Why Crunches Do Not Help You To Lose Belly Fat- And What To Do Instead

Do you want to lose belly fat over age 40? You'll frequently receive the advice to do crunches and other physical exercises targeting the abdominal muscles.

At first sight, that's logical. You're working out a body part, so the fat on this body part is getting less. Unfortunately our metabolism doesn't work that way:

There is no spot fat reduction. Where you will increase weight and where you lose it depends on your constitution, it s in the genes. Over 40 this genetic program is getting stronger and stronger.

Frequently I hear people saying things like "I want to lose belly fat" but it is not possible to lose fat on a particular body part. All we can do is to get an overall slim body (what is an ever better result anyway than just lose belly fat).

Crunches are wonderful to tone up the core muscles around your belly. If you want to shape your physique, exercises like the reverse bicycle really serve to tone your body. You might consider doing physical exercises for the back in addition, so front and back of your midsection are becoming strong. This will help your posture too and keep back pain away. The latter is very frequent for people over 40; we sit more as we should.

Crunches are- comparably- a waste of time when it gets to losing weight. Compared to the leg muscles, your ab muscles are comparatively small. So you burn more calories when you work out the leg muscles compared to exercising the abdomen muscles. Your leg muscles are much bigger and will burn more calories in the same time.

If you consider doing crunches, do it for the right reason: To strengthen your midsection. If you want to lose weight permanently, better exercise the bigger muscles on your body.

Are you a woman over 40? I've created a free, personalized program for women over 40 who want to lose weight permanently. How would you like to get excellent, lasting weight loss results- be attractive, healthy, energetic, youthful? This program adjusts to your specific situation and keeps you motivated while you enjoy healthy eating and exercise.
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Perry Permann

Related articles:

• How Growing Fat Cells Threaten Weight Loss Over 40


• The Really Dangerous Fat Is Hidden In You


• Move More Or Eat Less to Lose Weight Permanently?


• Plan To Move


• Need A Fat-Burning Exercise Program?

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You can read more of Perry's articles at

• Woman Over 40? Lose Belly Fat Now - The Health and Beauty Hazard


• Weight Control the Easy Way - Expert Tips For Women Over 40


• Women Over 40 - Exercise to Get That Beach Body Before Summer, Feel Better and Be More Attractive


• Women at 40 - A Dirty Secret the Diet Industry Doesn't Want You to Know

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