Quick Morning Ab Workouts You Can Do Before Breakfast
Are you looking for a great energy burst before breakfast?
I mean, a burst that gets you sailing into your day more focused.
No, it’s not a dose of caffeine.
It’s a quick morning abs workout.
Now, before you let out that groan, hear me out!
There are HUGE benefits to getting that abs workout in before breakfast.
First and most important, exercising first thing in the morning allows you to get in a workout session before your day goes crazy and you talk yourself out of doing a it later.
Early morning exercise sessions can also help you focus better and increase your metabolism throughout your entire day.
Oh, and yeah, they also give you a strong core!
This workout should only take about 10 minutes, but it can pack a huge punch into your day.
So, grab your mat and a glass of water, and let’s grind!
The Benefits of Morning Ab Workouts
Starting the day with an ab workout can boost you physically and also increase your mental performance.
Kickstarting Your Metabolism
Doing core exercises first thing in the morning can help start the fat-burning process.
- Increased calorie burn: Combining ab workouts with a healthy breakfast can increase the number of calories burned throughout the entire day.
- Improved energy levels: Exercising releases endorphins, which can give you more energy and make you more productive.
READ MORE: How Much Exercise Is Necessary for Endorphin Release? | Exercise.com
Improves Mental Clarity
Morning workouts are not only for the body; they can also stimulate the mind.
- Boosts alertness: Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, improving your alertness.
- Reduces stress: Exercise decreases cortisol levels, which can boost your mood and concentration.
Creating Your Morning Routine
Starting a solid morning routine can help you make quick ab workouts easy peasy (well, maybe easy to start, not necessarily easy to do!).
Warming Up Your Core
A good warm-up is important to get the abdominal muscles ready for a butt-kicking workout.
A few good warm-up exercises:
- Torso twists: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and gently twist your torso side to side for 30 seconds.
- Cat-cow stretch: Start on all fours, arch the back (cat), and then dip it (cow) for 10 repetitions.
- Standing side bends: Reach over your head and lean to each side for 15 seconds.
10-Minute Abs Workouts Blueprint
These core exercises will get the blood flowing to help you start your day strong!
Leg Lifts:
Leg raises are fantastic for working the lower abs.
- Lie flat on your back with your legs extended.
- Place your hands at your sides or under your hips for support.
- Slowly raise your legs to a 90-degree angle,
- Keep abs engaged.
- Lower your legs back down without touching the ground.
Avoid using momentum; slow and controlled movements will be more effective.
Torso Twist
The torso twist is a great way to work your internal and external obliques and core muscles.
- Sit on the floor with your legs bent.
- Lean your upper body back to about 90 degrees.
- Avoid rounding your lower back.
- Twist the right upper body to the left knee.
- Then, go back to the starting position.
- Twist left upper body to right knee.
- Repeat 10 times per leg.
For more of a challenge, lift your legs off the floor.
Reverse Crunches:
This one can kick butt for the lower abdominal muscles.
- Lie on your back.
- Bend your knees with your feet on the floor.
- Lift your hips towards the ceiling while bringing your knees in towards the abs/chest.
- Lower your feet back down to the ground.
- Repeat
Bicycle Crunches:
This is one of the best exercises to work the internal obliques.
- Lie on your back
- Crunch up with your shoulder blades and legs off the ground.
- Bringing your right knee to your chest.
- Twist as you bring your left elbow to the chest.
- Keep left leg straight.
- Return to starting position.
- Then, bring the left knee to your chest as you twist the right elbow to the chest.
- Continue to repeat alternating legs and arms.
Plank to Shoulder Tap:
This exercise is great for building strength in your core and upper body.
- Start out in a high plank position.
- Keep your body in a straight line.
- Take your right hand and touch your left shoulder or upper arm.
- Go back to starting position,
- Take your left hand and touch your right shoulder.
- Continue to alternate.
Mountain Climbers:
The next move is mountain climbers.
They are a great way to get in some cardio exercise while building your core strength.
- Start in a high plank position.
- Bring the right foot to the chest.
- Return to starting position.
- Bring the left foot to the chest.
- Continue to alternate as you increase your speed.
Flutter Kicks:
Flutter kicks are one of the best ways to work the lower abs.
- Lie on your back.
- Bring both feet up to a 45-90 degree angle,
- Alternate raising and lowering your feet in a rapid motion.
Plank Jacks:
Plank jacks are another cardio exercise to get your heart rate up while engaging the entire core.
- Start in a high plank position.
- Jump your feet out wide.
- Then, bring them back together.
- Continue to move your feet in and out rapidly.
Heel Taps:
The best way to work your internal and external obliques is with heel taps.
- Lie on your back with your hands at your sides.
- Bend your knees with your feet flat on the floor.
- Bring heels as close to your butt as possible.
- Begin right hand to right heel.
- Return to starting position,
- Then, take the left hand to the left heel.
- Continue alternating.
Plank Hold:
Another total body exercise.
It always sounds easy but it is a very powerful exercise.
- Start in a low plank.
- Hold the plank for 45 seconds.
READ MORE: 9 Of The Best Calisthenics Abs Exercises For Older Adults | Simply Aging Healthy
Cooling Down and Stretching Out
A good cool-down helps decrease muscle soreness and gets the body ready for the day ahead.
A few good options:
- Cobra Stretch:
- Lie face down, place your hands under your shoulders, and press up, arching your back.
- Hold for 15-30 seconds. It stretches the abs effectively.
- Child’s Pose:
- Sit back on your heels and extend your arms forward.
- Hold for 30 seconds to release tension.
- Knees to Chest Stretch:
- Lie on your back and pull your knees towards your chest.
- Hold for 20-30 seconds, breathing deeply to relax.
Morning Ab Workouts for Women Over 60
Including a quick morning ab workout into your daily routine can have many wonderful benefits, both physically and mentally.
Not only does it strengthen your core and improve your overall fitness, but it also sets a positive tone for the rest of your day.
As the saying goes, “A strong core leads to a strong body and a strong mind.”
By following the exercises in this article, you can easily fit in a few minutes of ab work before breakfast.
If doing these exercises on an empty stomach is not for you, then grab a small snack before you get started.
Start small and gradually increase the intensity, and before you know it, you’ll have killer abs to show for it.
So why not give it a try?
Let me know if you jumped on the bandwagon and did this.
What exercises did you like, and which ones did you HATE??