6 Minute Core Workout #7

6 Minute Core Workout #7

In April of 2020, we talked about 20 Core Exercises that didn’t include traditional crunches or sit-ups. This week we’ll be doing Core Workout #7.

As you know, my goal is to show you how to get fit at home, so I post workout videos from the comfort of my own home. These videos are not perfect by any means, and I’m okay with that. Most of the time I record them early in the morning to kick start my day. They are real-life workouts.

This is a Tabata style workout that features 2 Core Exercises: Pulse Ups and Windshield Wipers. One round of Tabata is four minutes long. By adding a short warm-up and a quick cool down, we get a six-minute workout. That will jumpstart your metabolism today…especially if you do the workout first thing in the morning as I do. The descriptions for each exercise are listed below.

Pulse Ups

  • Lie on floor with hands under butt
  • Start with legs straight up in the air
  • Lift legs toward ceiling, lifting butt off floor
  • Imagine that you’re trying to place your footprints on the ceiling

Windshield Wipers

  • Lie on back w/ legs bent in chair position and arms to the sides
    • Keep knees tight together and move them to the right, the center and the left
    • Keep abs engaged and do not allow gravity to take over
    • Knees should not touch the floor
    • Keep shoulders in contact with the floor at all times

The Next Steps

Next time, I will feature two more exercises in another workout. That workout will also be approximately 6 minutes long.

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6 Minute Core Workout #6

6 Minute Core Workout #6

In April of 2020, we talked about 20 Core Exercises that didn’t include traditional crunches or sit-ups. This week we’ll be doing Core Workout #6.

As you know, my goal is to show you how to get fit at home, so I post workout videos from the comfort of my own home. These videos are not perfect by any means, and I’m okay with that. Most of the time I record them early in the morning to kick start my day. They are real-life workouts.

This is a Tabata style workout that features 2 Core Exercises: Reverse Crunches and Clock Abs. One round of Tabata is four minutes long. By adding a short warm-up and a quick cool down, we get a six-minute workout. That will jumpstart your metabolism today…especially if you do the workout first thing in the morning as I do. The descriptions for each exercise are listed below.

Reverse Crunches

  • Start with hands under butt and legs in upside down V
  • Lift knees toward the chest, lifting butt off floor
  • Keep shoulders and upper back “glued” to the floor

Seated Twist

  • Sit with back at a 45-degree angle, with legs in a broken V and together at chest
  • Twist torso to R then L, getting elbows as close to the floor as possible
  • Upper body remains at 45-degrees the entire time
  • Option: lift feet off the floor.

The Next Steps

Next time, I will feature two more exercises in another workout. That workout will also be approximately 6 minutes long.

Follow Get Fit with Charity on FacebookPinterest and Instagram!

6 Minute Core Workout #5

6 Minute Core Workout #5

This week we’ll be doing Core Workout #5.

As you know, my goal is to show you how to get fit at home, so I post workout videos from the comfort of my own home. These videos are not perfect by any means, and I’m okay with that. Most of the time I record them early in the morning to kick start my day. They are real-life workouts.

This is a Tabata style workout that features 2 Core Exercises: Scissors with a Twist and Flutter Kick. One round of Tabata is four minutes long. By adding a short warm-up and a quick cool down, we get a six-minute workout. That will jumpstart your metabolism today…especially if you do the workout first thing in the morning as I do. The descriptions for each exercise are listed below.

Scissors with a Twist

  • Start with legs straight and upper body in C-curve
    • Perform vertical scissors
  • Twist upper body in opposition

Flutter Kick

  • Lie on back with arms out to sides and toes off floor
  • Scissor kick legs making sure they are 3 to 4 inches off the floor

The Next Steps

Next time, I will feature two more exercises in another workout. That workout will also be approximately 6 minutes long.

Follow Get Fit with Charity on FacebookPinterest and Instagram!

6 Minute Core Workout #4

6 Minute Core Workout #4

In April of 2020, we talked about 20 Core Exercises that didn’t include traditional crunches or sit-ups. This week we’ll be doing Core Workout #4.

As you know, my goal is to show you how to get fit at home, so I post workout videos from the comfort of my own home. These videos are not perfect by any means, and I’m okay with that. Most of the time I record them early in the morning to kick start my day. They are real-life workouts.

