Get strong abs and a core of steel with new exercises
The benefits of a strong core cannot be underestimated. Almost everything you do involves your abs: walking, bending, sitting, standing, reaching or lifting. Strong abs improve your posture, stabilize your movements and prevent injuries.
There are many barbell lifts that can help increase core strength, but most of them require great skill and technique—think the snatch or overhead squat—and are more difficult for athletes of all skill levels to perform perfectly.
Try these fun and unusual dumbbell ab exercises to increase your core strength, no matter what level of athlete you are.
Abdominal exercises with dumbbells - Barbell Roll Out

This is a great way to train your core and lower back.
When you roll over a barbell, you create momentum in the opposite direction of your own and then slowly stop. The more you stretch, the more stress you put on your core. This exercise requires some control to overcome the momentum and bring the bar back.
Take a barbell and load both ends; the smaller plates increase the difficulty because you will have to go lower for a full extension.
With your knees on the floor, push your hips forward, keeping your arms straight and extending the bar as far as possible without letting your lower back arch.
This is one of the best exercises for training your core. The beauty of the barbell is that you can choose how much weight you want to put on it; the heavier the weight, the more momentum you will create when pushing and the more difficult the exercise will be.
Barbell Hip Thruster

An exercise designed to train your posterior chain (the muscle group located at the back of your body), dumbbells also work the stabilizing muscles in your core, improving your balance and spinal stability.
Start by lying down with the bar above your hips. Be sure to push the bar with your hands to avoid it resting on your hip bones, which can cause pain. Bend your knees and plant your feet firmly on the floor, then push your hips up.
Hold the weight in this high position for one second and slowly lower back down. This is one repetition.
Keep your core engaged throughout the exercise.
Barbell Russian Twist

Tape one end of the bar to the corner of a wall (on a towel for stability) and load the other end. Stand with your legs hip-width apart and bring the loaded end in front of you with your arms straight.
Lower the bar to one side while rotating your hips and shoulders in the direction of the bar. Then raise the bar and repeat in the other direction. Be sure to keep your arms straight throughout the movement.
It is advisable to start with light weights that are gentle on the spine, or even not using any at all. Only increase the weight when you feel you have made progress.
Barbell Windshield Wiper

Start by lying on the floor holding a barbell as you would for a bench press. Raise your legs, then lower them to one side of your body. The straighter your legs are, the more difficult the movement will be.
An alternative would be to lower your legs in a straight line and then, as you raise them, rotate them to one side of the bar.
The weight you put on the bar depends on your fitness level.
Barbell Overhead Carry

To perform this exercise, hold a dumbbell overhead with your elbows locked, making sure to engage your core and avoid arching your lower back. Move at a pace that feels comfortable for you, making sure to keep pushing on the bar the entire time.
The overhead dumbbell carry is a great exercise to strengthen your core and improve your posture and control.
Barbell Straight Leg Sit-Up
The dumbbell leg curl is a next level exercise that keeps the spine in a healthy position throughout the exercise.
To start, lie on your back with your legs straight, holding a barbell above your head with your hands shoulder-width apart. Keep your arms straight above your head and lift your torso until you are sitting upright.
Start by using the bar without weight to ensure you are performing the exercise with proper technique. Once you get used to the movement, you can add weight or increase the number of repetitions.