Menu

3 Ways Crunches Can Make You Fat

123267905

Sadly, there’s no such thing as spot reducing fat. You could do crunches until the next millennium, but if you’ve got too much belly fat up top, no one’s going to see your six pack.

Fat loss is a systemic and needs routine. Meaning, it happens throughout your whole body, not one trouble spot at a time. To reduce fat in any one place, you really need an old-fashioned more-calories-out-than-in approach that addresses body fat as a whole. That means a well-rounded exercise program, with a combination of aerobic endurance activities and strengthening exercises all over your body, plus a healthy diet.

Physiologically, the goal is to simultaneously shrink your fat cells and increase the size of your muscle cells. Crunches won’t burn calories like running, swimming, or cycling will, so you can’t count on them to reduce fat mass. So, when you do get hungry and want to eat more thinking that you’ve burned fat, which you haven’t, it will actually add more fat (or at least won’t make the old fat go away). That said, they will get you better abs. Muscle building, unlike fat burning, is done muscle by muscle. Not only will crunches increase your abdominal muscles’ strength, they also tone your muscles, so that once you do reduce the size of the fat cells around your middle, you’ll see a well-defined set of abs underneath.

Featured on BlackDoctor

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER HERE!

What’s more important is that your abs, along with your obliques and lower back muscles, make up your core, so strengthening these muscles increases your stability, minimizes many types of back pain and improves your posture. Here’s a great exercise for your core. Click here —> Secrets to a Strong Core

So What’s The Lesson Here?
Aim for 20 minutes of aerobic exercise at least three times per week, and strength training activities (including, but not limited to, ab work) at least twice a week.

Weight loss COMBINED with muscle strengthening is key.

 

Visit the BlackDoctor.org Fitness center for more articles.

SHARE
Related Stories
Answer the question below

Gout Survey

People with gout often have sudden, painful flares of joint swelling and redness. How many gout flares have you experienced in the last 12 months?
Have you ever received intravenous medicine for your gout?

Get our Weekly Newsletter

Stay informed on the latest breakthroughs in family health and wellness. Sign up today!

By subscribing, you consent to receive emails from BlackDoctor.com. You may unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy & Terms of Service.

More from BlackDoctor

Where Culture Meets Care

BlackDoctor is the world’s largest and most comprehensive online health resource specifically for the Black community. BlackDoctor understands that the uniqueness of Black culture - our heritage and our traditions - plays a role in our health. BlackDoctor gives you access to innovative new approaches to the health information you need in everyday language so you can break through the disparities, gain control and live your life to its fullest.
×

Download PDF

Enter your name and email to receive the download link.

BlackDoctor AI Search
✦ AI Search Disclaimer
This AI-powered search tool helps you find relevant health articles from the BlackDoctor.org archive. Please keep the following in mind:
✦ For Informational Purposes Only
The information provided through this AI search is for general educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
✦ Always Consult a Healthcare Provider
Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read through this search tool. If you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
✦ AI Limitations
This search tool uses artificial intelligence to help match your queries with articles in our archive. While we strive for accuracy, AI-generated results may occasionally be incomplete, outdated, or not fully relevant to your specific situation.
✦ No Doctor-Patient Relationship
Using this search tool does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and BlackDoctor.org or any healthcare provider.
Explore over 35,000 articles and videos across black health, wellness, lifestyle and culture
Full AI Search Experience >