use good form throughout the movement, and be careful not to drop the dumbbells onto your feet on accident!

Side Plank with Dumbbell Raises

This is a good warmup exercise that can help improve your core strength and stability. The side plank is an excellent core exercise that strengthens your internal and external oblique muscles. In addition, it helps develop balance, flexibility and reduces the risk of injury.

Here is how you do a side plank with dumbbell raises:

  1. Lie on your side on a mat, with your elbow under your shoulder and your legs extended.
  2. Place a dumbbell on the floor next to your hand.
  3. Use your free hand to help you raise your hips off the floor, so that your body forms a straight line from your shoulder to your feet.
  4. Slowly raise the dumbbell off the floor, keeping your arm straight.
  5. Lower the dumbbell back to the floor and repeat.
  6. Switch sides and repeat the exercise.

Side Plank with Dumbbell Raises is a great exercise to do before you start your workout and to release any tension from the muscles. The side plank with dumbbell raises is a full body exercise, meaning it works both the upper and lower body.

Offset Dumbbell Squat

The offset dumbbell squat is a great exercise for training your midsection. It works your obliques (the muscles between your back and front) as well as the glutes, lower back, and hamstrings. You’ll get a full-body workout while strengthening your core and improving balance and coordination.

To do this exercise:

  1. Start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and holding a dumbbell in your left hand.
  2. Bend your knees and lower your hips until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Keep your back straight and your core engaged.
  3. As you lower into the squat, shift your weight onto your left heel and raise your right heel off the floor.
  4. Pause at the bottom of the squat and then press through your left heel to stand back up.
  5. Repeat for 8-10 reps and then switch sides and hold the dumbbell in your right hand.

The offset dumbbell squat is a great addition to any lower-body workout routine. If you’ve never performed the exercise before, it can be quite difficult to get the hang of it at first, but with regular training, you should see a gradual improvement in your performance.

Conclusion

Like many exercises, you’ll need to experiment a little to find what works best for you and your overall strength-building goals. You should also be aware that your muscles are not treated equally on every exercise. You might find that some exercises work out one side better than the other, and that’s perfectly normal. Overall, this is a very helpful article for those new to obliques exercise.

Dumbbell Oblique Exercises To Strengthen and Tone Your Core - AMMFitness (1)

Adnan Munye

    A certified personal trainer, Adnan specialises in weight loss, muscle building, body conditioning, core strengthening and injury rehabilitation. Adnan comes from a sporting background, where he has played football, badminton, rugby, and swimming all at various levels.

    Dumbbell Oblique Exercises To Strengthen and Tone Your Core - AMMFitness (2024)

    FAQs

    How do you strengthen and tone your obliques? ›

    Start standing with your feet hip-width apart, letting arms hang by your sides. Bend your upper body sideways toward the right, creasing at the waist. Pause and then return to standing while squeezing your left side obliques. Repeat on the left side, being sure to keep the weight close to your body as you bend.

    What strengthens and obliques your entire core? ›

    Your core is more than just the abs. 30 exercises that target the entire core
    • Cobra. This is a stretch and strengthening exercise for the back. ...
    • Crunches. Lie down on your back with your knees bent, feet as wide as your hips and feet flat on the floor. ...
    • Plank. ...
    • Renegade rows. ...
    • Mountain climbers. ...
    • Swimmers. ...
    • Single leg squat. ...
    • Situp.

    Do oblique workouts slim your waist? ›

    Strengthening the oblique muscles will improve core stability and tone your waistline.

    What is the 5 fastest way to strengthen your core? ›

    Here are our top 5 core exercises!
    1. Plank. The plank is a perfect start to your core strengthening journey; with minimal movement, this exercise can be adapted to something harder or easier depending on how you feel. ...
    2. Reverse crunch. ...
    3. Bird Dog Crunch. ...
    4. Bicycle Crunch – Sitting. ...
    5. Glute Bridge.
    Mar 6, 2020

    How can I tone my core fast? ›

    8 Exercises for Abs: The Pros Share Their Favorites
    1. Crunch. "The ab exercise that all other ab exercises are measured against is the simple crunch," Weil says. ...
    2. The plank. ...
    3. Bicycle maneuver. ...
    4. Captain's chair. ...
    5. Back extensions. ...
    6. Crunches on an exercise ball. ...
    7. Vertical leg crunches. ...
    8. Reverse crunches.
    Feb 5, 2013

    Do core exercises burn belly fat? ›

    Evidence shows that you can't lose belly fat by exercising your abs alone. For total-body fat loss, use a combination of aerobic exercise and resistance training, such as lifting weights. In addition, eat a healthy diet with plenty of protein, fiber and portion control — all of which are proven to help reduce body fat.

    Does walking work your obliques? ›

    “Actively contract your abdominal muscles by pulling your belly button towards your spine. This will help stabilize your torso and engage your abs throughout the walk,” she says. “Swing your arms naturally as you walk. This not only increases calorie burn but also engages your core muscles, including the obliques.”

    What is the best exercise machine for obliques? ›

    Want strong obliques? The rotary torso machine will target those muscles along with the rest of your abdominals, making it a super efficient and effective choice for your core days. To use the rotary torso machine, adjust the machine settings for your height and select an appropriate weight.

    How many times a week should you train obliques? ›

    If you want to include more direct work for them, you can start by doing specific obliques exercises two to three times per week, Hodges says. That should be more than enough to get to strengthening those all-important side muscles!

    How to tighten your obliques? ›

    Oblique side bends
    1. Stand straight and hold a dumbbell in one hand at your side. ...
    2. Bracing your core, bend sideways at the waist, allowing the dumbbell to drop down toward the floor.
    3. Using your oblique, pull yourself back to start, repeating for the desired number of reps.
    4. Repeat on the other side.
    Sep 1, 2020

    How to tone the stomach with dumbbells? ›

    Exercises to try
    1. Sit with your legs in front of you.
    2. Bend your knees, flex your feet, and place your heels on the ground.
    3. Hold a dumbbell in front of your chest.
    4. Hinge at your hips, engage your core, and lean your upper body back at an angle.
    5. Slowly twist your upper body to the right.
    6. Return to the starting position.
    Nov 23, 2020

    How to use dumbbells to strengthen core? ›

    Hold a lightweight dumbbell or weight plate between both your hands directly over your chest. Press your lower back into the floor and engage your core. Holding this position, slowly extend one leg to hover just off the floor. Return your leg to the starting position, then repeat on the opposite side.

    Does walking tone your obliques? ›

    Core. The core muscles, including the abdominals and obliques, are actively engaged during walking to stabilise the torso, maintain balance and contract and relax the diaphragm with each breath.

    What happens when you have weak obliques? ›

    “The oblique muscles stabilize the pelvis, so if they are weak, it could lead to an anteriorly tilted pelvis which can contribute to back pain.”

    How long does it take to tone your core? ›

    Even though your body fat is well within a healthy range, you'll still need to apply weight training and cardio fitness to see those abs. The good news is that you should be able to see them within 3–6 months. But remember to keep training in order to sustain your new physique.

    References

    Top Articles
    Latest Posts
    Article information

    Author: Maia Crooks Jr

    Last Updated:

    Views: 6465

    Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

    Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Maia Crooks Jr

    Birthday: 1997-09-21

    Address: 93119 Joseph Street, Peggyfurt, NC 11582

    Phone: +2983088926881

    Job: Principal Design Liaison

    Hobby: Web surfing, Skiing, role-playing games, Sketching, Polo, Sewing, Genealogy

    Introduction: My name is Maia Crooks Jr, I am a homely, joyous, shiny, successful, hilarious, thoughtful, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.