Crunches make me sad.

distinctlybeautiful
distinctlybeautiful Posts: 1,041 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Ok that's a lie, but I do hate them! And as a result I'm sorely neglecting my core when it comes to my strength routine. I want to remedy this, so I'm wondering if y'all can help me figure out how to work my core without doing crunches (and preferably without lying down at all!).

I do squats and bench press. I know those involve the core, but I want to target it more directly. I use fitnessblender videos sometimes, and they have some standing ab routines that are ok. Anyway I figure I can't be the only one who hates crunches enough that I pretty much just don't do them. And I figure there must be some people who just can't get down on the ground to do ab work. So what advice can you give me?
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Replies

  • R1rainbows
    R1rainbows Posts: 129 Member
    I wish I could help you here. Maybe try this one?
    http://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/vertical-abs-workout-6-standing-moves-six-pack/slide/all

    Hope this can help you out some :)
  • PokeyBug
    PokeyBug Posts: 482 Member
    Planks are awesome for your core, and there are a ton of variations for them, so you can mix it up. Bird dogs, v-ups, push-ups, spidermans (spidermen?). Most of these involve getting in the floor, but I promise, no lying on your back, although you will be on your bottom for the v-ups.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Planks
  • DoogCampbell
    DoogCampbell Posts: 53 Member

    Reverse Crunch - looks crazy but works well although this is a ground based on again
    Kneeling Cable Crunch - You have to kneel but you can add resistance so its an easy build for the abs and cos its weighted you don't feel like you are just having to do more volume to do more work.
    Hanging leg raises - you need a bar but these can be so awesome and help your grip too

    Planks Front and side - This isn't your standard 6-pack muscles but the deeper transverse abdominals (what I would refer to as true core work where as the rectus abdominus (six-pack) is more for show :P )

    If you are hardcore look up dragon flags.

    Yes you are getting ab work if you are doing your squats right but its for stability more than anything else so isn't going to be a massive stretch for them and will gain only in proportion to your squats.
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    distinctlybeautiful wrote: »
    I do squats and bench press. I know those involve the core, but I want to target it more directly.

    Y u no deadlift?



  • AsISmile
    AsISmile Posts: 1,004 Member
    Surprised none of the real lifters have showed up yet and told you to lift.

    Some classes include a lot of core work.
    If I remember correct BodyCombat supposedly equals 3200 crunches without doing a crunch. It is all in the twists, knees and kicks.
    A program like pump probably also has core work.
  • chloeelizabethm
    chloeelizabethm Posts: 184 Member
    I like weighted Russian twists (I may be the only one that does). But I find they're really good and you may be able to do these on a bench if you don't want to get on the floor and your balance is exceptional, though how safe that will be I don't know. Bicycle crunches make me want to cry, and seeing as you don't like crunches anyway I wouldn't recommend.

    Bodyweight flutter kicks don't require getting on the ground, so maybe those? Or kettle bell windmills?
  • oh_happy_day
    oh_happy_day Posts: 1,137 Member
    Crunches make me sad too. Does your gym have TRXs? They're great for core exercises - pikes, planks etc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phzVJ39-hX8

    You can also do moves like pikes on a swiss ball. It does involve laying down but swiss ball passovers are a great core workout.

    I second the weighted Russian twists - I do them with kettlebells or medicine balls. I find kettlebells generally to be fantastic for your core - windmills, Turkish get ups etc.
  • ajnb88
    ajnb88 Posts: 339 Member
    Planks, Deadlifts, hanging leg raises, any weight movement while standing, side leans, woodchops.

    The latter three (in my experience) work the obliques more than the abs, but still help. One thing I'll say is that I don't like crunches, yet love cable crunches. They're a lot easier on my back, and really burn after a while. When doing other lifts, lower your weight and really focus on keeping your core as braced as you can, try and ensure the entire movement is slow and controlled. :)
  • jimmmer
    jimmmer Posts: 3,515 Member
    Top core moves?

    Chin ups, ab wheel/barbell rollouts, front squats/goblet squats/dbl kb front squats (basically any anteriorly loaded squat)

    There's a bunch others, but these can be progressively loaded and give more bang for your training buck than most other "targetted" work.
  • slaite1
    slaite1 Posts: 1,307 Member
    Planks, front or overhead squats, PULLUPS, sprints, mountain climbers, high knees, hanging leg raises, deadlifts.

