We're big fans of Julianne Hough—this triple threat star is mega talented and rocks a down-to-earth, real-girl vibe. And unlike a lot of celebs, who attribute their awesome bodies to good genes or occasional yoga, Julianne has no problem discussing the work she puts into maintaining her tight, toned shape.
One of her (many) stay-fit secrets: lots of sit-ups, including jackknives—a low-impact, ultra-intense crunch that’s super for your core. "Jackknives work your abs as well as your inner and outer obliques, targeting many muscles in one move," explains Garson Grant, master trainer at Chelsea Piers in New York City. It's a fab exercise if you’re looking for variety when it comes to same-old crunches, and even better, you can pretty much do it anywhere, working in a few sets of reps during commercials or as a warm-up at the gym.
Here's the right way to do it:
Step 1: Lay on your back, your legs straight and arms extended overhead.
Step 2: Lift you torso and legs off the ground, as if your outstretched arms and legs were to meet. "Lead with your torso rather than your head or neck, which can result in injuries," says Grant.
Step 3: Hold for one count, then lower your torso and legs back down slowly. "It's important to lower down in a controlled way, so you really work the muscle," he says.
Jackknives can be tricky depending on how strong your core is, so start with one set of 10, two if you’re not a crunch beginner.
For an advanced jackknife, grab a medicine ball and try this.
And if you’re pretty much crunch-averse (hey, we get it!), but still looking to strengthen and tone your core muscles, may we recommend these 10 abs exercises better than crunches?
Not to mention, these fabulous abs workouts you MUST try:
The 15-Minute Standing Workout for Flat Abs
The 5-Minute No-Crunches Workout for Incredible Abs
Maria Menounos’s Bikini-Tummy Workout
The (15-Minute) Belly-Blasting Workout
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