How to Do Crunches Correctly

It’s common knowledge that without a solid, well-balanced diet, you’ll find it difficult to obtain the lean, defined physique that you desire. However, once you’ve got your diet in check, a great way to achieve that chiselled look is to perform a popular abs exercise known as crunches.

If you’re unsure of the ideal way to do crunches, then you might be asking yourself the question – am I doing this right? If that’s you, then we’ll now look into how to do crunches correctly. First of all, you need to lie flat on the floor – pushing your feet back so that your knees are higher than the rest of your body. Next, you’ll need to place your hands at the side of your head. Then, it’s time to perform the actual crunch itself.

Proper way to do crunches

The proper way to do crunches is to lift your body up off the floor - ensuring that you feel full contraction in your abs, as opposed to in your neck which is sometimes the case when you’re performing the crunch incorrectly. However, once your form is perfected then the crunch can be a great way to tone your midsection.

If you’re in search of the ideal crunch workout, then a good starting point would be to perform 3-4 sets of 10 repetitions. As you become more advanced, you can either increase the amount of reps or sets you perform, or even both if you like!

However, if you want to mix things up a little, you might be wondering how to do side crunches – an exercise which targets a different area of your abs when compared to regular crunches. To execute the move in the correct way, simply assume the regular crunch position – with your hands at either side of your head, then as your upper body lifts from the ground, simply put your left elbow towards your right knee, and vice versa.

Alternatives to crunches

If you’re searching for a great exercise to supplement your crunches, then mountain climbers are a great option – they’re a challenging exercise but rewarding all the same as it allows you to achieve a great cardio workout while helping to develop your core at the same time. If you’re looking how to perform mountain climbers correctly, all you need to do is assume the push up position with your arms fully extended, and then bring in your knees one leg at a time and repeat the move as many times as you can.