There are various weight exercises that directly impact the abdominal muscles or core but were meant to work on other body parts.
Back squats directly works out the legs but it also works on your glutes, back, and shoulders.
That is what you call a total body exercise.
One exercise that surprisingly works on the abdominal muscles and core is the overhead squat.
The movement is exactly the same as the squat except you hold the barbell (or dumbbell) overhead with your elbow locked.
This exercise can be felt in the legs and in the core- especially on the outside part of your core.
Your core has to stabilize your body while you are going up and down with the squat movement.
It is not as easy as it looks.
It is best to start off light.
Because it is more difficult than a regular squat, you cannot squat as much weight.
In fact, many strong lifters may even have a challenge doing this overhead squat exercise with only the Olympic Bar (45 pounds).
Your abdominals have to work hard to do this exercise and to keep your body stable.
Keep your heels to the ground (as with all squat exercises).
Also, it is important to keep your head straight and steady.
Otherwise, you can fall forward (if you are looking down).
Our bodies tend to follow where are heads are looking at.
As with most squat exercises, you inhale on the way down, and exhale on the way up.
For this particular overhead squat movement, you will have to tighten up your abdominal muscles during the movement.
You may even have to briefly hold your breath when you go with heavier weights.
It is definitely more difficult to do this exercise with a barbell than a dumbbell.
Dumbbells allow your body (especially your core) more freedom to move around a bit.
The barbells are more restrictive.
Be careful with your elbows.
You may want to slightly bend them (but not too much) as you may strain them during this exercise.
You will feel tension in your arms and shoulders.
This is common.
It is important that you build strength in your arms and shoulders so you can properly do these overhead squats.
This may be a bit more challenging for most people.
But, it is great to have an arsenal of various full body exercises that can help you workout your abdominals or core.
Make sure your legs and back are properly warmed up.
Also, do not be ashamed or afraid to go light when you start of doing this overhead squat exercise.