Standing Cable Crunch
This ab exercise is a great addition to floor exercises (crunches, legs lifts, etc.) precisely because it gets you off your back, doing something different. It may take a while to get the hang of it, but it's worth it because this exercise helps define and strengthen that crucial place where the abdominals meet the obliques.
This exercise works one side of your abs at a time so that a complete set requires that you switch hands and reposition your legs. Use a handle attached to the highest pulley of a cable machine. The knees of both of your legs are bent, with the leg of your non-working side directly below your shoulder, and the leg of your working side behind you. Come up on the toes of your back leg.
Note from the photos that the elbow is at a 90° angle at the starting position and moves very little during execution. In fact, there is very little movement at all. Instead, slowly and completely contract the abdominal muscles of the working side, moving as if there is a string attached to your elbow, pulling it straight down towards the floor. You will move about six inches at the most. Slowly perform 12-20 repetitions, then repeat on the other side.
