A Condensed Core Exercise Regime (lasting 8 minutes) Triggers Greater Fat Burn Than an Hour's Worth of Abdominal Crunches Specific to Individuals Over the Age of 50
Eight-Minute Core Workout Boosts Longevity for Men Over 50
A fitness professional, Rachel Pieroni, has designed an effective eight-minute core workout that targets the entire core and burns more fat than an hour of traditional crunches. The workout is recommended for men over 50 for longevity.
The routine consists of performing a sequence of exercises twice through for a total of eight minutes. One example exercise is the Barrel Crawl, which engages multiple core muscles simultaneously.
To perform a Barrel Crawl, begin in a high plank position with hands under shoulders, feet hip-width apart. Keep your neck neutral, gaze slightly forward, and engage your core strongly. Climb down to your right forearm, then left forearm, moving into a forearm plank. Reverse the movement to return to high plank. Keep your hips stable and avoid twisting them during the motion. Perform 8 to 12 reps or for 30 seconds.
This type of movement targets core stabilizers that support posture, balance, and overall functional independence—muscles that weaken with age if not trained comprehensively. By involving these stabilizers and incorporating dynamic and isometric muscle engagement, this workout helps burn more fat compared to doing only crunches, which mostly isolate the rectus abdominis without addressing the full core.
The full 8-minute routine includes additional exercises beyond barrel crawls. Pieroni's routine also includes Russian Twists With Weights and Supermans. The Sit-up With Overhead Press, Shoulder Taps, Alternating Jack-Knife Sit-ups, and Side Plank With Twist exercises are also recommended for men over 50 for longevity.
The core includes the rectus abdominis, transversus abdominis, internal and external obliques, diaphragm, erector spinae, pelvic floor muscles, and multifidus. The Side Plank With Twist exercise targets the core and promotes balance and stability, while Supermans strengthen the back, core, and the entire posterior chain, targeting the erector spinae muscles, glutes, hamstrings, and multifidus.
The workout emphasizes combining plank variations and other moves that activate all core components, especially deeper stabilizers like the transversus abdominis, multifidus, pelvic floor muscles, and erector spinae. This integrated approach not only sculpts the core but also enhances functional strength and metabolism, yielding better fat-burning results than crunches alone.
Having strong stabilizer muscles plays a vital role in functional independence. As you age, your stabilizer muscles begin to weaken, resulting in reduced postural stability. By training these muscles, you can improve your balance, coordination, and injury prevention.
Rachel Pieroni is a NASM CPT and operations manager for Pure Barre. The eight-minute core workout she has designed is a great addition to any fitness routine for men over 50 looking to improve their core strength, boost their metabolism, and enhance their overall health and longevity.
- The eight-minute core workout designed by fitness professional Rachel Pieroni aims to boost longevity in men over 50.
- The workout incorporates exercises like the Barrel Crawl, Russian Twists With Weights, Supermans, and others, targeting the entire core, including deep stabilizers like the transversus abdominis and multifidus.
- By strengthening the core and stabilizer muscles, men over 50 can enhance their functional strength, improve balance, and reduce the risk of injuries, contributing to better health and longevity.
- This workout, emphasizing a combination of plank variations and other core exercises, proves a beneficial addition to any health-and-wellness or fitness-and-exercise routine for men looking to improve their fitness levels and prolong their lives.