Fit Over 40: Cardio Core Workout (VIDEO)

As a follow up to my first Fit Over 40 Workout video series (the Upper Body Workout for Women), this new Cardio Core Workout works the body part even women who have not yet reached the age of forty still find tough to train: abs!

But don’t confuse an ab routine with a core workout.

Your core muscles include more than just your abdominal muscles.

Cardio Core Workout Is Not Your Typical Ab Routine

This Cardio Core Workout is not your conventional lie-on-the-mat-and-do-a-bunch-of-crunches ab routine workout. Instead, you will actually get your heart rate elevated (that’s where the “cardio” part comes in) while working your entire core. 

If you have read the Full Fitness Fusion chapter in our book, then you know I tend to favor total-body conditioning over single-muscle, single-movement exercises. That doesn’t mean I don’t like to zero in on specific body parts, it just means I like to try to involve multiple muscle groups as often as possible when I workout. And that’s just what this Cardio Core Workout does. The routine works your abs, but it also works all of the muscles in your core….

Cardio Core Workout Works Multiple Muscle Groups

The core muscles are your stabilizer muscles and include all muscles that attach to the pelvis and spine. One thing is for sure, core stability depends on way more than just having strong abdominal muscles!

The main muscles that make up your core and the muscles worked in this Cardio Core Workout video include:

• Glutes
• Abdominal muscles (including the rectus abdominis, obliques & transversus abdominis)
• Hips
• Lower back 
• Pelvis

Benefits of Working Multiple Muscle Groups

Working multiple muscle groups creates a balanced and functionally fit body. This is especially true with your core muscles. It is impossible to be functionally fit without strong core muscles. By training the many muscles that make up your core, you will be able to do everyday things like twist, pull, push, run, jump (if you have to lol!), etc. all with so much more ease.

And let’s not leave out the time efficiency factor. It is so much more time efficient to work multiple muscle groups as opposed to doing isolation training exercises (think crunches!)

Cardio Component Burns Calories

Finally, not only does the Cardio Core Workout strengthen and tone all of the major muscles that make up your core, it also elevates your heart rate and burns calories too. If you are doing the core workout for the purpose of flattening your stomach and losing weight, then adding the cardio component is a major perk!

EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

• 1 to 3 pound dumbbells 
• Mat or towel

I so hope you find this video helpful in reaching your fitness goals!