Ten minutes doesn’t sound like a lot. But when there’s zero rest between exercises, every second counts.
This quick intense ab workout uses back-to-back 30-second intervals to hit your core from every angle — no equipment needed.
Today’s intense abs workout will walk you through two full rounds of nonstop work. Just press your lower back into the floor and follow along!
Here’s the full routine:
Single Leg Drops
We’re kicking this intense abs workout off with single leg drops.
It’s a simple move, but don’t let that fool you — the key here is keeping that lower back glued to the floor the entire time.
If you can do that, you’ll feel your abs working right away.
How to perform:
- Start by pressing your lower back into the floor.
- Position your head either held up in a crunch position or keep it down on the floor.
- Keep your neck nice and long throughout the movement.
- Drop one leg at a time.
Double Leg Drops
Now you’re stepping it up by dropping both legs at once.
This one is tougher than it looks, so if you need to keep your knees bent to protect your lower back, go for it.
It’s one of the most effective ab workouts you can do for your lower core.
How to perform:
- Ensure your starting position has your lower back securely pressed into the floor.
- You have the option to keep your knees bent.
- Drop both of your legs down.
- Bring both legs back up.
Single Leg Tuck
For this one, you’ll start completely stretched out and then crunch all the way up, bringing one knee toward your chest at a time.
Think of your body forming a triangle shape at the top — that’s when your abs are doing the most work.
It takes a little coordination, but you’ll get the hang of it!
How to perform:
- Start completely stretched out.
- Come up, bringing one leg up at a time.
- Sit all the way up and touch your fingertips to the mat.
- Think about your abs and the top of a triangle position, crunching every time as you bring your knee in toward your chest.
- Alternate your legs.
Both Legs Tuck
Same idea as before, but now you’re bringing both legs up together.
You’ll touch your fingertips (or toes) to the mat each time.
If you’re looking for a toned abs workout for women that targets the full core, this is it.
How to perform:
- Bring both legs up.
- Touch your fingertips, or toes, to the mat.
- Bring your legs back out.
Flutter Kicks
Time to prop yourself up on your elbows and get those legs moving.
Here’s the thing — you want to keep your legs at about a 45-degree angle so your lower abs are doing the work, not your hip flexors or lower back.
Your lower abs should be on fire by now, and that’s exactly what we want!
How to perform:
- Start by supporting yourself on your elbows.
- Keep your chest lifted.
- Extend your legs, making sure to keep them at a 45-degree angle so you are using your lower abs and not straining your hip flexors or lower back.
- Flutter kick your legs up and down.
Single Leg Reverse Crunch
This is one of those moves that looks easy from the outside, but you’ll feel every single rep.
You’ll bring in one leg at a time and twist your opposite elbow to meet your knee.
Focus on pressing your lower back into the floor the whole time — that’s what keeps your abs engaged and not your back.
How to perform:
- Start laying on your back with your legs extended.
- Focus on pressing your lower back firmly to the floor.
- Bring in one leg at a time to perform a reverse crunch.
- Bring your opposite elbow to your knee.
Elbow Leg Extensions
You’re staying up on those elbows for this one.
All you’ll do is extend your legs out and bring them back in — simple as that.
But keep that chest lifted the whole time. If you start sinking, your abs aren’t doing the work anymore.
How to perform:
- Support yourself back up on your elbows.
- Keep your chest lifted.
- Extend your legs outward.
- Bring your legs back in.
Scissor Crunches
For this killer abs workout move, you’ll keep your shoulder blades lifted off the floor while dropping one leg at a time.
You have the option to keep your legs straight or give them a slight bend — either way, your core is working hard.
This is a great one whether you’re just starting out with a beginner abs workout for women or you’ve been at it for a while.
How to perform:
- Start laying on your back with your shoulder blades lifted up off the floor.
- You can keep your legs straight or have them slightly bent.
- Drop one leg at a time.
Plank Knee to Elbow
Time to flip over! You’ll get into a plank on your hands and bring one knee across to the side, nice and close to your elbow.
The biggest thing here? Keep your hips flat and your body in a straight line.
If your booty starts creeping up, bring it back down — you’ll get way more out of this move.
How to perform:
- Flip over to start in a plank position supported on your hands.
- Keep your booty nice and flat so everything is in a nice straight line.
- Bring one knee across to the side.
- Bring that knee in right close to your elbow, then bring it back.
Elbow Plank Hold
You’re almost done! For the last 30 seconds, you’ll drop down to your elbows and just hold it.
Sounds easy, right? After everything you just did, this is going to feel like a lot.
Just breathe, keep that booty down, and push through. You can do it!
This is one of those everyday ab workouts you can add to your routine and see real results.
How to perform:
- Drop down from your hands to support yourself on your elbows.
- Keep your booty down.
- Hold this position for 30 seconds.

Article Medically reviewed by
I’m fitness coach Ashley Castleberry, an NASM-certified personal trainer and nutritionist, as well as a coach on an established YouTube Channel with over 1 million followers. With certifications from major fitness brands, I specialize in athletic, HIIT, and strength training. Leveraging my experience coaching clients on lifestyle changes, I provide customized exercise and nutrition guidance to help people reach their fitness goals, whether that be weight loss, muscle gain or overall health improvement.