    I can work my abs until I'm blue in the face. But give me a day of deadlifts, pullups and sprints and my core is wrecked-front to back.
  • demoiselle2014
    demoiselle2014 Posts: 474 Member
    Swim laps and do lots of flip turns?
  • tekkiechikk
    tekkiechikk Posts: 375 Member
    Women's Health published an article called "The Standing Workout for Flat Abs" and it included four basic workouts using a dumbbell: Side Bends, Standing Core Stabilization, Bow Extensions, and Reverse Dumbbell Chop. I incorporate these into my core routine (which I also hate doing) and they've made a difference. Best of all, I actually LIKE doing them which is the motivation to do them on a regular basis.

    Google 'standing core workout' and you'll get a slew of hits.
  • galgenstrick
    galgenstrick Posts: 2,086 Member
    My core routine is easy. Start with a weighted abs exercise, then go into unweighted. You'll go to failure much quicker and don't need to deal with 1000 crunches. Try this routine



    15 cable crunches to failure
    Ab wheel to failure
    Air bicycles to failure

    Do 3-6 sets

    You can sub out cable crunches for weighted hanging leg raises or weighted captains chair leg raises. And the other two for whatever your favorite abs exercises are. Mainly, you just need to start with weighted work.
  • Katzedernacht
    Katzedernacht Posts: 266 Member
    I feel my core on fire when I deadlift
    it's also engaged when I squat
    hmmm yeah
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    I haven't done a crunch in at least a year. I don't do much isolation worth either because I hate it. But if I were to do so: hanging leg/knee raises, captains chair.
  • samthepanda
    samthepanda Posts: 569 Member
    sorry what's a cable crunch?
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    samthepanda wrote: »
    sorry what's a cable crunch?

    http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/RectusAbdominis/CBKneelingCrunch.html
  • samthepanda
    samthepanda Posts: 569 Member
    thank u arditarose . Think I'll give that a miss - would probably catch my hair in the cable, or bang my head!
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    samthepanda wrote: »
    thank u arditarose . Think I'll give that a miss - would probably catch my hair in the cable, or bang my head!

    I still haven't done them but I want to! Looks way more fun and efficient than stupid crunches.
  • ajnb88
    ajnb88 Posts: 339 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    samthepanda wrote: »
    thank u arditarose . Think I'll give that a miss - would probably catch my hair in the cable, or bang my head!

    I still haven't done them but I want to! Looks way more fun and efficient than stupid crunches.

    I <3 cable crunches. Really easy to progressively add weight without having to balance a dumbell.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    ajnb88 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    samthepanda wrote: »
    thank u arditarose . Think I'll give that a miss - would probably catch my hair in the cable, or bang my head!

    I still haven't done them but I want to! Looks way more fun and efficient than stupid crunches.

    I <3 cable crunches. Really easy to progressively add weight without having to balance a dumbell.

    Yeah. They seem like the option for me. I'm back in a deficit so I'll save it for maintenance/bulk (can you tell how much I hate ab work?)
  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    When I asked this question, the only response I got was Yoga. So... yoga?
  • DvlDwnInGA
    DvlDwnInGA Posts: 369 Member
    I used to hate crunches, then I tried them on a medicine ball. Give them a try like this, they work your core hard while laying on something soft and squishy so you can really concentrate on squeezing your core and not how bad your lower back hurts while doing them on the ground. You get a better range of motion as well.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    VeryKatie wrote: »
    When I asked this question, the only response I got was Yoga. So... yoga?

    Really?!
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    VeryKatie wrote: »
    When I asked this question, the only response I got was Yoga. So... yoga?

    hahaha. Did you ask on a Saturday afternoon or something?!
  • slideaway1
    slideaway1 Posts: 1,006 Member
    Hanging knee raises are great for the core. I do these at the end of a workout with about 3 sets of weighted incline sit ups. I can only manage about 20 reps per set and my core is burning. A great diet is good for revealing abs too. :)
  • jcraig10
    jcraig10 Posts: 477 Member
    I was also going to say weighted Russian twists...use a medicine ball or a plate.
  • Michael190lbs
    Michael190lbs Posts: 1,510 Member
    I put a roman chair in my living room and use it every morning and every evening noticed a huge difference as I can now hold both legs out straight for a very long 20 seconds..

  • distinctlybeautiful
    distinctlybeautiful Posts: 1,041 Member
    Holy moly, thanks for all the suggestions! Y'all are amazing! I'm gonna take some time to sort through these and then start working.
    Cherimoose wrote: »
    Y u no deadlift?

    Honestly just a matter of procrastination, I guess. My husband tried teaching me a few times, but he's no expert either. He tells me I put it down incorrectly, but based on what he's telling me to do and based on the instructional videos I've watched, it feels like I'm doing it right. We just haven't taken the time to go back to it and to film myself so I can see what doing and so we can get advice from someone a little more experienced.
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