Weight Loss
Your body uses up calories all of the time in order to fuel and maintain your working tissues and organs. To lose weight, you’ve got to use up and burn more calories than you take in from what you eat and drink. When this happens, your body is forced to break down the fat you have stored on your body and convert it into energy it can use as fuel. Every 3,500 more calories you burn than consume means a pound of fat loss. The American Council on Exercise recommends that you try to create a 500-calorie deficit every day, which will in turn mean you’ll create a 3,500 deficit and lose a pound in a week.
Crunches
Crunches are a strength-training exercise that is effective at building strength and tone in your rectus abdominis muscle. The rectus abdominis is the major muscle in your stomach. When developed, it’s the one that gives the toned, six-pack look. However, muscle tissue is completely independent of fat tissue. You could regularly do crunches and it won’t make an impact on fat. In addition, any excess fat you have at your stomach will cover up toned abs. To lose weight, place your focus on exercise activities that are more effective at burning calories so that you’re working toward creating a caloric deficit.
Effective Exercises
Cardiovascular activities elevate your heart rate because your body is working to deliver fuel to your working tissues. Activities like jogging, swimming and biking require the use of a significant amount of calories in order to keep your muscle tissue working over time. According to MayoClinic.com, running and jumping rope are among the top exercises for weight loss. In one hour, a 200-pound person will burn about 755 calories running at 5 mph and 1,074 calories jumping rope. Consistently incorporating cardio exercise into your regimen is the most effective way for burning calories and losing weight.
Considerations
Crunches may not be effective for weight loss, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be included in a workout program designed for fat loss. Adding regular bouts of crunches before or after your cardio workouts will mean you’ll be simultaneously toning your abdominals as you lower your body fat. That way, as the amount of fat at your stomach decreases, your developed abs will become visible. Do crunches three days per week, giving your abs a day off between so that they can rest and recover.
