The Best Exercise for Abs (And Why Chest and Back Matter Too)

The Question Everyone Asks

People always ask me the same thing when they hear I go to the gym: “Bro, what’s the best exercise for abs?”

And honestly… I used to ask that too. I thought there was some secret move everyone knew except me. Like if I just discovered that one magical exercise, I’d wake up the next morning with a six-pack. Yeah… no. Doesn’t work like that. Took me a long time (and a lot of frustration) to figure that out.

My Crunch-Only Phase (aka neck pain era)

In the beginning, I was obsessed with crunches. Like obsessed. I’d drop on the floor almost every night, crank out 50, then push for 100, sometimes more. I was sweating buckets, convinced my abs were going to pop out any day.

Guess what happened? Nothing. Zero results. All I got was a sore neck and this weird tightness in my lower back. I remember lying there one night, out of breath, staring at the ceiling like, “What am I even doing? This isn’t working.”

The Hard Truth About Abs

That was the first time it hit me that maybe abs weren’t about hammering sit-ups until I hated life.

The Plank Slap-in-the-Face

Then some guy at my gym said: “Forget crunches. Hold a plank.” I thought he was trolling me. Like seriously? Just stay still? How’s that gonna build abs?

But I tried it anyway. And wow… 20 seconds in, I was shaking like a leaf. 30 seconds, and my arms collapsed. It was humbling. Way harder than I expected.

Why Planks Worked

Here’s the thing though — planks hit everything. Not just the “six-pack muscles,” but the deep stuff, the stabilizers, even my back. After a few weeks of doing them, I realised I was standing taller, my back wasn’t aching as much, and honestly, I felt stronger overall. Way more than I ever did with crunches.

If you ask me now, plank wins. Every time.

For more details on how I built strength beyond just abs, check out my post on The Best Exercise for a Fit Body (internal link).

Why Chest Training Snuck Up On Me

Here’s the embarrassing part — I skipped chest day. Like all the time. In my head, chest workouts were just for guys who wanted to flex in the mirror or fill out their t-shirts. I was only chasing abs, so why bother?

That changed the day my friend challenged me to a push-up contest. I thought it’d be easy. Big mistake. I barely managed 10 before my arms gave out. He kept going, casually, like it was nothing. I felt like a complete joke.

Push-Ups Changed Everything

So yeah… I swallowed my pride and started doing push-ups. At first it sucked, but over time, I noticed something — not only was my chest getting stronger, but my posture improved too. Suddenly I wasn’t slouching as much. Even carrying groceries felt easier. Chest workouts weren’t just about looks. They actually made everyday life less of a struggle.

The Back Day I Never Did (and Paid For)

Now, let me tell you my dumbest mistake: I ignored back workouts. I figured if I couldn’t see it in the mirror, why bother?

Yeah, turns out that’s a terrible idea. After months of skipping it, my shoulders started rounding forward, I looked hunched, and my lower back screamed whenever I sat too long. It was bad.

My Pull-Up Reality Check

When I finally faced the pull-up bar, reality hit hard. I couldn’t even do one. Not a single pull-up. I just dangled there, legs kicking, feeling ridiculous. But I stuck with it — used bands, did negatives, lat pulldowns — slowly built up. The day I finally cranked out a clean pull-up, I swear I almost cheered out loud.

And here’s the kicker: the stronger my back got, the better my abs looked. Seriously. Just standing tall, shoulders back, core engaged — made my stomach look flatter and tighter instantly. I never would’ve guessed.

(If you want science-backed info on why training your back helps your core, check this Harvard Health article on core strength.

The Simple Trio That Works

After all that trial and error, I realised I don’t need a million fancy moves. Just three basics that cover everything:

Planks → core stability and deep abs
Push-ups (or bench) → chest + posture
Pull-ups → back strength + balance

That’s it. Not flashy, not complicated, but man… it works.

My “Lazy Day” Routine

Sometimes I don’t feel like spending forever in the gym. On those days, I just do this quick set:

Plank: 3 rounds, 30–60 seconds
Push-ups: 3 sets of 12–15
Pull-ups: 3 sets (as many as I can)

Takes maybe 20 minutes. Covers abs, chest, back all at once. No wasted time.

Stuff I Wish Someone Told Me

Looking back, I wish someone grabbed me early on and said: “Dude, stop chasing abs. They’ll come if you train everything.” Would’ve saved me so much time and frustration.

Also, posture. I had no idea standing tall makes abs look way better. Doesn’t matter how many sit-ups you do — if you’re slouching, your abs disappear.

And the biggest one: simple > complicated. Fancy machines and weird ab gadgets don’t beat planks, push-ups, and pull-ups. They just don’t.

Wrapping Up (No Fancy Ending Here)

So yeah, if you’re asking me what the best ab exercise is? Plank. 100%.

But here’s the real truth: abs won’t shine unless your chest and back are in the mix too. Everything connects. A strong core without chest and back is like a table with two legs — it’s gonna fall over.

So do your planks. Knock out those push-ups. Struggle on those pull-ups until you finally nail one. Trust me, it’s worth it. One day you’ll look in the mirror and think: “Damn… I actually look strong now.”