This is a Tabata style workout that features 2 Core Exercises: Horizontal Scissors and Bicycle Crunches. One round of Tabata is four minutes long. By adding a short warm-up and a quick cool down, we get a six-minute workout. That will jumpstart your metabolism today…especially if you do the workout first thing in the morning as I do. The descriptions for each exercise are listed below.

Horizontal Scissors

  • Start with hands under butt and legs straight
  • Lift legs to 45-degree angle
  • Then have legs go out to the sides as if doing jumping jacks and cross in the middle

Bicycle Crunch

  • Lie on back with leg straight and hands behind head
    • Lift shoulders and legs off floor, keeping neck neutral
  • Bring R knee to chest, hold for a few second, then continue alternating

The Next Steps

Next time, I will feature two more exercises in another workout. That workout will also be approximately 6 minutes long.

Follow Get Fit with Charity on FacebookPinterest and Instagram!

6 Minute Core Workout #3

6 Minute Core Workout #3

Forever ago, we talked about 20 Core Exercises that didn’t include traditional crunches or sit-ups. I know it’s been forever, but this week we’ll be doing the third 6-minute workout focused on the core.

As you know, my goal is to show you how to get fit at home, so I post workout videos from the comfort of my own home. These videos are not perfect by any means, and I’m okay with that. Most of the time I record them early in the morning to kick start my day. They are real-life, real-time workouts.

This is a Tabata style workout that features 2 Core Exercises: Single Leg Drop and V-Sit Hold. One round of Tabata is four minutes long. By adding a short warm-up and a quick cool down, we get a six-minute workout. That will jumpstart your metabolism today…especially if you do the workout first thing in the morning as I do. The descriptions for each exercise are listed below.

Single Leg Drop

  • Lie on the floor with hands under butt
  • Start with legs straight up in the air
  • Lower one leg until it is a few inches off the ground
  • Return to starting position
  • Repeat with the other leg
  • Control your lower abs and do not allow gravity to take over

V-Sit Hold

  • Sit with back at a 45-degree angle, legs in broken V and hands out in front
  • Hold as long a possible
  • Options
    • Lift heels from floor
    • Lift legs in air at 45-degree angle
    • Move arms either out to sides, straight in air over head or in line with upper body

The Next Steps

Next time, I will feature two more exercises in another workout. That workout will also be approximately 6 minutes long.

Follow Get Fit with Charity on FacebookPinterest and Instagram!

6 Minute Core Workout #2

6 Minute Core Workout #2

A few weeks ago, we talked about 20 Core Exercises that didn’t include traditional crunches or sit-ups. This week we’ll be doing Core Workout #2, the second 6-minute workouts focused on the core.

As you know, my goal is to show you how to get fit at home, so I post workout videos from the comfort of my own home. These videos are not perfect by any means, and I’m okay with that. Most of the time I record them early in the morning to kick start my day. They are real-life workouts.

This is a Tabata style workout that features 2 Core Exercises: Vertical Scissors and Vertical Toe Touches. One round of Tabata is four minutes long. By adding a short warm-up and a quick cool down, we get a six-minute workout. That will jumpstart your metabolism today…especially if you do the workout first thing in the morning, like I do. The descriptions for each exercise are listed below.

Clock Abs

  • Prop up on elbows with floor
  • Hold legs at 45-degree angle
  • Circle legs CW twenty seconds, like you’re drawing a circle on the wall with your toes

Heel Touches

  • Lie on back w/ legs bent in chair position and arms straight in the air
  • Reach to the right side and touch right hand to right heel, then alternate to other side
  • Keep shoulders in contact with the floor at all times
  • Even if you don’t touch your heels, you should still get a good side crunch.

The Next Steps

Next week, I will feature two more exercises in another workout. The workout will be approximately 6 minutes long.

Follow Get Fit with Charity on FacebookPinterest and Instagram!

6 Minute Core Workout #1

6 Minute Core Workout #1

Last week, we talked about 20 Core Exercises that didn’t include traditional crunches or sit-ups. This week we’ll be doing Core Workout #1, the first of many 6 minute workouts.

As you know, my goal is to show you how to get fit at home, so I post workout videos from the comfort of my own home. These videos are not perfect by any means, and I’m okay with that. Most of the time I record them early in the morning to kick start my day. They are real-life workouts.

