According to a recent article in Men’s Health magazine, it takes more than 22,000 crunches to burn a pound of fat!!
You’ll NEVER get a flat stomach or six pack abs while crunching away on the ground.
In fact you’ve more chance of winning the lottery without buying a ticket.
Crunches can literally be a pain in the neck – and lower back.
Too many crunches can cause muscle imbalances and injury over time.
Surprisingly, I still see and hear of so many people crunching away for 100’s of crunches on the floor and wasting their time.
What should you do instead?
Instead of the typical ab routines that we see so often, I like to give my clients better options for METABOLISM-BOOSTING high intensity workouts that work their entire body while also working their abs.
This leads to building solid abs/core and also creates a much better FAT-BURNING workout than a typical ab crunch-a-thon.
Here’s an example of an ‘ab workout’ that doesn’t include any crunches.
This is actually a full body workout that works your abs pretty hard indirectly and stimulates an AWESOME METABOLISM BOOST!
1. Press Up + Row
2. Front Squat
3. Mountain Climbers
30secs each exercise (back to back).
1 minute rest.
Repeat 4/5 times.
This will give you one of the BEST ab workouts you’ve ever had without any crunches and with a LOT more fat-burning metabolic effect.
You’ll see what I mean after you try it!
This can be used as a stand-alone workout (it can be pretty intense if you use challenging weights) or you can incorporate it as part of your full body workout/circuit.
As you progress you can increase the exercise period, decrease the rest period, add in some heavier weights, etc as the aim is to always feel challenged.
Exercises Explained…
PRESS UP + ROW:
Start in a push up position with the hands on 2 dumbbells/kettlebells/water bottles.
Do press up, pull one weight back while stabilizing your body with the other arm.
Bring the weight to the ground, press up and repeat other side.
This stabilizing effect during the rows creates incredible work for your entire midsection/core area.
Trust me… you’ll feel this badboy in your abs!
FRONT SQUATS:
Hold weight in front of your body, chest height – (arms can be straight, bent or crossed depending on type/size of weight).
Squat and keep the weight in same position.
Front squats require extreme stabilization strength from the abs due to the weight being positioned to the front of the body instead of the back.
Even though this is mostly a leg exercise, you’ll still feel this one in the abs!
MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS:
Start in a push-up/raised plank position.
Pull one knee forward so it moves in under your chest and then back out to starting position.
Alternate legs and repeat.
It resembles climbing a mountain but flat on the floor and speeding up the movements will also get your heart and lungs pumpin’
And hey,
Speaking of workouts…
Want to know how to have fun and get fit while watching TV?
Click below:
Oooo and I’m super excited I get to announce the lucky winners who’ll receive a FREE Buddy Session with myself this Saturday as part of my Exclusive Facebook Valentines’s Day Competition.
You’ve got till 8pm tonight to ENTER.
Here’s how:
Social Media:
Facebook – Lee Donald Personal Training
Twitter @ LeeDonalElite
Instagram – LeeDonald
Pinterest – Lee Donald LDPT
Youtube – Lee Donald (LDPT)
Lee ‘feeling ab-tastic’ Donald x
Write a comment: