5 Effective Crunch Moves to Blast Stubborn Belly Fat

There is nothing quite like basic crunch exercises to blast pesky belly fat and love handles. When done right, crunches can help you develop rock hard abs! Apart from being easy, crunch exercises are effective. No need to use pricey gym equipment to tone and sculpt the midsection! In today’s post, we are listing some of the best crunch moves that will take your fitness regimen to a different height!

1. The Bicycle Crunch

The bicycle crunch is an oldie but still a goodie! It is one of the best crunch exercises to tone the core and the lower abdominal muscles! This power-packed move targets the transverse abdominous and the obliques at the same time.

To perform a bicycle crunch, lie flat on an exercise mat. Now bend your knees and keep your feet off the floor. Start pedaling the legs to your opposite elbow and repeat. Do at least 2 sets of 12 reps and gradually build up resistance as you go.

2. Swiss Ball Crunches

Performing crunches on a hard surface may put stress on the spine, causing lower back pain. Performing Swiss ball crunches help ease back pain because the exercise ball provides lumbar support.

To perform Swiss ball crunches, rest your back on a medium to large size Swiss ball. Balance yourself and adjust by pulling in your core and working your legs. Cross your arms over the chest and perform a standard crunch. Complete two sets of 12 reps and then gradually perform more sets for optimum results.

3. The Plank

The plank is one of the most effective abs workouts there are. It is also one of the most spine-friendly! When done right, planking helps tone the belly and burn off fat. You can either do front planking or side planking.

To perform a front plank, lay down on the floor with your chest and palms flat to the floor. Keep your toes pressed firmly into the ground. Now, lift your upper and lower body off the ground by propping your bent elbow parallel to each other and toes. Hold the position for as long as you can. Repeat and complete 2 to 3 holds.

4. V Sit Ups

The V-sit up targets the rectus abdominous, transverse abdominous, internal and external obliques. It also targets several core muscles, making it one of the most effective of all crunch exercises.

To perform the V sit up, lay flat on the floor with your arms and legs extended. Then, pull your core in and bring your arms and legs up in a “V” position. Lower the arms and legs towards the floor but make sure they do not touch the floor.

5. Reverse Crunch

The reverse crunch is similar to a basic crunch but the position differs. This crunch exercise will blast stubborn belly fat and strengthen the core. To perform the reverse crunch, lie flat on the exercise mat and raise the legs up. Now bend the legs and push them back to touch the chest. Do 3 sets of 10 and gradually increase the reps.