This is a Tabata style workout that features 2 Core Exercises: Vertical Scissors and Vertical Toe Touches. One round of Tabata is four minutes long. By adding a short warm-up and a quick cool down, we get a six-minute workout. That will jumpstart your metabolism today…especially if you do the workout first thing in the morning, like I do. The descriptions for each exercise are listed below.

Vertical Scissors

  • Start with hands under butt and legs straight
  • Lift legs to 45-degree angle
  • Then alternate legs between 45-degrees and 75-degrees

Vertical Toe Touches

  • Lie on floor with hands at sides
  • Start with legs straight up in the air
  • With legs straight in the air, lift shoulders off floor and try to touch toes with hands
  • Options:
    • Both arms at the same time*
    • Reach R arm to R foot, then switch
    • Reach R arm to L foot, then switch

The Next Steps

In the coming weeks, I will transform these 20 core exercises into a series of Tabata workouts. Each workout will be 6 minutes long and feature two exercises.

Follow Get Fit with Charity on FacebookPinterest and Instagram!

20 Core Exercises (Situps are NOT included)

20 Core Exercises

Who doesn’t want firm abs these days?!?! But push-up and crunches are not what folks are looking for. So here are 20 Core Exercises that don’t include traditional crunches or sit ups.

1. Horizontal Scissors

  • Start with hands under butt and legs straight
  • Lift legs to 45-degree angle
  • Then have legs go out to the sides as if doing jumping jacks and cross in the middle

2. Vertical Scissors

  • Start with hands under butt and legs straight
  • Lift legs to 45-degree angle
  • Then alternate legs between 45-degrees and 75-degrees

3. Scissors w/ a Twist

  • Start with legs straight and upper body in C-curve
  • Perform horizontal scissors
  • Twist upper body in opposition

4. Flutter Kick

  • Lie on back with arms out to sides and toes off floor
  • Scissor kick legs making sure they are 3 to 4 inches off the floor

5. Bicycle Crunches

  • Lie on back with leg straight and hands behind head
  • Lift shoulders and legs off floor, keeping neck neutral
  • Bring R knee to chest, hold for a few seconds, then switch
  • Continue alternating

6. Leg Lifts

  • Start with hands under butt and legs straight
  • Lift legs to 45-degree angle
  • Then lower them within a few inches of the floor
  • Legs should not touch the floor when lowered

7. Reverse Crunches

  • Start with hands under butt and legs in upside down V
  • Lift knees toward the chest, lifting butt off floor
  • Keep shoulders and upper back “glued” to the floor

8. Clock Abs (*not featured in video)

  • Prop up on elbows with floor
  • Hold legs at 45-degree angle
  • Circle legs CW twenty seconds
  • Circle legs CCW during the next round

9. Single Leg Drop

  • Lie on the floor with hands under butt
  • Start with legs straight up in the air
  • Lower one leg until it is few inches off the ground
  • Return to starting position
  • Repeat with the other leg
  • Think of this as an exaggerated scissors exercise
  • Control your lower abs and do not allow gravity to take over

10. Vertical Toe Touches

  • Lie on floor with hands at sides
  • Start with legs straight up in the air
  • With legs straight in the air, lift shoulders off floor and try to touch toes with hands
  • Options:
    • Both arms at the same time
    • Reach R arm to R foot, then switch
    • Reach R arm to L foot, then switch

11. Pulse Ups

  • Lie on floor with hands under butt
  • Start with legs straight up in the air
  • Lift legs toward ceiling, lifting butt off floor
  • Imagine that you’re trying to place your footprints on the ceiling

12. Windshield Wipers

  • Lie on back w/ legs bent in chair position and arms to the sides
    • Keep knees tight together and move them to the right, the center and the left
    • Keep abs engaged and do not allow gravity to take over
    • Knees should not touch the floor
    • Keep shoulders in contact with the floor at all times

13. Dead Bug

  • Lie on back w/ legs bent in chair position and arms to the sides
  • Extend R leg while lowering L arm to the ground, then return to starting position.
  • Do the same with L leg and R arm

14. Heel Touches

  • Lie on back w/ legs bent in chair position and arms straight in the air
  • Reach to the right side and touch right hand to right heel, then alternate to other side
  • Keep shoulders in contact with the floor at all times

15. Bow

  • Lie on right side with arms and legs fully extended w/ body aligned
  • Lift and lower arms and legs to the ceiling simultaneously
  • Legs, shoulders and arms do not touch the floor
  • Switch sides

16. Seated Angled Bow

  • Balance on butt with knees together and heels off floor
  • Roll onto left butt cheek and bring heel to right side of body
  • Return to starting position and repeat to other side
  • (Make sure your feet are off the floor to get the maximum effect.)

