Well we think ab exercises that you can do anytime are better than crunches (but doing crunches isn’t bad by any means). Curious how to incorporate them into your day?
Sitting at your desk right now (or at least, sitting somewhere)? Sit up as straight as the Queen of England and suck your belly in. Don’t forget to breathe, though.
Want to try some chair crunches? Sit up straight, put your arms to your side, and grip the bottom of the chair. Make sure your feet are flat on the floor and your knees are bent over the toes. Press your legs together as if they were stuck together with Super Glue. Now, lift your knees straight up, keeping the bottom of your feet parallel to the ground. Exhale while you life your knees, and inhale as you bring your feet back down to the floor. Do this 10-12 times.
And believe it or not, moving your arms behind you might be better at making your trunk muscles contract than stomach exercises. So give it a try: Stand with your back to a wall, arms at your sides. Turn one palm against the wall and push it into the wall (keep your arm straight). Hold for a few seconds, release, and repeat.
I also like leg lifts.
Two of my favorite abdominal endurance exercises (shown below) are the Plank and Side Plank. Perform 10 repetitions of each – holding each repetition for 3-10 seconds.[media id="DEV__4c7e6dc17b07c9_75824660" title="Plank"]
Crunches can be great but the best way to lose ab fat is to incorporate ab exercises that work the entire body.
- Med ball diagonal wood chop
- Prone pull ins on the stability ball
- Single leg plank raises
Continue Learning about Ab/Core Exercises
Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.