Hello Everyone,

I hope you are ready for a fantastic, quick core workout. This 10-Minute exercise routine will have every part of your abs working. A strong core impacts everything from your balance to your posture and even the position of your pelvis.

Today’s exercise routine is a low impact workout. You will be down on the mat the entire time. So it’s very apartment friendly for anyone who needs to avoid jumping (and annoying your neighbors!) and for anyone who just needs a lot impact routine without getting up/down a lot.

This routine can be done for repetitions or time. Both breakdowns are listed below the video. Sometimes I like to do one round for time and one for reps. It’s amazing how such a simple adjustment can change the way the workout feels.

How to Find Motivation to Workout:

Today I want to take a second to talk about motivation. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I strongly believe that determination is more important than motivation. Quite frankly you will not be motivated to workout every day. Often I am tired, busy and overall just don’t feel like working out. I’m a normal human just like you, and I have days where I look forward to my workouts and days when I wonder how in the world I am going to muster the time and energy to exercise.

There are a few techniques that help me stick to my workouts even when I don’t feel like it:

Five Tips to Working Out When You Aren’t Motivated:

1. The five minute rule: I make a mental deal with myself that if I feel awful and want to quit after five minutes of exercise I can. For most people it isn’t the exercise it’s self that’s the problem. It’s the act of getting started. Most likely you won’t quit after five minutes because you already have workout momentum going. And if you do quit? At least you got in five minutes of exercise that you wouldn’t have otherwise.
2. Notice your improvements. Are you getting in more reps? Having more daily energy? Less back pain? Are you able to make it through more of your workout before taking a quick rest? Did you make it through a full round of an exercise that challenges you without stopping? These are all BIG accomplishments! Often we get so caught up on what we are struggling with that we fail to recognize how much our fitness and strength has improved.
3. Keep a workout journal or calendar. Record the workout, number of reps, number of rounds and how many breaks you took. Make a note of how you felt before the workout and how you felt after the workout. This can help you to recognize the accomplishments mentioned in point #2. It also helps establish an exercise routine. You can tell at a glance how much exercise you’ve done on a daily or weekly basis and see trends in your energy and health.
4. Pay attention to the way exercise makes you feel. I know that I will feel better and more energized after my workout 100% of the time. Knowing that I am going to achieve that feeling often motivates me to workout when I don’t feel like it.
5. Be flexible and give yourself grace. If you miss a few days, or fall out of the exercise routine completely don’t waste your energy on beating yourself up or convincing yourself you will restart next week, next month, next whenever. Just restart your routine right now, no matter what day of the week it is. Missing a few days, or even weeks, isn’t going to make a huge difference over the course of your lifetime. And really, exercise is about creating your healthiest and happiest life. Think about the way you feel when you are sick versus when you are healthy. Your health impacts EVERYTHING. It’s long term health that we are aiming for. So short term goals and accomplishments are great, but don’t let them distract you from that fact that consistency is developed through continuous practice. Your health is worth it.

If you have any additional tips to share or if one of these tips really resonated with you, please write them in the comments below. I hope you enjoy today’s workout!

Melissa

You can find me on Social Media: @BenderFitness and on Facebook: @MelissaBenderFitness Pinterest: Pinterest.com/BenderFitness

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Beginner: 10 reps
Intermediate: 15 reps
Advanced: 20 reps
or
HIIT: 50 seconds max reps, 10 seconds of rest between exercises. 

1. Leg Circle (right)
2. Leg Circle (left)
3. Rock the Boat
4. Side Crunch Toe Touch (right)
5. Side Crunch Toe Touch (left)
6. 3 Part Abs
7. Bicycle
8. Boat Scissor Twist
9. Super Swimmer
10. Tick Tock Abs
Repeat 1-3X