- Kneel in front of a cable station with a rope attachment connected to the top pulley.
- Grip the rope attachment and place your wrists against your forehead.
- Flex your hips slightly to take the weight and to hyperextend your lower back.
- Keeping your hips stationary, bend at the waist so that your elbows travel down towards the middle of your thighs. Hold for a count of one.
- Return to the start position in a controlled movement and repeat.
Wednesday (3) - Core Workout
9 min
·
6 exercises
About this workout
Wednesday (3) - Core Workout is a free 9 min workout plan with 6 illustrated exercises for your abs, back and legs. Follow the workout online, save it to your WorkoutLabs Fit account or download it as a printable PDF.
Tap any exercise in the workout to see the muscles worked, clear exercise illustrations and step-by-step instructions. Each workout includes sets, reps, rest times and notes so you can follow the plan without guessing.
Workout details
- Duration: 9 min
- Exercises: 6
- Training focus: Abs, back and legs
- Format: Interactive workout and printable PDF
For more ready-made training plans, try WorkoutLabs Fit. You can follow visual workouts, build your own routines, manage your training calendar and track your progress. Sign up today to claim your free week.
Questions about this workout
How long does the Wednesday (3) - Core Workout take?
The full workout takes about 9 minutes, covering 6 exercises with prescribed sets, reps and rest periods. Using the built-in timers and auto-advance keeps you on pace from start to finish.
What muscles does this workout target?
This routine primarily works your abs, obliques, lower back, quadriceps. Tap any exercise in the workout to see a muscle diagram showing exactly which primary and secondary muscles it activates.
How often should I do this workout?
For best results, do this workout 2–3 times per week with at least one rest day in between, and pair it with sessions that target other muscle groups.
Can I download or save this workout?
Yes – you can download this workout as a free printable PDF using the download button, or save it to a free WorkoutLabs Fit account to follow it on your phone, customize the exercises and track your progress.
Wednesday (3) - Core Workout
9 min
·
6 exercises
Kneeling Cable Crunches
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Forearms
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
- Lie flat on your back with your feet flat on the ground, with your knees bent at 90 degrees. Alternatively, you can place your feet up on a bench a few inches apart with your toes turned inwards and touching.
- Hold a plate, dumbbell, kettlebell, or medicine ball securely above your head.
- Keep your elbows locked.
- Push your back down flat into the floor to isolate your abdominal muscles.
- Gently curl your shoulders forward and up off the floor.
- Continue to push down into the floor with your lower back.
- Raise your shoulders about four to six inches only.
- Hold and squeeze your abdominal muscles for a count of one.
- Return to the start position in a smooth movement.
Make sure the weight is held very securely!
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors
- Lie face up on with a medicine ball between your hands and your arms extended behind you. Keep your arms and legs straight and then raise your feet an inch off the floor.
- Raise your torso and legs up at the same time and touch the medicine call to your feet. Hold for a moment.
- Lower down to starting position with arms and ball behind your head.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors
- Lie flat on an exercise mat, extending your arms straight back behind your head.
- Fully extend your legs also. This is the start position.
- Bend at your waist and at the same time, raise your legs and arms to meet in a closed jackknife position. Exhale as you do this.
- At this point, your legs should remain fully extended at between 35-45 degrees from the floor.
- Your arms should be fully extended, parallel to your legs.
- Your upper body should be raised off the floor.
- Return to the start position by lowering your arms and legs back to the floor, exhaling as you do so.
- Repeat.
Captain's Chair Leg Raises
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Lower Back
- Place your forearms are on the pads or bars of the apparatus you are using and grip the handles or bars. Your arms should be bent at 90 degrees and your upper arms in a straight line with your sides.
- Your torso should be straight and your lower back pressed against the pad of the bench if using one.
- Keep your legs extended and pointing down to the floor. This is the start position.
- Exhale and as you do so, lift your legs up in a smooth arc bending at the knees until your thighs are about parallel to the floor. Hold for a count of one.
- Return to the start position in a smooth, controlled movement while inhaling.
- Repeat.
Do not use momentum or swing your legs to perform this exercise. As your strength increases, you can rotate your pelvis forward at the top of the movement to engage more of your lower abdominal muscles. You can also keep your legs fully extended throughout the movement to increase the resistance and difficulty of the exercise.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Lower Back
- Lie flat with hands under your buttocks.
- Keep your knees together and pull them in towards you while moving your torso towards them (lift your head, neck and shoulders up).
- Hold and then slowly return to starting position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors
- Stand a dumbbell on one of its plates about 2 feet away from the edge of a bench and sit comfortably on the edge of that bench, using you hand-grip for support. Fully extend your legs towards the dumbbell.
- Using your amazing foot-eye coordination, pin each foot underneath the top plate of the standing dumbbell, on either side of its bar.
- Bring your knees in towards your chest, taking care not to drop the dumbbell in the process, and hold them as close as you can to your chest for 1 second.
- Extend the legs back down towards the floor to the starting position.
Weighted Russian Twists
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs, Obliques
Secondary:
Biceps, Forearms, Lower Back
- Sit on an exercise mat with your legs fully extended and your upper body upright.
- Grip a weight plate between both hands.
- Hold the plate out in front of your abdominals keeping your arms bent slightly.
- Cross your your ankles and raise them off the floor slightly.
- Bend your knees towards you slightly.
- Lean back about 15 degrees to balance your body. This is the start position.
