Trying to strengthen your core and perhaps aiming for a six-pack? While sit-ups can help, you can choose better. Here are three abdominal exercises that are better than sit-ups for that shredded-looking tummy.
A strong core is linked to good health and a fit body. Everyone wants to be able to show off their six pack. Although it is about having a low percentage of body fat, which is mainly done through diet, you should also exercise your abdominals so that your six-pack appears faster.
In the video below, sports teacher and YouTube fitness guru Alex Lorenz lists three abdominal exercises that are better than sit-ups. He is the co-founder of the Calisthenics Movement and has been training in Calisthenics since 2012, regularly posting videos for people interested in getting in shape using just their body weight.
Abdominal Exercises Better Than Situps
According to Lorenz, sit-ups only work the rectus abdominis and also limit intensity and can negatively impact the spine. So what are these better-than-sit-up abdominal exercises that Lorenz talks about?
1. Knee raise
Leg raises or knee raises are great for abs, but knee raises made the cut here because they target the abs without being hindered by your mobility or lack thereof.
The knee raise can be done in a standing or hanging position. Make sure you don’t use any momentum to do the movement, as this takes tension away from your abdomen.
2. Knee to Elbow Plank + Side Plank
These are two combined exercises that will give you the most bang for your buck and that’s why they’re on this list of abdominal exercises that are better than sit-ups.
Always make sure you have a posterior pelvic tilt to engage your abs more in the first part of the exercise. Aim for a hollow body position for optimal core engagement.
For the plank, keep your body as horizontal as possible, don’t just hang on the structures, push your arm, leg and shoulder blade into the floor.
The side plank can be done with one or two legs on the floor, one leg is much more difficult to stabilize.
3. Plank
If a regular plank is too easy for you, you can adjust the difficulty by lengthening the lever between your elbows and feet, the two points of support. The more you move your body backwards, the more difficult the exercise becomes.
However, the greater the distance, the more stress you put on your spine, which is bad if you can’t maintain the position with your pelvic tilt forward.
This exercise can also be done by lifting one foot off the floor or one hand, or both, to add instability and create more tension in the abdominals.
And these are the 3 better-than-sit-up abdominal exercises that you should incorporate into your workout whenever you can. To see exactly how each exercise is performed, with extra tips from Lorenz, click the video below.
VIDEO – Abdominal exercises better than sit-ups
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