That piercing stare says modern day Bond girl, but make no mistake: She’s nobody’s side kick. In X-Men: The Apolocalypse, Olivia Munnemerges—front and center—as one of the Marvel Universe’s fiercest characters. Still, it’s her off-screen evolution that’s the stuff of legends.
This 20-minute workout from Olivia’s X-Men trainer, Karine Lemieux, uses medicine and stability balls to increase core activation and fat-blasting potential. Follow this routine three times a week to torch cals and trim your waistline. (For more tips on how to build muscle, pick upLift to Get Lean by Holly Perkins.)
MEDICINE BALL UP-DOWN
Start in a plank position with your feet on a medicine ball and your forearms on the floor (a). Push up onto your left hand, then your right hand, pressing your arms straight into a pushup position (b). Reverse the movement, placing your left forearm on the floor (c) and then your right to return to start. That’s one rep; do eight. (Make it harder: In the pushup position, add the same up-down pattern with your feet–place one on the floor, then the other, then lift them onto the ball.)
STABILITY BALL V-PASS
Start by lying faceup on the floor, holding a stability ball overhead, your legs together and extended straight on the floor (a). In one motion, brace your core and lift your arms and legs off the ground, placing the ball between your feet (b). Squeeze the ball with your legs and lower your arms and legs back to the floor (c). Repeat, passing the ball back to your hands. That’s one rep; do 10.
MODIFIED INCHWORM WITH STABILITY BALL
Start in a pushup position with your feet on a stability ball (a). “Step” your feet toward your hands by raising your hips to bring the ball closer to your torso until your legs are in a pike position (b). Keeping your legs straight, walk your hands away from the ball to return to a pushup position (c). That’s one rep; do five.
MEDICINE BALL V-SIT WITH ROTATION
Grab a medicine ball and sit on the floor, then lift your legs off the floor, keeping them straight and together. From that position, rotate your shoulders to lower the medicine ball to one side of your body (a); that’s one rep. Reverse the movement to bring the ball to the other side (b), and continue alternating for 30 total reps. (Make it easier: Bend your knees to 90 degrees or place your feet on the floor.)
CROSS-BODY MOUNTAIN CLIMBER WITH STABILITY BALL
Start in a pushup position with your feet on a stability ball (a). Lift your left foot off the ball and bring your knee toward your chest, keeping your back flat (b), then twist your hips to bring your knee toward your right elbow (c). Pause, then slowly reverse the movement to return to start. That’s one rep; do four, then repeat on the other side.
