In addition to a balanced diet, fitness is an essential part of any healthy lifestyle, especially if you’re trying to lose weight. As you age, though, you may find it more difficult to stay active in your daily life–which is why it’s so important to keep up with a regular workout routine if you want to keep your body healthy and fit. However, not everyone has the time to hit the gym for an hour or more every day. Luckily, there are plenty of quick workouts you can easily squeeze into your morning routine, right from the comfort of your own home.
To discover some of the best quick, simple workouts that women over 50 workouts to tone their muscles and blast fat, we spoke to personal trainer Vivian Yu, founder of One Body Personal Training. She told us squats, lunges, and pushups are among the best options. As she notes, “These exercises can help to tone muscle and burn fat by challenging the major muscle groups in the body and increasing heart rate. They can also be modified to suit different fitness levels.” Let’s dive into each one below!
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1. Squats
If toned glutes are what you’re after, Yu says it’s time to start squatting in the morning! However, it isn’t just your booty that will benefit from daily squats; as it turns out, this exercise works your whole body and is a great way to burn a ton of calories, making it an ideal move for weight loss. Yu told us how it’s done:
“Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, toes pointing forward, and arms by your sides. Lower your body as if you’re sitting back into a chair, keeping your weight in your heels and your chest lifted. Push through your heels to return to standing. Repeat for 10-15 reps.”
2. Lunges
When it comes to your lower body, lunges are one of the best ways to go. As an added bonus, they can even help improve your posture by strengthening your back and core. Score! On top of all that, improved flexibility is another benefit. All in all, adding this quick exercise to your morning routine is a great way to tone your muscles and kick unwanted fat to the curb. Here’s how you do it, according to Yu:
“Stand with your feet hip-width apart, arms by your sides. Step your right foot forward and lower your body until your right thigh is parallel to the ground and your left knee is hovering above the ground. Push through your right heel to return to standing. Repeat on the left side. Do 10-15 reps on each side.”
3. Push-ups
Don’t forget to work your upper body, too! Yu says doing some daily pushups is a great way to do just that. While it may be difficult for some of us, it gets easier the more you do it–so don’t give up! You can start from a modified position if that works better for you. This exercise will not only help you build upper body strength, but helps tone your core, too, in addition to burning fat and a number of other benefits. Find Yu’s instructions below:
“Start in a plank position, with your hands shoulder-width apart and your body in a straight line from head to heels. Lower your body until your chest nearly touches the ground, then push back up to the starting position. If this is too difficult, try doing the push-ups on your knees. Do 10-15 reps.”
Of course, the best morning workout routine for you will depend on your specific fitness goals and needs. And as Yu reminds us, it’s always important to talk to your healthcare provider before diving into a new exercise program, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions. But if you’re just generally looking to tone things up and shed some extra pounds, these three exercises are a great place to start!
