15-Minute Crunch-Free Ab Workout

Try this quick exercise routine for a trim, toned core—no crunches required.

The Routine: Crunch-Free Abs

The flat-out truth? Experts say that crunches aren’t the ticket to a slim midsection. That’s especially true if your protruding belly is the result of diastasis recti, a condition in which the rectus abdominus muscles separate due to pregnancy, weight gain, or exercising with poor form, says Julie Tupler, a registered nurse and a fitness expert in New York City (tuplertechnique.com). To tighten your tummy, you need to work your entire core—meaning all the muscles in your abdomen. This series of exercises, which Tupler created, can do the trick. For best results, complete the moves at least three times a week.