Do sit-ups help lose body fat in your stomach?
In the road towards fitness, diet is nothing without proper exercise. For us to lose belly fat, we must choose the right exercise which makes the muscles of our abdomen tighter. One method which is effective is getting rid of stomach fat in sit-ups.
How do sit-ups lose fat in our stomach? Sit-ups have been shown to strengthen abdominal muscles effectively. Strong abdominal muscles can function effectively and protect our internal organs and to make our lungs breathe effectively. Strong abdominal muscles also are necessary in maintaining good posture and in relieving back pain.
Diet alone cannot tone your abdominal muscles. Because fat covers much of your abdominal muscles, limiting calorie intake cannot help trim your waistline. You need to burn the fat which accumulates in your tummy.
How many times should you exercise? Experts suggest that you perform about 3-5 abdominal exercise 3-5 times a week. You should first be concerned about your comfort. You can start with exercises with which you are comfortable with and gradually increase the repetitions. You should select the abdominal exercise which best fits your lifestyle.
Peter Francis, director of the biomechanics lab at San Diego State University, has evaluated 13 of the most popular abdominal exercises. He and his colleagues began to measure the electrical activity of the muscles during each of the workouts. They had found out that three of the thirteen exercises required the muscles to work hard effectively than the rest.
According to these investigators, the bicycle crunch exercise, the reverse curl and the Captain’s chair were the most effective abdominal exercises. And these three are sit up modifications.
In the bicycle crunch, the person lies on the floor with his lower back pressed into the floor. Then he places his arms behind the head. With the legs bent at a 45 degree angle, the person brings the right knee into the chest while extending his left leg out straight. Then he rotates the torso so that his left elbow goes to the right knee then he switches so that the right elbow goes to the left knee.
In the reverse curl, the person lies flat on the ground and raises his legs into the air and bends his knees into a 90 degree angle. He then lifts his hips up off the ground as he keeps his legs still then returns to the starting position.
The captain’s chair is a form of exercise which utilizes a tall chair without a seat. The person presses his back against the back pad. He then places his elbows on the arm rests and grips the handles. He then steps off the footrests and lets his legs hangs while holding himself up. He then lifts his knees towards his chest and then returns to the starting position.
Before you try out these exercises, you should first ask you personal trainer or a health care specialist such as a doctor or a nurse. He or she will evaluate you as to your comorbid illnesses and he or she can suggest what type of exercise is best for you.
If you want a flatter tummy you have to work hard for it. To see the results faster, eat the proper food and exercise you tummy more often!