Churning out those crunches in the hope of getting a washboard-stomach? You need to read this first.
Toned abs don't just look great, they're also vital for good posture and avoiding lower back pain.
But there's a limit to how far the exercises, known as crunches, will go toward getting you those six-pack abs. These exercises create definition, but they won't get rid of belly fat, according to a report in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.
Working smarter
That goal needs the one-two punch of exercise to firm muscle and diet to reduce fat. That being said, crunches belong in a core workout – that's one that targets all the muscles in your torso.
When it comes to crunches, working smarter is more important than doing hundreds of them.
Improve your ab workout with these quick tips:
- Increase the number of reps per set.
- Increase the number of sets.
- Shorten resting time between sets.
- Increase the angle of exercises.
- Wear ankles weights for more resistance.
- Hold a weight plate against your chest.
Here are specific pointers to improve the effectiveness of the most popular exercises:
1. The basic crunch
For the basic crunch, lie on your back, knees slightly bent, feet flat on the floor and hip distance apart. Breathe in, then exhale as you tighten your abs and lift your head and shoulders toward the ceiling. Do not curl up toward your knees. Hold briefly, then slowly return to the starting position, inhaling as you lower yourself to the floor. Start with 10 reps done in good form – no jerking or rushing.
Every person dreams of having toned abs and this is not at all easy to achieve. Developing proper abs requires immense hard work and following a healthy diet. The author is absolutely right in stating that doing only crunches cannot get you toned abs. This is because crunches can only help you tighten your core but what about the belly fat. However, you can improvise on your workout regimen to get definite results. There are various forms of crunches which can definitely get you the coveted abs. Moreover, you can also do some core strengthening exercises like plates and some forms of weight training to get that six-pack abs.
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