Ditch sit-ups — you just need a resistance band and these 5 exercises to build a stronger core

Woman performing glute bridge with resistance brand
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

There are lots of way to train your core, whether that's sticking to traditional exercises like sit-ups, planks and crunches or incorporating some of the best kettlebells into your workouts, but they're not your only option, as we've found a resistance band routine that'll challenge your core and abs in just five moves.

The trainer behind this banded workout, Cindy Yu, uses one size of band for the whole workout but if you own a set of the best resistance bands you might like to challenge yourself and up the level of resistance as you progress through each round of the routine.

This is way, you can use the progressive overload to gradually increase the intensity of your workouts, and boost muscle growth. Once you've got a resistance band to hand and you're pumped to work your core, you're ready to take on Yu's effective five-move workout.

Watch Cindy Yu's five-move resistance band core workout

You will work through each exercise for 30-40 seconds and the aim is to complete four or five rounds in total. Helpfully, Yu demonstrates all the moves you'll need to perfect your technique. Here's a list of the exercises you'll need: 

  1. Glute bridge abduction cross crunch
  2. Banded kick out
  3. Abduction abs crunch
  4. Banded bicycle abs
  5. Leg drop abduction

Resistance bands can be really helpful for making sure you are targeting the right muscles, thanks to the constant tension they provide. Unlike weights, where there might be moments of reduced tension, bands provide constant tension throughout the entire range of motion of an exercise. 

This consistent tension forces the muscles to work harder to maintain control, leading to greater muscle activation. Plus, the continuous resistance increases time under tension, which is crucial for stimulating muscle growth and improving strength.

Thanks to Yu's routine, you'll be targeting and strengthening all areas of the core. The combination of abductions, crunches, and leg movements engages the upper and lower abs and activates the obliques, developing overall core stability and functional strength

Plus, the inclusion of glute-activating moves, such as the glute bridge abduction, will get those butt muscles working. Not only will this contribute to defining the glutes but also enhance your lower back support and improve overall lower body strength. 

Completing this core routine is a fantastic step towards strengthening and toning your midsection, but it shouldn't be the end of your efforts. To further promote muscle growth and achieve visible results, consistency is key.

Regularly incorporating core-strengthening workouts into your fitness regimen is important. Additionally, varying your exercises is essential to continuously challenge your muscles and prevent plateaus. 

If you're not seeing the desired definition, it might be because you need to dedicate time to lowering your body fat by establishing a nutritious diet that you enjoy and maintaining regular cardio and strength training.

More from Tom's Guide

Jessica Downey
Senior Fitness Writer

Jessica has been a fitness writer at Tom’s Guide since 2023, bringing three years of experience writing about health, fitness, and the great outdoors. Her passion for exercise began during her childhood, where she spent weekends hiking and competing in local athletics club events. After earning a master’s degree in journalism from Cardiff University, Jessica found the perfect way to combine her love of storytelling and fitness into a career.

Jessica is passionate about testing fitness gear and tech, using her reviews to help readers make informed buying decisions. She ran her first marathon in April 2024, finishing it in 3 hours and 48 minutes. Through her training, she’s developed a deep understanding of what it takes to grow as a runner, from effective workouts and recovery techniques to selecting the right gear for every challenge.

When she’s not at her desk, Jessica enjoys spending time in the kitchen crafting new recipes, braving cold water swims and hiking.

Read more
fit woman's abs
Instead of 'basic' crunches — here are 3 abs exercises you need to try, according to a functional training coach
Woman holding a kettlebell on her right shoulder against a grey backdrop wearing white crop top
You don’t need crunches to sculpt your core — try these 5 kettlebell exercises instead
a photo of a woman doing abdominal crunches on her back
No equipment, no crunches — build a stronger core with this 5-move workout
Woman performing bicycle crunches on a yoga mat in a yellow room
Strengthen your core and improve your posture in just 10 moves with this 10-minute bodyweight ab workout
a man doing a sit up
You don’t need crunches to build a strong core — here are 6 exercises to try instead
Woman holding a kettlebell in an upright row against orange background
No sit-ups or crunches — just 15 minutes of core building kettlebell exercises
Latest in Fitness
a woman doing a kettlebell lunge
No gym needed — you just need 1 kettlebell and 30 minutes to build full-body strength and boost your metabolism
Man holding a dumbbell in right hand with elbow flexed during arm workout outdoors
You just need 20 minutes, 1 dumbbell and this superset workout to strengthen your whole body and boost your metabolism
a photo of a woman in her 60's working out
Not swimming or Pilates — a Harvard study reveals this exercise protects memories and keeps your mind sharp
Man squatting
I’m a personal trainer — forget regular squats, and try Spanish squats to reduce knee pain instead
the Orbea Denna on a gravel track
Orbea's new e-bike is designed to tackle both road and gravel — and you can build your own
woman exercising with ankle weights
I exercised with ankle weights for 3 weeks — here's what happened to my body
Latest in Features
Proton VPN logo and in-app screenshots
"If you control online, you control everything" – Proton is taking the fight to internet censorship
A woman with dark hair lies in bed yawning because she is so tired and ready to sleep
Tired all the time? Sleep experts share how to tackle hypersomnia — plus what might be causing it
A woman with long dark hair falls asleep quickly in a comfy bed dressed with soft white linens
I'm an ex-insomniac turned sleep coach — my 3 top tips to fall asleep quickly
LG G4 OLED in living room
This is the one setting on your HDR TV most people don't know about — here's how to tweak it
Chelsea Manning speaking at the NymVPN launch event
Chelsea Manning-backed NymVPN launches in bid to win the "censorship arms race"
Samsung Q60D QLED TV on console in living room
Here's why more sports games aren't broadcast in 4K — but streaming might have the answer