Crunches make us look fat

Alright, so they don't actually make us add body fat. But crunches can make your tummy appear less flat. If your not including fat burning cardio (HIIT) programming in your workout the muscle you are developing with the crunch can make you appear bulkier or thicker in the middle.

The problem with crunches is they focus almost solely on your rectus abdominal (that's the exterior ab muscle) if your goal is to get a strong and toned tummy you need to be maximising your workout time with exercises that blast your entire core not a single muscle.

The core is not just one muscle. It is made up of pelvic floor muscles, internal & external obliques, rectus abdominal, multitifudus, erector spine and transverse abdominal (TVA).

So try a plank or hover ( front an sides) next time instead of a crunch. Besides lower back carpet burns are not so much fun to try and explain.

When we hold a plank or other isometric exercises our muscle fibres are pulling from both end of the contracting muscles making your body recruit more muscle fibres than if you were changing the angle constantly .

So for your abs think static holds Side planks, hovers, or lying leg hold. This willed develope your abs to get the lines you do want and you will be stronger to boot.