Three tips for targeting your obliques plus easiest ab move ever!

Losing weight after pregnancy is hard, but getting your abs back to their former self can seem like an insurmountable challenge. Terms such as "mama pouch" and "baby cushion" are funny, but nothing in the world can make me laugh when I muffin-top over my snug jeans. And it's not just the front of your belly you have to whip back into shape...the ever-impossible obliques can present the biggest problem since they aren't affected by regular crunches and aren't used as often throughout the day.

Here are three moves that target your obliques and won't make you swear you'll never have another baby. These can be done at home in a matter of minutes.

1. the weighted side bend: stand straight with a weight (I use 10lbs) in right hand, place left hand behind head, lean to the right dropping the weight down the length of thigh, concentrate on using your abs to control the movement, hold for one count then slowly return to start position, complete 10 reps on right side (eventually building to 20), repeat with weight in left hand, do 3 sets
2. the oblique leg lift: lie on your right side on carpet or mat, support head with right hand, holding left leg parallel to ground bend right leg and place the outside of right ankle just above left knee, to begin the motion pretend there's a ball sitting on your hip, slowly lift both legs simultaneously and "curl" obliques around the ball, hold for one count and release, complete 10 reps (building to 15), repeat lying on left side, do 3 sets

3. the side plank: lie on right side on padded surface resting on right forearm, keep feet together and legs stacked and straight, engage abs to lift torso up until body is aligned (see pic to right), using core strength hold body straight for 30 seconds (building to 60), repeat on left side, do 3 sets if possible

Fun and Easy Ab Move
My absolute favorite way to work my abs involves watching primetime TV and sitting.

Invest in a large balance ball - it truly does make regular ol' crunches more effective - and sit on it instead of the couch with your feet on the floor. Start by rotating your hips, taking a few minutes to get used to the feel of balancing yourself on top. You might want to hang on to a couch arm and check your posture.
When you're comfy with this, lift your feet a few inches off the ground and use your core to balance. That's it! You're working your abs!
Once you've mastered that, the next challenges are
1. lifting one leg straight out while continuing to balance and 2. rotating your hips (causing the ball to rotate) with your feet off the floor.

And don't forget, strengthening your abs protects your back...be careful not to injure it in the process.

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