While crunches strengthen part of the abdominal muscles, they do very little to improve the total-body strength and calorie burn needed to create lasting changes. A stronger waist comes from training your entire body, not just your abs. This movement strengthens the obliques, shoulders, hips, and abdominal muscles while teaching your body to rotate smoothly and safely. Lateral Step with ReachSide-to-side movement strengthens muscles that often receive very little attention during traditional workouts. Carrying weight while walking forces the deep core muscles to stabilize your spine with every step, strengthening the entire midsection without a single crunch.