- In a smooth motion,turn your torso to the left and touch the plate on the floor. Make sure you exhale as you do this.
- Return to the start position inhaling as you do so.
- Repeat the same movement, this time to your right side, again exhaling as you do so.
- Return to start position and repeat.
When performing this exercise, use smooth controlled movements. Jerking or using momentum to swing the weight can cause serious lower back injury.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs, Obliques
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Quadriceps
- Lie flat on an exercise mat on the floor keeping your lower back straight with no arching of your spine and with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
- Place your hands lightly on the sides of your head.
- Curl your torso upwards so your shoulders are slightly raised off the floor..
- Raise your knees until your thighs are at a right angle to the floor and your calves are parallel to the floor. This is the start position.
- Slowly move your legs in a pedaling action as if you are riding a bicycle.
- As you do so, exhale and bring your opposing elbow close to each knee by crunching to one side. Left elbow to right knee. Right elbow to left knee.
- After each crunch, return to the start position inhaling as you do so.
- Without pausing, repeat the movement to the other side.
- Repeat without pausing for the desired number of repetitions to each side.
Do not use your hands to pull your head and neck up during this exercise. Doing so may cause injury. Concentrate on a slow rhythmic cycle from side to side with perfect form for each repetition.
Plank Leg Lifts
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors
- Lie on a mat and position yourself in a plank position. Place your elbows on the floor beneath your shoulders. Your toes should touch the floor and your torso should be lifted in a straight line.
- Engage your core muscles and lift one foot off the floor. Keep the rest of your body as still as you can. Your heel should lift until it is in line with your buttocks.
- Slowly lower the leg to the starting position and repeat with the other leg.
Supermans
Primary muscle group(s):
Lower Back
Secondary:
Abs
- Lie face down on a mat, with your arms fully extended above your head and your legs fully extended behind you.
- Lift your chest, arms and legs off the floor by arching your back. Only the tops of your quads and your lower abdomen should be in contact with the floor.
- Hold for a count of 2 while squeezing your abdominals and obliques.
- Return to the starting position for a count of one, then repeat.
This exercise can be done using one arm and it's opposite leg at a time. For example, right arm and left leg raised while your left arm and right leg remain on the floor. This method of execution allows you to use the free hand to push down on the floor to lift your chest higher from the ground.
Primary muscle group(s):
Lower Back
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Hamstrings
- Lie face down on a hyper extension bench with your upper thighs and lower hips on the support pad. You must be able to bend at the waist freely.
- Lock your ankles under the footpads.
- Start with your body in a straight line head to toe.
- Place your arms across your chest, behind or at the side of your head.
- Slowly bend forward by relacing your, back and abdominal muscles.
- Continue as far as possible without rounding your back or raising your thighs from the support pad. You should feel a slight stretch in your hamstrings.Hold for a count of one.
- Return to the start position by contracting your back and abdominal muscles until your body is once again straight. Do not arch your back up at the end of the movement. Pause and repeat.
As your strength and flexibility increase, you can hold a weight plate against your chest for extra resistance.
Primary muscle group(s):
Lower Back
- Lie prone on a swiss ball with your feet hip width apart. You can place your feet against a wall for better stability. Clasp your hands behind your head with elbows pointing out.
- Engage your abs and raise your torso off the ball, hyperextending your spine.
- Return your torso to the ball to the starting position.
Dumbbell Lateral Lunges
Primary muscle group(s):
Quadriceps
Secondary:
Abs, Glutes & Hip Flexors, Hamstrings
- Begin by standing with dumbbells in hand at your sides.
- Place your feet hip-width apart.
- Take a big step to the right with your right foot, keeping your arms straight.
- Land with your heel followed by the rest of your foot and flex the right knee so that you lower your hip and body until your knee and hip are at a 90 degree angle. Keep your left leg only slightly angled.
- Return to the starting position by extending your right hip and knee. Once they are straight, bring your foot back in to a standing tall position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Quadriceps
Secondary:
Abs, Calves, Hamstrings
- Holding a dumbbell in each hand, stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
- Keep your shoulders back. And your back straight.
- Take a long stride forward with your right leg. Your right foot should be in a position, that when you bend your right knee, your upper and lower leg form a 90 degree angle.
- Slowly bend both your knees, to lower your hips until your left (rear) knee is just above the floor. Hold for a count of one.
- Return to the start position by slowly straightening your legs and raising your body back to a standing position.
- Complete all the repetitions for one set full set, then switch legs, or you can alternate between legs for each rep.
Do not let your knee travel past your toes in the down position as this can cause instability and injury.
Primary muscle group(s):
Quadriceps
Secondary:
Abs, Calves, Hamstrings
- Stand up straight while holding two dumbbells. Maintain a tight core and flat back as you carefully place your right foot on top of a bench behind you with toes facing down.
- Bend at the front knee as you drop the back knee, maintaining perfect form. Front knee should not go over the toes.
- Allow your thigh to come to parallel with the floor.
- Pause then slowly return to the starting position without locking out your knee.
- Repeat then switch sides once set is complete.
Primary muscle group(s):
Hamstrings, Quadriceps
Secondary:
Calves, Glutes & Hip Flexors
- Place a bench in front of you. Hold a pair of dumbbells and stand facing the bench. Brace your core and keep your gaze straight ahead.
- Bring your right knee up and step up on to the bench. Placing all of the effort in your right leg, bring your body up into a standing position on the bench.
- Slowly lower yourself to the starting position and switch legs.
Workout done!
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