Do Crunches Burn Belly Fat? Do Sit-ups Burn Belly Fat? (2024)

  • Ask a Doctor
  • Doctor’s Response

Ask a Doctor

I’m trying to get in shape for bikini season, but I have this stubborn spare tire of fat around my middle. I need to burn belly fat fast if I’m going to drop jaws at the beach this year like I’m planning. I’ve been doing a bunch of situps and crunches every day for a week now, and I’m not noticing any results, other than sore abs. I don’t want sore abdominal muscles, though; I want washboard abs! Do crunches and sit-ups really burn belly fat?

Doctor’s Response

Aerobic or endurance exercises and strength or resistance exercises are both effective in burning body fat. While there is no single exercise that burns just belly fat, any exercise can help reduce overall body fat when done regularly in combination with a healthy diet.

Abdominal exercises such as crunches or sit-ups do not specifically burn belly fat, but they can help the belly appear flatter and more toned. Other exercises that can help whittle the waistline and tone up the belly include bicycles, planks, and side planks. Pilates and yoga can work the core muscles – the muscles around your trunk and pelvis – and can also help the belly appear flatter.

For overall weight loss – including burning belly fat – diet is as important, if not more so, than exercise. Eat fewer calories. By decreasing calorie intake by 500 per day, you will lose 1 pound a week. One way to eat fewer calories is to limit your fat intake. No more than 30% of your daily calorie intake should be fat calories.

Low-fat foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes will help you feel full. This helps you lose weight or control your weight.

Avoid sugary foods such as candies, jellies and jams, honey, and syrups. These foods offer little nutritional value and tend to be converted to fat quickly.

Limit alcoholic beverages, which provide empty calories -- calories that have no other nutritional value. Women should have no more than one alcoholic drink and men no more than two alcoholic drinks a day. An alcoholic drink is 4 ounces of wine, 12 ounces (one standard bottle or can) of beer, or ½ ounce of distilled liquor.

Don't stop eating altogether. Fasting may result in rapid weight loss, but most of this weight will be water and possibly even muscle. Your body slows its metabolism, making it very difficult to maintain any weight loss.

References

Gayle M. Galletta, MD coauthored this article

REFERENCES:

BMC Public Health. The effect of 12 weeks of aerobic, resistance or combination exercise training on cardiovascular risk factors in the overweight and obese in a randomized trial. 28 August 2012. 10 November 2018

.

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. The Effect of Abdominal Exercise on Abdominal Fat. September 2011. 10 November 2018

.

Leigh Perreault, MD. Obesity in adults: Role of physical activity and exercise. 29 August 2017. 10 November 2018

.

NHS. 10-minute abs workout. 16 January 2018. 10 November 2018

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Do Crunches Burn Belly Fat? Do Sit-ups Burn Belly Fat? (2024)

FAQs

Do Crunches Burn Belly Fat? Do Sit-ups Burn Belly Fat? ›

Abdominal exercises such as crunches or sit-ups do not specifically burn belly fat, but they can help the belly appear flatter and more toned. Other exercises that can help whittle the waistline and tone up the belly include bicycles, planks, and side planks.

What exercise burns the most belly fat? ›

Some of the best exercises to burn fat include planks, Russian twists, and bicycle crunches. These exercises target the core muscles, helping to tone and tighten your midsection. Creating a routine is essential for achieving your fitness goals. Start with a warm-up to prepare your body for the workout.

Will 20 sit-ups a day tone my stomach? ›

A: No. Sit ups are great for tightening your core. They strengthen and tone your rectus abdominus, transverse abdominus and oblique abdominal muscles as well as your neck muscles. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends three sets of 8 to 12 repetitions three times per week.

Can I do 100 crunches a day to lose belly fat? ›

One study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found carrying out six weeks of abdominal exercises alone was not enough to reduce abdominal fat. Unfortunately, even if you do 100 crunches a day, you won't lose the fat from your belly.

What burns belly fat so fast? ›

High-intensity interval training (HIIT): It is probably one of the fastest and most efficient ways to lose stomach fat and reduce the overall body fat percentage.

What gets rid of belly fat the most? ›

8 Ways to Lose Belly Fat and Live a Healthier Life
  • Try curbing carbs instead of fats. ...
  • Think eating plan, not diet. ...
  • Keep moving. ...
  • Lift weights. ...
  • Become a label reader. ...
  • Move away from processed foods. ...
  • Focus on the way your clothes fit more than reading a scale. ...
  • Hang out with health-focused friends.

Does plank reduce belly fat? ›

Since the plank pose mainly works your core abdominal muscles, it is a great exercise to get rid of stubborn belly fat. Holding a plank for a few minutes each day can alone help to trump down belly fat and provide an appealing shape to your body.

How can I tighten my flabby belly? ›

Exercise

Building muscle mass through weight training exercises can help decrease the appearance of loose skin, especially if the loose skin is from weight loss. If excess fat distends the skin for a long time, the skin can lose some of its ability to shrink with weight loss.

Can a flabby belly be toned? ›

You can strengthen and tone abdominal muscles with crunches or other exercises focused on your belly. But doing those exercises alone won't get rid of belly fat. The good news is that visceral fat responds to the same diet and exercise strategies that can help get rid of other extra pounds and lower total body fat.

Does walking burn belly fat? ›

Studies show walking is one of the best ways to shed belly fat, in less time than you think. Researchers reviewed 40 years of studies on exercise and belly fat and found that just 2 1/2 hours of brisk walking a week--about 20 minutes a day--can shrink your belly by about 1 inch in 4 weeks.

What exercise burns the most belly fat at home? ›

Some abdominal exercises for belly fat that you can try at home include:
  • 60-second planks.
  • Bicycle crunches.
  • Abdominal crunches.
  • Leg lifts.
Apr 25, 2023

Do sit-ups flatten your belly? ›

While there is no single exercise that burns just belly fat, any exercise can help reduce overall body fat when done regularly in combination with a healthy diet. Abdominal exercises such as crunches or sit-ups do not specifically burn belly fat, but they can help the belly appear flatter and more toned.

What is the best workout to burn fat? ›

Some great choices for burning calories include walking, jogging, running, cycling, swimming, weight training, interval training, yoga, and Pilates. Many other exercises can also help boost your weight loss efforts. It's most important to choose an exercise that you enjoy doing.

How to get a flat tummy with exercise? ›

  1. Scissor legs. Lie flat with your legs together and arms by your sides (don't get too comfy) then roll your legs overhead until you can place your palms flat against the back of your lower back. ...
  2. Straight-legged sit-up. ...
  3. Suitcase sit-ups. ...
  4. Supine leg circles. ...
  5. V-sit hold. ...
  6. Bicycle crunch. ...
  7. Reverse crunch. ...
  8. Dead bug.
Apr 23, 2024

How to lose belly fat in 2 weeks with exercise? ›

Do at least 30 or 40 minutes of aerobic exercise 5 or 6 days a week. Go for a jog, run, or brisk walk to burn calories and fat every day for the next 2 weeks. Aerobic exercise also releases endorphins, which will leave you feeling happier and more confident after a good sweat session.

What are the 5 foods that burn belly fat? ›

Five foods that may help burn belly fat include:
  • foods with soluble fiber like fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
  • foods with protein like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy.
  • fatty fish like tuna and salmon.
  • foods with probiotics like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi.
  • green tea.

References

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