Obliques are like side abs. They’re on the side of your torso, and can be worked exercises like side bends.

They look great when toned, but if they gain mass, they’ll make any “love handles” you have look even bigger if you gain any fat.

The trick to obliques is to exercise them with strictly toning exercises, i.e. don’t use any weight on an exercise that works your obliques.

Continue reading for a list of exercises which can really tone up your obliques!

Side bends are always great, and here are some more fun exercises:

(information credited to bodybuilding.com)

Alternate Heel Touchers

Instructions: Works your obliques. In order to complete 1 repetition, each heel must be touched once. So, get into position, crunch over and touch your right heel once, then crunch over and touch your left heel once, and now you’ve completed 1 repetition. Lie down on the floor. Bend your knees and keep your feet 18-24 inches apart. Keep your arms straight down at your sides. Crunch forward and up about 3-4 inches. Remember to keep your lower back pressed flat against the ground. Keep your head in a neutral position. Alternate touching your right heel and then your left heel. Remember, touching each heel once is one rep!

Decline Oblique Crunch

Instructions: Position yourself on a decline bench with your feet locked in. Your upper body should be raised off the bench. Cup your right hand over your right ear, and place your left hand on your thigh. Raise your upper body slowly while turning your torso to the left. Focus on keeping your abs tight and keeping the movement slow and controlled. Continue crunching up until your right elbow touches your left knee. Lower your body slowly back down to the starting position. After completing one set on the right, switch to your left side. TIP: Focus on really twisting your torso and feeling the contraction when you are in the UP position.

Hanging Knee Raise To The Side

Instructions: Works the obliques and lower abs. Hang from a pull-up bar with your legs and feet together. Slowly lift your knees to one side as high as you can. Do this by curling your spine from the bottom up, not simply lifting your knees. Squeeze your lower abs and obliques at the to of the movement, then slowly lower. Repeat and alternate sides. Do not SWING your legs up.

Oblique Crunches

Instructions: Works your side obliques. Lie flat on your back with your knees bent (placing your knees on the floor or resting on a bench). Place your left hand over your left ear. Roll your upper body up to the right until your left elbow touches your right knee. Concentrate on tensing the sides of your waist and holding contraction throughout the movement. Slowly lower to the starting position. After completing a full set of reps on the left side, switch to your right side and do the same thing.

Oblique Crunches - On The Floor

Instructions: Lie on your left side with your legs on top of each other with your knees bent a little. Loosely cup your head with your right hand. Crunch up as high as you can go, keeping the movement in the lateral plane as much as possible to work the obliques. Do both sides.