No Gym? No Problem! #5
Here is another workout you can do whenever and where ever you want! This one is an abdominal specific workout. You can get this one done in less than 15 minutes! All you need is a small amount of space and a stability ball if you already have one! Do 5-10 reps of each and repeat 2-3 times depending on how much time you have. No excuses, just do it!
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Warm-up: Cat-Camel
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Bird-Dog
Remain on all fours and tighten your abdominal muscles, keeping your spine and neck in a neutral position; you should be looking at the floor. Slowly extend your left leg behind you while reaching your right arm forward. Keep your hips and shoulders square and make sure your lower back doesn’t arch. Hold for five seconds. Slowly return to the starting position and do the move on the opposite side. Complete 5 to 10 repetitions on each side.
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Stability-Ball Crunch
Strengthen your abs and obliques by sitting on a large ball with your feet flat on the floor. Walk your feet forward, letting your entire back rest on the ball and keeping your thighs parallel to the floor. Cross your arms over your chest and slightly tuck in your chin. Contract your abs and exhale as you raise your torso about 45 degrees. Pause, then lower, inhaling as you go. If you feel unstable, move your feet farther apart. Repeat 5-10 times. If you don’t have a stability ball, just do this move on the floor as a regular crunch/sit up.
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Front Plank
Lie on your stomach with arms bent, palms and forearms on the ground, fingers pointed forward, legs extended, and toes tucked under. Work your back and abs by contracting your core muscles and slowly lifting your entire torso off the floor, keeping palms, forearms, and toes on the ground. Avoid arching your lower back, hiking your hips upward, or shrugging your shoulders. Hold for 10 to 30 seconds, gradually building up to one minute.
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Bicycle
Lie on your back with fingertips behind ears, legs in the air, and knees pulled toward chest. Target your sides and entire ab area by contracting as you lift your shoulder blades off the ground. Straighten your right leg at a 45-degree angle and rotate your upper body to the left, bringing the right elbow toward the left knee. Switch sides by straightening your left leg, bending your right leg, and bringing the left elbow to the right knee. Alternate sides in a pedaling motion. Complete 5-10 full reps.
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Side Plank
Turn onto your right side with your legs extended and your feet and hips resting on the ground and stacked on top of each other (top illustration). Place your right elbow directly under your shoulder to prop up your torso, and align your head with your spine. Gently contract your core and lift your hips and knees off the floor; this strengthens your sides and deep ab muscles (bottom illustration). Hold for 10 to 30 seconds, gradually working up to a minute, and return to the starting position. Roll onto the other side and repeat.
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Reverse Crunch
To strengthen the entire ab area, lie on your back and extend your arms out to the side, or keep your hands behind your head if that’s more comfortable (top illustration). Raise your knees and feet so they create a 90-degree angle. Contract your abdominals and exhale as you lift your hips off the floor with control; your knees will move toward your head (bottom illustration). Try to keep your knees at a right angle. Inhale and slowly lower. Repeat 5-10 times.
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Cooldown: Cobra
Lie on your stomach with your hands underneath your shoulders and your fingers pointing forward (top illustration). Keep your neck long. Gently exhale and lift your chest and torso upward to stretch your abdominals (bottom illustration). Press your hips into the ground. Hold for 15 to 30 seconds, breathing evenly, then slowly lower back to the floor.
Don’t forget to keep good form and warm up before and stretch out after you exercise!
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