When looking to do abdominal exercises, you should try to work your abs in as many exercises as possible. This is where you want to add high-intensity, metabolism-boosting, full-body exercises.
Crunches have been shown to be bad for your back and have absolutely no benefits for losing belly fat. Exercises like the plank and side plank are the best for your core, but unfortunately they’re not sexy enough for most people.
The importance of diet cannot be underestimated either, as the most important thing is to eat clean foods like protein, fruits and vegetables while cutting out all the processed junk.
While diet is truly the #1 factor in losing belly fat, you also need to do the right exercises.
Here’s an example of a tough ab workout that doesn’t involve any of the obvious, direct ab exercises. Do the following workout, one exercise after another, with each exercise done for 3-4 sets of 8 repetitions.
* Renegade Dumbbell Rows: Start in a pushup position with your hands on top of the dumbbells. Slowly bring your right elbow back, keeping it tight against your body, and slowly lower yourself down. Then do the same with the left elbow. As you balance on one arm, your core will engage and tighten
* Barbell Front Squats: Hold the bar across your shoulders with your upper arms parallel to the floor. This is a tough exercise, so maybe ask your trainer to help you out and make sure you start light and work your way up to heavier weights. Squat down with proper form and then come back up straight. Again, as you balance the bar and move up and down, you’ll have to work hard to keep your balance.
* Mountaineers – Down in push-up position. Bring your right knee in toward your chest, then step your right foot back. Then the left foot. As you get used to it, try to go as fast as you are while maintaining good form. This exercise can be done for time instead of repetitions, say 30 seconds.
Another trick to progress the benefit of these exercises is to pull in your belly button and contract your transverse abdominals, especially rowers and mountain climbers.
So be sure to give this a try and see how it goes for you.