PS. I wish!

Knee raises, Russian Twist, Wtd Sit up, and Get Ups...those are ones I do. (along with the core planking routine I posted)

But the majority of "ab" strength should come from heavy lifts, stabilization (like balance when lunging), and full body moves (burpee, KB, sprint, jump, etc)

The crunch is a functional movement (getting up) that could happen all day...I lay on the floor to play with George, I lay to stretch...and then have to get up (but I like the idea of having people help me up b/c I already crunched once today getting out of bed!!)

I think the spine thing is true if crunches are viewed as the old "Spot Conditioning"--I'll do crunches as a way to lose belly fat. That had the industry all up in arms....b/c people do crunches, but don't have any backside strength. So it screws their back.

People have weak/compromised spines from things other than crunches a few times a week. That's probably more the issue: People just have weak backs to begin with...too much sitting, bad posture, avoiding back exercises...

DJ and I were talking about that with Bench Press. You see all the guys at the gym with their shoulders rolled foward...b/c they do too much Bench and not enough Back side .

If we work balanced, glute-ham, back extensions, deadlifts, and we have proper front-back strength ratios, then there isn't really a problem.

I rarely do "abs"...full body exercises and keeping food out of the pie-hole is my ab workout.

But I do crunches and situps every once in a while just like anything else...and I mix up...legs out, legs bent, legs up.

That's also why I balance them out with "backside" strength, back extensions.

I do get that mentality...if crunches are overdone as some be all end all ab exercise...the stuff I follow, mainly in running protocols still use crunches (again, not hundreds every day), along with a more full core program...so it's understood that the hamstring and backside are proportional.


But yes, I could easily see a program saying No Crunches Ever and it would be just fine (for abs, core, whatever).

No prob...
Flutter kicks, yes...I like those almost as mobility, too!

"luv to be there"?...maybe you don't remember, it's the one where you pushed the sled and I DL'ed, then I pushed the sled and you DL'ed, 6x...what's wrong with you...