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Wake up like Nastia Liukin: Steal this Olympic champ's simple morning workout routine

Olympic gymnastics champion Nastia Liukin is getting a new kind of workout as a competitor on this season of "Dancing With the Stars."
/ Source: TODAY

Olympic gymnastics champion Nastia Liukin is getting a new kind of workout as a competitor on this season of "Dancing With the Stars." Here, she shares her morning routine with TODAY.com, and how you can steal her workout.

Olympian Nastia Liukin likes to sip on a healthy smoothie in the morning: Steal her recipe!
Olympian Nastia Liukin likes to sip on a healthy smoothie in the morning: Steal her recipe!Samantha Okazaki / TODAY

Between being a full-time student, a contestant on the upcoming new season of Dancing with the Stars, and managing my career, things are extremely busy. Keeping a morning routine is what keeps me going!

I wake up at 5 a.m. I start the day with hot water and lemon. Then I make an almond milk latte with my espresso machine, and sit on the couch catching up on emails while drinking coffee and watching the TODAY show.

Olympians are just like us! Email, email, email.
Olympians are just like us! Email, email, email.Samantha Okazaki / TODAY

Then I'll make breakfast — either a shake or eggs with gluten-free bread, topped with sliced avocado. I’m typically not a huge breakfast person, especially so early in the morning, but it is important to put something nutritious into your body before a workout. A smoothie is quick, easy and tastes great.

Breakfast of champions.
Breakfast of champions.Samantha Okazaki / TODAY

Nastia's go-to morning smoothie:

Just combine and blend!

  • Almond milk
  • spinach
  • kale
  • Frozen strawberries or a banana
  • Vega vanilla protein powder

I’m a little pressed for time in the mornings, but always feel much better when I get in a morning workout, so I try to do something quick but effective that targets all areas. Here's my sample routine:

Run on the treadmill for 20 minutes or 2-3 miles:

Nastia hits the gym in her apartment building for a quick run.
Nastia hits the gym in her apartment building for a quick run.Samantha Okazaki / TODAY

I build core stability with pike-ups on the exercise ball:

Nastia recommends doing at least 20 of these.
Nastia recommends doing at least 20 of these.Samantha Okazaki / TODAY

The Russian Twist is another great move for your core:

The Russian Twist.
The Russian Twist.Samantha Okazaki / TODAY

Then I do these leg-strengthening lunges — from front to back, and cross-overs:

Samantha Okazaki / TODAY

And I tone my arms with these "around-the-world push-ups": Start in push-up position, and then after each rep, change which direction you are facing. So if you start facing the wall with the mirror, on the next push-up turn so that you are doing the push-up facing the window. Then on the next push-up, turn so you are facing the back wall. Move all the way around the room like that in a circle.

Samantha Okazaki / TODAY

Then I get ready for the day — class or a meeting!

Find more of TODAY's morning routines here: