Help! with crunches

1st, doing a crunch, you should never actually curl either your back or neck.

A correct crunch is chin up, looking at the ceiling, back straight, and a 35 to 40 degree angle (that's about 6 to 10 inches off the ground at the shoulder blade level). The abdominal muscles should do all the work, actively concentrate on contracting them to pull you forward.

If you're neck hurts after crunches, you aren't doing them right. Remember, CHIN UP. You should be able to read a sign on the ceiling no problem while doing crunches.

Secondly, crunches don't improve body fat in the stomach area, I'm not sure if that's what you are trying to do, but if it is, cardio is what you want.

Try doing some planks, planks are a great way to increase ab strength without putting the lower back or neck at risk.

An excercise ball might help. Keep your back and neck straight though. You should only be pulling your shoulder blades off the floor (if you're on the floor).


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1st, doing a crunch, you should never actually curl either your back or neck.

A correct crunch is chin up, looking at the ceiling, back straight, and a 35 to 40 degree angle (that's about 6 to 10 inches off the ground at the shoulder blade level). The abdominal muscles should do all the work, actively concentrate on contracting them to pull you forward.

If you're neck hurts after crunches, you aren't doing them right. Remember, CHIN UP. You should be able to read a sign on the ceiling no problem while doing crunches.

Secondly, crunches don't improve body fat in the stomach area, I'm not sure if that's what you are trying to do, but if it is, cardio is what you want.

Try doing some planks, planks are a great way to increase ab strength without putting the lower back or neck at risk.

I'm going to try crunches while staring at the ceiling and see if that helps. I don't do them often because my lower back and neck ALWAYS hurt while doing them --- and I know that means I'm not doing it right, so I stop!

Samster, I did find that I was better positioned and didn't have back or neck pain if I propped my legs up on the couch or on the fitness ball or on a chair.... Having my legs propped up corrected the positioning of my back (I suppose).

I'm going to try crunches while staring at the ceiling and see if that helps. I don't do them often because my lower back and neck ALWAYS hurt while doing them --- and I know that means I'm not doing it right, so I stop!

Samster, I did find that I was better positioned and didn't have back or neck pain if I propped my legs up on the couch or on the fitness ball or on a chair.... Having my legs propped up corrected the positioning of my back (I suppose).

That's right Lauryn. Putting your legs up on something so that they create two 90 degree angles (one at your butt, one at your knees) will usually preclude you from arching your back while doing them. HOWEVER, it won't help your neck or force you to use your abs, so you have to always be concious of that. Doing an incorrect crunch does very little for you and can make your workout seem futile.

Couple of tips:

-See my above post about the chin. (I hate repeating myself )
-A crunch should take 5 seconds, 3 up, 2 down, at no time should you be able to easilly spot your stomach (I.E. your eyes should be looking UP not forward)
-Conciously contract your abs on both the contraction and the release motions (up and down), don't release your abdominal muscle until you are on the floor.
- to really increase your output, once you have mastered the correct form, incorporate the elbow to knee arcross the body motion (bicycle crunches), this will work your obliques as well, giving you a far more defined look then just the abs themselves, it will also allow you to have far more stability when using force to move someting laterally across your body.

you could also try a V-sit pose. Where, with a straight back, you sit on your haunches lift your legs straight up infront of you and raise your arms ot hte the side, like a "V" with your body, and hold this as long as you can before your back starts slouching. To modify, use your arms to lightly support your legs if you need it at first.

Hello all:happy:
I've had more success with an Ab Lounger than any other method. Doesn't hurt my neck or back; do them slowly like SHBoss recommends and you can REALLY feel it after about 20 crunches. I'm to 100 slloooow crunches a day, and am starting to see definition again. Used it faithfully for about 6 months, then slacked off. BIG mistake, so I'm back to using it almost every day. Well worth the $90 investment - my husband has even used it.:bigsmile:

Hello all:happy:
I've had more success with an Ab Lounger than any other method. Doesn't hurt my neck or back; do them slowly like SHBoss recommends and you can REALLY feel it after about 20 crunches. I'm to 100 slloooow crunches a day, and am starting to see definition again. Used it faithfully for about 6 months, then slacked off. BIG mistake, so I'm back to using it almost every day. Well worth the $90 investment - my husband has even used it.:bigsmile:

Like I said earlier, I LOVE my ab lounge. I do get ahead of myself and probably should try doing slooooooow reps. Although, sometimes I can get somewhat of a cardio workout on it. Before I start my workout on it, I stretch as far back as I can, it feels so good! I love after using the ab lounge my abs feel so tight!