Weighted Crunches
Overview
Like a regular crunch, this exercise focuses on your abdominals. Abs are a paired muscle that run vertically down your abdomen, from just below your pecs, down to your pubic crest.
Tendinous intersections cross your abs horizontally, which is what gives you the six or eight pack look. Abs are the anterior part of your core muscles, and help keep you upright.
Instructions
To begin, roll back down until you’re flat on your back, keeping your knees up at a 90 degree angle. Hold a dumbbell or disk weight at your chest.
Breathing out as you contract your muscles, curl upwards, leaving your lower back on the mat.
Curl back down slowly as you inhale.
Tips
A common mistake is to thrust your neck forward as you crunch. This is bad for your spine. Instead, hold your spine straight.
I recommend only one set of fifteen crunches. If you no longer feel the burn with this exercise, it’s time to incrementally increase the weight.
Weighted crunches are a great way to really hit those abs, when a regular crunch just won’t do. Thanks for watching!
