​If you're short on time, these five exercises are key to sculpting a flat belly.

I hear it often: “I just don’t have time to workout.” But that's not true! We all have time to squeeze in exercise, no matter how busy the day.

With this no-excuses core workout, you can tone up anytime and anywhere in just five minutes. Do each of the following five exercises for one minute, and then you're done! For best results, perform the circuit at least three times a week. (See? Easy.)

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CHELSEA STREIFENEDER

Lower & Lift

  1. Lying on your back, place your hands in a triangle shape underneath your sacrum.
  2. Lift your legs up straight to the ceiling and squeeze them together tight.
  3. Using your core, lower and lift the legs using control on the way down and up.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CHELSEA STREIFENEDER

Leg Circles

  1. Start in the same position as the exercise above with your legs straight up, hands beneath your sacrum.
  2. Circle both legs out to the sides for 30 seconds. Keep your pelvis still, and try not to rock.
  3. Bring your legs in together at your midline, and then reverse your leg circle direction for another 30 seconds.

Trainer Tip: Larger circles will be more challenging, so make smaller circles if you need a modification.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CHELSEA STREIFENEDER

Roll Up To L

  1. Lying flat on your back, bring your arms into an “L” position with one overhead and one out to the side.
  2. Keeping your shoulders down your back, use your core (not momentum) to roll up to sitting.
  3. Roll back down, and repeat for 30 seconds.
  4. Switch your arms and repeat for 30 seconds on the other side.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CHELSEA STREIFENEDER

Holding Scissors

  1. Lying on your back, bring one leg out in front of you, hovering above the floor, and the other up straight. Lift your head, neck and shoulders, point those toes, and reach your legs as long as you can.
  2. Hold here and reach, pulling your abs in as deep as you can for 30 seconds.
  3. Repeat on the other side.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CHELSEA STREIFENEDER

Jogging with Rotation

  1. Bring your legs up into a tabletop position and shift your upper body over to one side, reaching your arms long.
  2. Squeezing your obliques, jog your legs with control. Then reach the legs out long and hold here for the remainder of your 30 seconds on this side.
  3. Repeat on the other side for 30 seconds, keeping your core pulled in the whole time.
© prevention.com
First published:
Tags:  ab workoutscore exercisesfitspohealthy habits