10-Minute Ab Burner with Alternating Planks
/Happy Monday, everyone! How was your weekend? Mine was pretty good. I'm getting things squared away little by little for my move, which is a huge stress reliever. Yesterday, my boyfriend and I tried out a new gym (new to us anyway) - LA Fitness. It opened up a few years ago in our neighborhood and we decided to try it out with their 3-day guest pass. It was a pretty nice facility with all new equipment, and our 3-day pass turned into a week for free! So, I'm excited to go back there this week to try out the other machines I didn't get to use. Lately when I go to the gym, I've been trying to force myself to learn the machines. Why? Well, I wasn't ever a machine person and decided that I need to know how these babies work given the profession I'm branching out into. I was always a loose equipment type person (dumbbells, resistance bands, barbells, TRX straps, stability balls, etc.). I've decided I've stayed in my comfort zone for too long! (And jeez, it's about time I branch out!)
Okay, now on to the workout. Today's ab burner takes a quick 10 minutes, but boy you'll feel it when you're done! Pin it now so you'll have a quick routine to do the next time you hit the beach or need to pump up those ab muscles!
10-Minute Ab Burner with Alternating Planks
Do each exercise for 1 minute, alternating holding a low plank on your elbows for 1 minute between each.
Sit & Reach + Toe Touch - sit on the ground with your legs out straight. Reach for your toes. As you come back, roll onto your back bringing your legs straight up into the air. Reach for your toes, engaging your abs. Roll back up to a seated position and reach for your toes again. Keep alternating that back and forth for 1 minute.
Supine Leg Circles - lie on your back, legs out straight and feet hovering slightly above the floor. Keeping your legs straight and feet together, make small circles in one direction for 30 seconds. Immediately switch directions without dropping your feet for the next 30 seconds. Trainer Tip: if your lower back gives you trouble, try placing your hands underneath it for support.
Slow Bicycles - stay lying on your back, and alternate bringing opposite elbow to opposite knee slowly (count to 4 between each). Keep "pedaling" for 1 minute.
Oblique Crunches - lie on one side, keeping your bottom arm extended out on the floor and top arm bent with your hand behind your head. From there, crunch up to the side so your elbow meets your knees. Continue the crunches for 30 seconds on one side, then switch to the other. Trainer Tip: if you want to make it easier, only crunch up using your top leg instead of both. Harder = keep legs straight and "V" up.
10-Second Knee Press Hold + 10 Pulses - lie on your back with your knees bent at 90Λ, hands pressed into them. Push against yourself (hands against knees and knees against hands), engaging your abs. Hold that for 10 seconds, then do 10 quick presses (pulses) in that position. Keep alternating 10-second holds & 10 pulses for 1 minute.
Readers: chat with me! what are your favorite ab exercises? Do you go to the gym for your workouts? If so, do you use machines or other equipment to get your workout done? Or maybe a combo? I'd love to hear! Happy Monday - I hope it's off to a great start!
