Basic Crunch

Stomach fat and flabby abs often conspire to give people a pooch and love handles, or so it seems, and one of the best ways to get rid of both is to do core toning exercises and eat healthier. Once you’re ready for a workout, exploring the different kinds of exercise options available to you is often the first course of action. There are lots of options to choose from, including all sorts of crunches and standing exercises, as well as exercises performed on gym grade machines and training stations, like the Captain’s Chair and Seated Ab Crunch Machine.

But before getting started doing the more exotic floor and gym based exercises, most experts suggests that getting to know and perform the Basic Crunch properly is your best bet. Sit ups were used for years to work the core, but according to experts, they are not all that back or neck friendly, and while you may still see boxers and martial artists doing them at the gym, most fitness enthusiasts have switched over to the basic crunch.

The basic crunch is the starting point for all the other variations of crunches, and many experts claim that if you learn to do it correctly, it’s more likely you will do the other variations more effectively. This crunch works the upper and middle abs, and when you want to work the lower abs or oblique muscles, there are other variations you can use. When you’re ready to get started, lay out a workout mat on the floor, but if you don’t have one, don’t worry, it’s not a requirement, the mat just makes you a bit more comfortable.

Once you’re on the floor, lay with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Your arms are then placed in a crisscross position over your chest with your hands on or near your upper arms or shoulders. Another variation would be to place your hands behind your head, but some experts suggest that this positioning opens the door to neck strain.

That said, once you’re in the proper position, contract your abs and press your lower back into the floor, then inhale and begin rolling up into your crunch, keep breathing, hold it for a few seconds, and then roll back down. You can do 20 to 25 crunches in each set if that is doable for you, but the number of reps performed can be based on your fitness starting point. Experts often suggest doing three sets and combining a core training workout with a stomach fat diet, so you can show off your new definition faster.