Beginner morning upper body session — 3 circuits with no equipment! Focus on quality of movement over speed. Read the full instructions on each exercise for best results. Light but effective for toning arms, shoulders and back to start your day.
Beginner Morning Upper Body Fat Burn Workout is a free 19 min workout plan with 11 illustrated exercises for your abs, arms, back and chest. 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.
No equipment is needed – every exercise in this workout uses your own bodyweight, so you can do it at home or anywhere.
How long does the Beginner Morning Upper Body Fat Burn Workout take?
The full workout takes about 19 minutes, covering 11 exercises with prescribed sets, reps and rest periods. Using the built-in timers and auto-advance keeps you on pace from start to finish.
Is this workout suitable for my fitness level?
Yes – this is a beginner-friendly workout. Every exercise includes an illustration and step-by-step instructions, so you can learn proper form as you go. Start with lighter weights and focus on technique.
What muscles does this workout target?
This routine primarily works your shoulders, abs, glutes & hip flexors, lower back, chest, triceps. 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 get toned, lose fat, aim to do this workout 2–3 times per week with at least one rest day between sessions. Progress by gradually adding weight or reps, and pair it with workouts for other muscle groups during the week.
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.
Beginner morning upper body session — 3 circuits with no equipment! Focus on quality of movement over speed. Read the full instructions on each exercise for best results. Light but effective for toning arms, shoulders and back to start your day.
Auto-advanceStart exercises automatically after a 5-second delay
Come to the ground on your knees. Tighten your core and maintain a flat back.
Position your hands on the ground in front of you, directly below your shoulders. Cross your feet in the back.
Lower your chest towards the ground. Bend your elbows at a 60-degree angle until your chest is just above the ground. You should feel a stretch across your chest. Hold for a count of one.
Without locking your elbows, push yourself back to the starting position by straightening your arms.
Primary muscle group(s):
Chest
Secondary:
Abs, Shoulders, Triceps
Place a pair of dumbbells on the floor. Lie on your back in between the dumbbells. Bend your knees and move your feet towards your butt.
Grab the dumbbells and hold them above you. Allow your upper arms to remain on the floor. Begin the movement by pushing the dumbbells over your chest. Pause at the top and squeeze your chest muscles.
Slowly bring the weights down to the starting position, allowing your arms to rest for a brief moment before beginning the next repetition.
Primary muscle group(s):
Chest
Secondary:
Abs, Shoulders, Triceps
Get into position by placing your hands flat on the floor, directly below your shoulders.
Extend your legs out behind you, with only your toes and balls of your feet touching the floor.
Hold your body up and keep your back straight by tightening your abdominal muscles.
Your neck and head should be bent slightly back.
Lower your chest towards the ground by bending your elbows until your chest is just above the ground or you feel a stretching of your chest and shoulders. Hold for a count of one.
Press upwards from your chest and shoulders, straightening your arms as you return to the starting position. Hold for a count of one.
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.
Rest
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next up
Circuit B - Plank Shoulder Taps, Bench Tricep Dips, Sit-ups
Sit on a chair with your hands either next to your hips or slightly under the hips.
Lift up onto your hands and bring your hips forward.
Bend your elbows and lower your hips down, keeping shoulders down and hips close to the chair.
Push back up but don’t lock your elbows and repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
Secondary:
Upper Back & Lower Traps
Holding a pair of water bottles with an overhand grip, stand tall with your chest up and core braced. Bend at the hips while keeping your back completely flat.
Once your upper body is parallel with the floor, bring your upper arms to your sides. Begin by pushing the water bottles back and behind you.
Pause at the top of the movement and feel the contraction in your triceps. Slowly lower the water bottles and begin again.
Assume a push-up position. Core is tight. Back is flat. Hands are underneath the shoulders. Head is in neutral position.
Bring one knee up towards your chest and twist towards the opposing elbow. (Ex: Right knee to left elbow.)
Contract the core and return the leg to the starting position.
Alternate between legs.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs, Glutes & Hip Flexors
Secondary:
Chest, Shoulders
Place your hands flat on the floor, shoulder width apart.
Extend your torso and legs fully behind you with only your toes and balls of your feet touching the floor.
Your body should be in a straight line, with your weight supported on your hands and toes only.
Starting with either leg, flex your knee and hip at the same time to bring your knee up and under your hip. Your other leg should remain fully extended. This is the start position.
Using an explosive movement, reverse the position of your legs, by extending the bent leg back and simultaneously flexing the straight leg until it is in the startposition.
Continue alternating in this manner for the desire amount of time.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs, Obliques
Secondary:
Hamstrings, Quadriceps
Standing up straight, bring your hands behind your head so that your elbows are pointed to the sides.
Twisting your body, bring your left elbow down and across your body. At the same time, raise your right knee up and across to meet the left elbow.
Return to the starting position.
Repeat on the other side and continue alternating.
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.