Best Beginner Core Workouts To Get Lean And Burn Fat

About

This workout is designed to effectively target your core muscles, which include the abdominal region and lower back, responsible for body stabilization.

Core-focused exercises help enhance endurance and improve posture by strengthening these essential muscles.

By elevating your heart rate during movements, the workout promotes fat-burning and calorie expenditure while preserving muscle mass.

Utilizing simple yet effective exercises tailored for those with less than a year of fitness experience, this program ensures accessibility and gradual progression.

Resistance training integrated with moderate repetitions supports consistency and progression for those seeking a leaner, stabilized torso.

Adapt weight and intensity levels based on individual fitness capabilities for an effective and safe experience.

The 15 Best Beginner Core Exercises to Get Lean and Burn Fat

Ranked By

Ranked based on Fitbod's internal data set of the most effective exercises. Learn More

  • 1. Back Extensions

    SETS LOGGED
    3,608,448
    Lower Back Strength
    96 mScore
    Lower Back
    Photo of Glute Ham Raise Bench
    Glute Ham Raise Bench

    Back extensions strengthen the lower back and improve core stability. This exercise helps build a strong foundation for your back muscles.

    How to do it

    Back extensions strengthen the lower back and improve core stability. This exercise helps build a strong foundation for your back muscles.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    7reps
    2
    7reps
    3
    7reps
  • 2. Bicycle Crunch

    SETS LOGGED
    4,691,493
    Abs Strength
    98 mScore
    Abs

    The Bicycle Crunch is an advanced ab exercise that targets your core while keeping your upper body lifted. Instead of lowering your torso, you maintain the position and move your legs in a cycling motion for better muscle engagement.

    How to do it

    The Bicycle Crunch is an advanced ab exercise that targets your core while keeping your upper body lifted. Instead of lowering your torso, you maintain the position and move your legs in a cycling motion for better muscle engagement.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    9reps
    2
    9reps
    3
    9reps
  • 3. Balance Trainer Crunch

    SETS LOGGED
    672,651
    Abs Strength
    85 mScore
    Abs
    Photo of BOSU® Balance Trainer
    BOSU® Balance Trainer

    The Balance Trainer Crunch is a challenging twist on the basic crunch that strengthens your abdominal muscles. Using a Balance Trainer adds instability, which helps engage your core more effectively.

    How to do it

    The Balance Trainer Crunch is a challenging twist on the basic crunch that strengthens your abdominal muscles. Using a Balance Trainer adds instability, which helps engage your core more effectively.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    9reps
    2
    9reps
    3
    9reps
  • 4. Cable Crunch

    SETS LOGGED
    1,462,723
    Abs Strength
    91 mScore
    Abs
    Photo of Hi-Lo Pulley Cable
    Hi-Lo Pulley Cable
    Photo of Rope Cable
    Rope Cable

    Cable Crunch is an exercise that strengthens your core using a cable machine instead of just your body weight. You perform it while kneeling, allowing for greater control over the resistance and direction of the movement.

    How to do it

    Cable Crunch is an exercise that strengthens your core using a cable machine instead of just your body weight. You perform it while kneeling, allowing for greater control over the resistance and direction of the movement.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    55lbs
    2
    8reps
    55lbs
    3
    8reps
    55lbs
  • 5. Crunches

    SETS LOGGED
    5,557,695
    Abs Strength
    100 mScore
    Abs

    Crunches are a simple exercise that strengthens your abdominal muscles. Unlike sit-ups, you only lift your shoulder blades off the ground. This makes crunches perfect for beginners wanting to improve their core strength.

    How to do it

    Crunches are a simple exercise that strengthens your abdominal muscles. Unlike sit-ups, you only lift your shoulder blades off the ground. This makes crunches perfect for beginners wanting to improve their core strength.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    9reps
    2
    9reps
    3
    9reps
  • 6. Decline Reverse Crunch

    SETS LOGGED
    312,261
    Abs Strength
    47 mScore
    Abs
    Photo of Decline Bench
    Decline Bench

    The Decline Reverse Crunch is a core exercise that strengthens your lower abs using a decline bench. The angled position makes this exercise more challenging than a regular Reverse Crunch, perfect for enhancing your abdominal strength.

    How to do it

    The Decline Reverse Crunch is a core exercise that strengthens your lower abs using a decline bench. The angled position makes this exercise more challenging than a regular Reverse Crunch, perfect for enhancing your abdominal strength.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    9reps
    2
    9reps
    3
    9reps
  • 7. Exercise Ball Crunch

    SETS LOGGED
    1,431,747
    Abs Strength
    94 mScore
    Abs
    Photo of Stability (Swiss) Ball
    Stability (Swiss) Ball

    The Exercise Ball Crunch is a challenging version of the standard Crunch that includes a medicine ball for added weight. It's perfect for beginners who want to strengthen their core muscles while using a stability ball.

