Start your summer body now, get that middle section in check to support your workout routine as you expand your volume and weights as we kick it into gear for 2024:
- Plank:
- Start in a forearm plank position with elbows directly beneath your shoulders.
- Keep your body in a straight line from head to heels, engaging your core.
- Hold the position for as long as you can maintain proper form.
- Russian Twists:
- Sit on the floor with your knees bent, leaning back slightly and keeping your back straight.
- Hold a weight or medicine ball with both hands.
- Twist your torso to one side, bringing the weight close to the floor, and then twist to the other side.
- Leg Raises:
- Lie on your back with your hands under your hips and legs extended.
- Lift your legs off the ground, keeping them straight, and then lower them back down without letting them touch the floor.
- Bicycle Crunches:
- Lie on your back, bring your knees toward your chest, and lift your shoulder blades off the ground.
- Extend one leg while bringing the opposite elbow towards the knee, alternating sides in a pedaling motion.
- Hanging Leg Raises:
- Hang from a pull-up bar with arms fully extended.
- Lift your legs straight up toward the ceiling, then lower them back down without swinging.
- Mountain Climbers:
- Start in a plank position with your hands under your shoulders.
- Bring one knee towards your chest and then switch quickly, as if you are “climbing” in place.
- Reverse Crunches:
- Lie on your back with your hands by your sides.
- Lift your legs towards the ceiling, then curl your hips off the floor, bringing your knees towards your chest.
- Flutter Kicks:
- Lie on your back with your hands under your hips.
- Lift your legs a few inches off the ground and alternate kicking them up and down in a fluttering motion.
- Ab Rollouts:
- Kneel on the floor with an ab wheel in front of you.
- Roll the wheel forward, extending your body as far as you can without arching your back, then roll it back to the starting position.
- Woodchoppers:
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a weight or medicine ball with both hands.
- Twist your torso and bring the weight from one side of your body to the other, as if you are chopping wood.
Remember to maintain proper form, perform these exercises at a controlled pace, and focus on engaging your core muscles for maximum effectiveness and injury prevention. If you’re new to exercise or have any health concerns, it’s advisable to consult with a fitness professional or healthcare provider before starting a new workout routine.