17. V-Sit

  • Sit with back at a 45-degree angle, legs in broken V and hands out in front
  • Hold as long a possible
  • Options
    • Lift heels from floor
    • Lift legs in air at 45-degree angle
    • Move arms either out to sides, straight in air over head or in line with upper body

18. V-Sit w/ Alternating Knee Lift

  • Sit with back at a 45-degree angle, legs in broken V and hands out in front
  • Bring R knee to chest, return to floor, bring L knee to chest, return to floor, repeat
  • Upper body remains at 45-degree angle the entire time.

19. Russian Twist

  • Sit with back at a 45-degree angle, legs in broken V and hands together at chest
  • Twist torso making R elbow touch floor; return to center, twist to the left
  • Upper body remains at 45-degree angle the entire time.

20. Earthquake

  • Sit with back straight and legs and arm out in front
  • Lean back to 45-degree angle and hold for as long as possible, reset if necessary

The Next Steps

In the coming weeks, I will transform these 20 core exercises into a series of Tabata workouts.

Follow Get Fit with Charity on FacebookPinterest and Instagram!

6-Minute Low-Impact Workout #4

My goal is to show you how to get fit at home in six minutes, so I post workout videos from the comfort of my own home. These videos are not perfect, and I’m okay with that. This video is actually the fourth of a five-part series. Let’s just call this one 6-minute low-impact workout 4. However, it is my fourth and final 6-minute low-impact workout. It is a Tabata style workout that features 2 Low-Impact Exercises: Side Leg Lift and Chair Squats.

One round of Tabata is four minutes long. By adding a short warm-up and a quick cool down, we get a six-minute workout that will jumpstart your metabolism today…especially if you do the workout first thing in the morning.

Featured Exercises

Side Leg Lift

  • Stand with feet together and hands on hips
  • Lift one leg out to the side
  • Return to starting position
  • Options:
    • Hold onto a chair for balance*
    • Lift leg in air and return foot to floor
    • Lift leg in the air and lower foot without letting it touch the floor

Chair Squats

  • Place chair directly behind you
  • Perform squatting motion
  • Return to standing position when you feel the chair on your legs

Next Week

We’ll be starting a brand-new video series that focuses on the core. You can have a super-strong core without doing tons of sit-ups or crunches. Next week, you’ll see how

Follow Get Fit with Charity on FacebookPinterest and Instagram!

6-Minute Low-Impact Workout #3

My goal is to show you how to get fit at home in six minutes, so I post workout videos from the comfort of my own home. These videos are not perfect, and I’m okay with that. This video is actually the fourth of a five-part series. Let’s just call this one 6-minute low-impact workout 3. However, it is my third 6-minute low-impact workout. It is a Tabata style workout that features 2 Low-Impact Exercises: Rear Leg Lift and One-Legged Jumping Jack.

One round of Tabata is four minutes long. By adding a short warm-up and a quick cool down, we get a six-minute workout that will jumpstart your metabolism today…especially if you do the workout first thing in the morning.

Featured Exercises

Rear Leg Lift

  • Stand with feet together and hands on hips
  • Lift one leg to the back
  • Return to starting position
  • Options:
    • Hold onto a chair for balance
    • Lift leg in air and return foot to floor
    • Lift leg in the air and lower foot without letting it touch the floor*

One-Legged Jumping Jack

  • Stand with feet hip-width apart and arms at your sides
  • Step out to the side with one leg while raising arms up in the air
  • Step leg back to starting position while lowering arms back to sides
  • Options:
    • Lift arms only as high as your shoulders*
    • Lift arms all the way up as if doing jumping jacks
    • Kick legs out to the sides

Next Week

There will be another 6-minute low-impact workout featuring different exercises. It will be the final workout video in this series.

Follow Get Fit with Charity on FacebookPinterest and Instagram!