Bored with regular crunches? The bicycle crunch is the perfect move to spice up your core workout. It gives you all the same benefits of the standard crunch, plus it works your internal and external obliques. This type of crunch requires more movement and engages more muscles in the core, which has major toning benefits.
Are bicycle crunches effective?
Bicycle crunches can help tone your midsection and slim your waist. Because bicycle crunches require more leg movement than standard crunches, they’re also great for improving stability, flexibility and coordination.
They are also a great move to strengthen your entire core. From picking up heavy grocery bags to climbing the stairs, a strong core is required for a lot of everyday activities and can even help prevent common injuries or strains. Twisting and reaching is also required for everyday activities like getting things off of shelves, putting things away in cabinets and playing with kids.
Do bicycle crunches burn belly fat?
Bicycle crunches can help tone the belly area, but keep in mind that there’s really no such thing as spot-reduction with fat loss.
While you’re working the abdominal muscles in a bicycle crunch, you’ll strengthen your core muscles, which can have a toning and tightening effect. Strength training and building muscle also helps to speed up the metabolism, which helps to burn fat everywhere, including the belly. Adding bicycle crunches to a well-rounded workout routine, along with a healthy eating plan, is a great way to tone your stomach and help get rid of excess belly fat.
Is it better to do bicycle crunches fast or slow?
The answer is both, depending on your goals.
- If you do bicycle crunches quickly, you’ll burn more calories by speeding up your heart rate and essentially turning this strength training exercise into a cardio exercise, too.
- If you do bicycle crunches slowly, you’ll focus more on precisely engaging each muscle at work.
As a personal trainer and Pilates instructor, I recommend doing…
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