I am always amazed by how many people think that sit ups will get them a toned six pack or greater core strength. All I have to do is turn on the TV and see the informercials promising toned abs. How about all the magazines with gorgeous pictures of toned men and women on their covers displaying chiseled abs? The lastest laugh I had recently was when I learned that there is a surgery that can be done to give you a six pack. There too many gimmicks and quick fixes in the fitness industry. There is so much information that I wonder how most people are able to discriminate. It’s my job as a trainer to educate.
I usually have the opportunity since there is always a client or a participant in my fitness class who asks, “Can we do abs?” I respond by saying, “You are working your core (which incidentally is more than the sum of your abs) consistently throughout my class. What is the purpose in torturing you with numerous repetitions of crunches?”
I personally hate crunches. First of all, they are boring. Most people do them incorrectly and end up with some kind of neck or back injury. They also rarely get the results that they are looking for and end up frustrated and disillusioned as well.
Crunches are certainly not functional. Meaning they don’t help you use your body as a whole for a specific activity, which is really what athletes and non athletes need for sport and daily activities of living.
I must confess that every so often, I test myself on the bosu or stability ball with some crunches. I always end up losing count. I don’t feel nearly as strong, stable or balanced as I do when I’m working my core vertically as opposed to horizontally!