    How to do it

    The Exercise Ball Crunch is a challenging version of the standard Crunch that includes a medicine ball for added weight. It's perfect for beginners who want to strengthen their core muscles while using a stability ball.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    9reps
    2
    9reps
    3
    9reps
  • 8. Flutter Kicks

    SETS LOGGED
    2,280,307
    Abs Strength
    93 mScore
    Abs

    Flutter Kicks are a core exercise performed while lying on a bench. They help strengthen your abs and improve leg mobility by allowing greater movement under your legs.

    How to do it

    Flutter Kicks are a core exercise performed while lying on a bench. They help strengthen your abs and improve leg mobility by allowing greater movement under your legs.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    9reps
    2
    9reps
    3
    9reps
  • 9. Jackknife Sit-Up

    SETS LOGGED
    1,359,227
    Abs Strength
    87 mScore
    Abs

    The Jackknife Sit-Up is a core exercise that combines a Sit-Up and Leg Pull-In. It helps strengthen your abdominal muscles by raising your torso and legs together, making it a more challenging workout for your core.

    How to do it

    The Jackknife Sit-Up is a core exercise that combines a Sit-Up and Leg Pull-In. It helps strengthen your abdominal muscles by raising your torso and legs together, making it a more challenging workout for your core.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    9reps
    2
    9reps
    3
    9reps
  • 10. Leg Raise

    SETS LOGGED
    3,962,641
    Abs Strength
    99 mScore
    Abs

    The Leg Raise is a beginner-friendly exercise that strengthens your core. You lie on your back and lift your legs up while controlling their descent for better results.

    How to do it

    The Leg Raise is a beginner-friendly exercise that strengthens your core. You lie on your back and lift your legs up while controlling their descent for better results.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    9reps
    2
    9reps
    3
    9reps
  • 11. Oblique Crunch

    SETS LOGGED
    1,904,723
    Abs Strength
    95 mScore
    Abs

    The Oblique Crunch is a core exercise that targets the muscles on the sides of your abdomen. By reaching across your body, you isolate your obliques for a more effective workout.

    How to do it

    The Oblique Crunch is a core exercise that targets the muscles on the sides of your abdomen. By reaching across your body, you isolate your obliques for a more effective workout.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    9reps
    2
    9reps
    3
    9reps
  • 12. Plank

    SETS LOGGED
    4,312,324
    Abs Strength
    92 mScore
    Abs

    Planks are a simple core exercise where you hold a position to strengthen your core muscles. You keep your body straight and engage your core for a set amount of time, making it great for building stability in everyday activities.

    How to do it

    Planks are a simple core exercise where you hold a position to strengthen your core muscles. You keep your body straight and engage your core for a set amount of time, making it great for building stability in everyday activities.

  • 13. Reverse Crunch

    SETS LOGGED
    1,687,715
    Abs Strength
    95 mScore
    Abs

    The Reverse Crunch is an exercise that targets your lower abs by lifting your legs and pelvis towards your chest. Unlike traditional crunches, this move focuses on raising your lower body instead of your upper body.

    How to do it

    The Reverse Crunch is an exercise that targets your lower abs by lifting your legs and pelvis towards your chest. Unlike traditional crunches, this move focuses on raising your lower body instead of your upper body.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    9reps
    2
    9reps
    3
    9reps
  • 14. Russian Twist

    SETS LOGGED
    3,693,217
    Abs Strength
    99 mScore
    Abs

    The Russian Twist is a core exercise that helps strengthen your obliques, which are the muscles on the sides of your abdomen. You sit with your feet lifted, engage your core, and twist your torso from side to side to work these muscles effectively.

    How to do it

    The Russian Twist is a core exercise that helps strengthen your obliques, which are the muscles on the sides of your abdomen. You sit with your feet lifted, engage your core, and twist your torso from side to side to work these muscles effectively.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    15lbs
    2
    8reps
    15lbs
    3
    8reps
    15lbs
  • 15. Scissor Kick

    SETS LOGGED
    2,586,422
    Abs Strength
    97 mScore
    Abs

    Scissor Kicks are a core exercise that strengthens your abdominal muscles by alternating the elevation of your legs. While lying on your back, you'll lift your legs up and down, engaging your core for stability throughout the movement.

    How to do it

    Scissor Kicks are a core exercise that strengthens your abdominal muscles by alternating the elevation of your legs. While lying on your back, you'll lift your legs up and down, engaging your core for stability throughout the movement.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    9reps
    2
    9reps
    3
    9reps

Alternative Workouts

Alternative Core Workouts to Get Lean and Burn Fat

Alternative Beginner Core Workouts

Alternative Beginner Workouts to Get Lean and Burn Fat