Most people trying to lose belly fat will often wonder whether they should do 100 crunches a day to lose belly fat. You might be reading this guide because you wonder – do crunches help lose belly fat? The reality is that it depends on quite a number of factors. Your age, gender, and other personal attributes can impact your body’s ability to burn belly fat effectively.
Do Crunches Help Lose Belly Fat? Or Build Muscle?
When working out to lose belly fat, most people will think about incorporating crunches into their workout routine. Crunches are indeed an effective exercise that can get you a toned look. This happens because the exercise targets the stomach muscles.
So, crunches can help lose belly fat and, at the same time, build muscle. Besides aiming for a flat tummy, crunches will also target your back muscles, core, and abdominal muscles. Therefore, you can argue that the exercise will also help to build muscle.
How Many Crunches A Day to Remove Adominal Fat?
So, do you have to do 100 crunches daily to lose belly fat? Probably not! Your strength and your body’s physique will impact how well crunches will be effective toward losing weight and getting a flat tummy. For instance, short people will often wonder why they struggle to tone their ab muscles. If you’re tall, the number of crunches you need to do to get a flat tummy may be fewer compared to a short person.
On average, you should aim to do about 20-30 crunches every day for a more toned look. Keep in mind that other exercises targeting other major parts of the body should also be incorporated into your regimen. The goal shouldn’t be all about spot training for a flat tummy. Instead, aim to get fit. Weight loss will just happen naturally. You don’t have to force it by engaging in exercises that only focus on one specific body part.
Do Crunches Burn Belly Fat or Build Muscle?
Crunches are a common exercise most people perform to get a six-pack. Usually, this exercise involves lying on the floor and using your stomach muscles to lift your head toward your knees.
Are crunches really effective to lose belly fat?
Getting six-pack abs is never easy. In fact, the few individuals with abs, both men and women, are often admired. How you perform crunches determines whether the exercise is effective or not.
Here’s the best way to do crunches and lose belly fat:
- Lie on the floor and ensure your feet are shoulder-width apart. Keep your knees up.
- Allow your arms to rest on your chest. Fold them.
- Engage your core and lift your head off the ground.
- Return to the starting position.
- Relax for a second and repeat.
- Perform 10 reps, thrice.
Will Crunches Flatten Your Stomach?
Crunches will only help you to get a flat stomach if you add other exercises to your training routine. The idea of spot training never works. Focus on doing other exercises that burn more calories. For instance, squats, HIIT exercises, running, and sprints can get your heart pumping really fast. Add these exercises to your program, and you’ll start seeing good results with time.
Besides focusing on other body muscles, consistency will also bring you an inch closer to your goals. Doing crunches for a day or two and expecting to get a flat stomach only sets you up for major disappointment.
Be consistent. Have a workout program you can follow to lose weight sustainably. More importantly, you should be patient with yourself. You can’t lose belly fat overnight.
What Happens if You Do Crunches Everyday?
It may seem like doing crunches everyday is the quickest way to get washboard abs. But the reality is that it’s never that easy. Your body works in a complex manner, and Mayo Clinic experts indicate that crunches will strengthen your core muscles. Over time, when you combine these exercises with other routines, you can be sure to lose weight and get a flat tummy.
Remember, the goal is to avoid spot training as a way of getting a flat belly. Focus on the bigger picture, and the body will soon respond.
Do Planks Burn Belly Fat?
Like crunches, planks are ideal exercises that can help you burn belly fat. Planks will strengthen your core and target your abdominal muscles. The longer you hold in the plank position, the more likely you’ll feel the burning effect. Ideally, holding in position for 60 seconds and repeating the process three times is okay.
10 Recommended Exercises to Lose Belly Fat
We’ve mentioned previously that spot training isn’t the best way to go with belly fat loss. Here’s a look at the top 10 recommended exercises to get a flat tummy.
- Burpees
- Medicine ball burpees
- Overhead medicine ball slams
- Russian twists
- Rowing machine
- HIIT
- Strength training
- Sprinting
- Walking
- Rope skipping
Do Crunches Help Lose Belly Fat? – Summary
Generally, crunches should help you lose belly fat if performed with other exercises that engage the rest of the body. Consequently, you should consider adding other workouts like weight lifting, squats, sprinting, and more to your workout routine. Embrace a belly fat loss approach where your whole body is involved in helping you to lose weight and get a toned appearance in the process.