Check out ten best upper-abs exercises in this video. These upper-abs exercises are challenging & seriously effective. They'll get your entire midsection burning so you tone up in no time. Your rectus abdominis is really one long muscle that includes both your "mid" and "lower" abs. So, there are no exercises that explicitly isolate either half individually. However, some are much more effective at working those tough to get to upper muscles. 82-171 calories.