I only specifically target my abs once a week as per advice on this website but I need a good complete ab workout(s). I know I should change up the work out every once in a while. I do crunches but I kind of hate them because of my spine and neck they can become uncomfortable. I know diet is number one to reducing my waist and it is in a good balance. I have been losing weight and reducing the waist line just feel the ab work out is lacking. Any recommendations welcome (and crunches can be included). Thanks
Abs, Abs, and more Abs!
- Thread starter camel
- Start date
Do you put your hands behind your head to support it? If not, that could well be the reason for the comfortableness you feel. I remember I once tried just putting hands on shoulders like some people suggest, but I felt just like you, and couldn't even do 10 reps.
Have you tried leg raises? Those are as effective as crunches. You can do them lying on the floor, on a bench or hanging from a pullup bar... Actually I never do crunches, either leg raises or full situps (holding a weight behind my head). They also work some other muscles beside your abs (ilias pasoas sp?), but they need exercise too.
Thanks for the responses. I'll definitely do leg raises and try to mix it up but guess I am pretty much stuck with crunches. I don't put my hands behind my head when I crunch because I usually hold a ten pound weight on my chest. The weight probably contributes to me being uncomfortable. I'll have to find a new way to hold it.
theleip
2
Camel
I deal all the time with people just not doing their crunches the right way. I have been training for a while and still get plenty out of crunching with no weight added at all. It is all about focusing the right way and moving in the right manner. I usually recommend when someone is getting stall in their crunches to move to the swiss ball.
To perform a correct crunch on the swiss ball-
-Sit on swiss ball
-Place feet point forward firmly on the floor in front of you.
-Lie back while sliding forward to the point to where your glutes is off of the ball and the ball is fitting into the curve of your lower back.
-Make sure that you are laying completely back now.
-Place your hands behind your head.
-Start to raise your body up using your abdominals and the use of movement. Keep your shoulders rolled forward to your hips. DO NOT SWING. Take it slow at first to figure out your focus and movement. The more you focus, is the harder and more effective it becomes. Remember to really squeeze your abs at the top of the movement and then rinse and repeat.
-Once you have gotten down how to target the intensity of the movement then pick up the tempo!
Start with 3 sets of 20. Trust me, that will do you right.
I deal all the time with people just not doing their crunches the right way. I have been training for a while and still get plenty out of crunching with no weight added at all. It is all about focusing the right way and moving in the right manner. I usually recommend when someone is getting stall in their crunches to move to the swiss ball.
To perform a correct crunch on the swiss ball-
-Sit on swiss ball
-Place feet point forward firmly on the floor in front of you.
-Lie back while sliding forward to the point to where your glutes is off of the ball and the ball is fitting into the curve of your lower back.
-Make sure that you are laying completely back now.
-Place your hands behind your head.
-Start to raise your body up using your abdominals and the use of movement. Keep your shoulders rolled forward to your hips. DO NOT SWING. Take it slow at first to figure out your focus and movement. The more you focus, is the harder and more effective it becomes. Remember to really squeeze your abs at the top of the movement and then rinse and repeat.
-Once you have gotten down how to target the intensity of the movement then pick up the tempo!
Start with 3 sets of 20. Trust me, that will do you right.