42 best ways to lose stomach fat

If spot reducing is a myth, why do we do crunches? Isn't it to.. tighten and reduce the area in question WHILE maintaining a healthy deficit? Just wondering...

No idea why you do crunches, I don't do them. For the most part, the crunch is a useless exercise.

And no, exercising a body part has nothing to do with reducing fat for that body part, it's about increasing the strength of that body part.

I definately know that you cannot spot reduce. but I have an honest question .....why is a crunch useless? Woudn't it help in strengthening your abs/core? Especially if you are not only doing crunches but doing a bunch of other core/ab exercises?

BTW, I do not do a huge amount of 'ab' exercise as I try to ensure I use my core as much as possible when strength training by, for example, doing weights on a bosu etc. I am just asking so that I understand why throwing in the odd set of crunches may not be an effective use of my time.

If spot reducing is a myth, why do we do crunches? Isn't it to.. tighten and reduce the area in question WHILE maintaining a healthy deficit? Just wondering...

Why are there 42? Shouldn't there be one?

"Maintain a healthy caloric deficit"

42 ways to lose stomach fat.

1-42. Maintain a caloric deficit and lose all over fat.

Spot reducing is a myth, there is no magic trick to specifically lose belly fat. Where you lose fat from is determined by genetics.

If you can't tell just by the article title alone, that this is rubbish, then consider yourself a pre-beginner in your "weight loss journey".

If you dismiss these articles, or just read them for lulz or morbid curiosity, then you may upgrade yourself to "beginner" and start getting some work done.

doing weights on a bosu

really? no. don't do weights on a bosu.
don't be this guy.

they don't show you the next step, where he falls off and breaks his ankle.

Errrrrr - this is NOT a bosu - its a stability ball

If spot reducing is a myth, why do we do crunches? Isn't it to.. tighten and reduce the area in question WHILE maintaining a healthy deficit? Just wondering...

No idea why you do crunches, I don't do them. For the most part, the crunch is a useless exercise.

And no, exercising a body part has nothing to do with reducing fat for that body part, it's about increasing the strength of that body part.

I definately know that you cannot spot reduce. but I have an honest question .....why is a crunch useless? Woudn't it help in strengthening your abs/core? Especially if you are not only doing crunches but doing a bunch of other core/ab exercises?

BTW, I do not do a huge amount of 'ab' exercise as I try to ensure I use my core as much as possible when strength training by, for example, doing weights on a bosu etc. I am just asking so that I understand why throwing in the odd set of crunches may not be an effective use of my time.

They aren't useless, they are simply FAR from being the most efficient way to train your core. Are they better than sitting on the couch? Yes. Are they better than squats and deadlifts? No.

I was more asking....why? Not challenging your answer at all - honestly wanting to understand the logic - that way I can apply to other exercises/training. I assume it has something to do with the fact that they do not engage as many muscles as other exercises such a the ones you mentioned - but could be wrong.

If spot reducing is a myth, why do we do crunches? Isn't it to.. tighten and reduce the area in question WHILE maintaining a healthy deficit? Just wondering...

No idea why you do crunches, I don't do them. For the most part, the crunch is a useless exercise.

And no, exercising a body part has nothing to do with reducing fat for that body part, it's about increasing the strength of that body part.

I definately know that you cannot spot reduce. but I have an honest question .....why is a crunch useless? Woudn't it help in strengthening your abs/core? Especially if you are not only doing crunches but doing a bunch of other core/ab exercises?

BTW, I do not do a huge amount of 'ab' exercise as I try to ensure I use my core as much as possible when strength training by, for example, doing weights on a bosu etc. I am just asking so that I understand why throwing in the odd set of crunches may not be an effective use of my time.

They aren't useless, they are simply FAR from being the most efficient way to train your core. Are they better than sitting on the couch? Yes. Are they better than squats and deadlifts? No.

I was more asking....why? Not challenging your answer at all - honestly wanting to understand the logic - that way I can apply to other exercises/training. I assume it has something to do with the fact that they do not engage as many muscles as other exercises such a the ones you mentioned - but could be wrong.

It's unnecessary. EVERY compound exercise utilizes your core muscles for stability, balance, power, and strength. I do heavy strength training, and doing barbell squats and deadlifts do a lot more for your core strength than crunches ever will.

It's just my personal opinion, but I'm after functional strength and fitness, so I feel the same way about any isolation exercises. As far as I'm concerned, crunches, biceps curls, triceps kickbacks, and calf raises are all useless exercises, as doing squats, deadlifts, bench presses, rows, and overhead presses will give all those muscle groups all the work they would need.

Now, a professional body builder may need to incorporate some of those moves while prepping for a competition, due to needing specific muscle sizes and symmetry, but for the average person, they are unnecessary, and time could be better spent on other exercises.

I was more asking....why? Not challenging your answer at all - honestly wanting to understand the logic - that way I can apply to other exercises/training. I assume it has something to do with the fact that they do not engage as many muscles as other exercises such a the ones you mentioned - but could be wrong.

the only muscles worked while doing crunches are your rectus abdominis, which are the muscles that are visible in a six- or eight-pack. it's not that they don't do anything, they're just not that effective. by doing heavy compound lifts, you engage your entire core to keep you upright and stable. your abs, obliques, and lower back.
when i did a lot of ab work (crunches, reverse crunches, bicycles, oblique crunches)... the longest i could hold a plank was 30 seconds. after two months of doing heavy compound lifts (squat, deadlift, snatches, bench press...) i can easily plank 50+ seconds. i don't do any ab work and my abs have gotten stronger.

Do I do crunches or not? alot of mfp are seasoned....remember there are alot of beginners...so break it down...
Im just starting out doing 30day shred and we do crunches on those dvd

doing weights on a bosu

really? no. don't do weights on a bosu.
don't be this guy.

they don't show you the next step, where he falls off and breaks his ankle.

Errrrrr - this is NOT a bosu - its a stability ball

yes, which is essentially the same as a bosu. it's a double bosu. the point still stands. don't do it. you will hurt yourself and your core is not going to get much stronger than just doing compound lifts on a stable, flat surface.

NO - a bosu has a flat bottom which is way more stable than a ball. Also, I would never lift that heavy on a ball or a bosu in any event.