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Carve Out 5 Minutes of Your Day for This Tough Abs Workout

By , Alicia Capetillo, Editor-in-Chief
Living in a small town, Le Sweat founder Charlee Atkins didn't have a choice but to be active. After all, with only 90 kids in her high school, it was practically mandatory to play sports just so they could fill the volleyball, basketball, cheerleading and track rosters. Despite not initially choosing fitness, she eventually chose it when she began studying sports medicine in college and the love only continued to grow.
 
"It feels good to feel good," the 10-year trainer says about her love for health and fitness. "Through my college education and the final years with my dad—who had me at 64 years old—I realized how the things we do now in our 20s, 30s and 40s make our 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s much easier."
 
With Le Sweat, Atkins' mission is to deliver quick, effective workouts that can be done anywhere, any time. No more saying you just don't have time or can't make it to the gym—her sweat and stretch sessions can be opened right on your phone and most require only your bodyweight or minimal equipment.
 
As a certified strength and conditioning specialist, she hopes to foster a community, noting that a small gym was the first place she truly felt like she belonged. "We come together for the workouts," she says. "We stay because of the relationships."
 
This five-move workout was designed with your living room in mind. Grab a yoga mat and get ready to make your core feel a serious burn. If you're feeling extra ambitious, repeat the workout one, or even two more times.

The Workout

Perform each exercise for 45 seconds, as many repetitions as you can, then recover for 15 seconds. 

1. Scissor Kicks
  • Engage the core by lifting shoulder blades up off the mat, pressing the lower back into the mat. 
  • Point the toes and crisscross the legs over and under aat the ankles. 

2. Frogger Crunch
  • Assume the classic crunch position with the knees bent at a 90=degree angle. 
  • Bring the insides of the feet together and open the knees so they are slightly wider.
  • Place the fingertips behind the ears, then slowly lift the shoulder blades up off the mat as you tighten your abdominal muscles. 

3. Penguin Crunch
  • Place your feet on the ground with your knees bent. 
  • Lift the shoulder blades off the mat, pressing the lower back into the mat.
  • Reaching the fingertips toward your toes, move the body side to side through the obliques. Continue alternating until time is up. 

4. Reverse Crunch
  • Place your feet on the ground with your knees bent at a 90-degree angle. Keep your head resting on the mat. 
  • Pull your knees toward the chest and lift the hips off the ground two to three inches. 
  • Lower the hips back down to the starting position, then continue lowering feet to tap your heels to the ground until time is called. 

5. Straight Arm Sit-Up
  • Start on your back with the knees bent up toward the ceiling. 
  • Extend both arms up toward the ceiling. 
  • Sit up, reaching the arms up the entire time. 
  • Slowly lower back down to the starting position, using your abdominal muscles to control the movement. 
What is your favorite abdominal exercise?