Do These 10 Non-Crunch Exercises To Lose Belly Fat

People dream of attaining toned washboard abs when they think of reducing weight. We’re sorry to break it to you that doing hundreds of crunches every day isn’t the right approach to lose belly fat. In fact, there aren’t any exercises that help with spot removal, especially from the belly. So, here are a few things you can do to get your body in shape and get that flat tummy you want – following a regular exercise routine, a balanced diet[1], and maintaining a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

According to expert fitness trainers, merely focusing on reducing belly fat might not be of much help rather a regular workout routine that includes strength training, cardio, compound workouts, and core-focused workouts[2]help in reducing overall body fat which also results in losing belly fat.

If you are following a regular workout regime already or following any form of activity to stay fit, and still concerned about your waistline, here are the 10 best exercises [3]that can help you out.

1. Burpees

Burpees involve explosive plyometric action and are a great way to torch your calories. It targets your core as well as your chest, lats, triceps, shoulders, and quads.

How To Do

• Begin in a squat stance with your knees bent, back straight, and feet shoulder-width apart.
• Lower your hands to the floor in front of you, right within your feet.
• Kick your feet back so you’re on your hands and toes and in a push-up position.
• Perform one push-up while keeping your body straight from head to heels.
• Remember not to slump your back or push your hip in the air.
• Perform a frog kick by leaping your feet back to their starting position.
• Jump fast into the air and land back where you started.
• Repeat the same steps. Do 10 repetitions for 2-3 sets.

2. Mountain Climbers

This exercise is similar to a moving plank in that it trains your core as well as a range of other body muscles.

How To Do

• Start from a push-up position with your hands beneath your shoulders and your body in a straight line from head to heels.
• Keeping your core firm, bring your right knee towards your chest while lifting your right foot off the ground.
• Return to a plank position by tapping your right foot on the floor. With every repetition, switch legs.
• Repeat this 20-30 times for a set of 3-4.

3. Leg Raises

Leg raises are a great way to strengthen your lower abs while also increasing hip and lower back flexibility.

How To Do

• Lie down flat on your back with your legs together.
• Raise your legs just about straight with your toes pointing at the ceiling.
• Lower your legs slowly and without touching the ground raise your legs again.
• Repeat this process 15- 20 times for a set of 3.

4. Russian Twists

Russian twist is an effective core workout to strengthen and define the oblique muscles.

How To Do

• Maintaining a sit-up position with your feet off the ground, lean back so that your body is at a 45-degree angle.
• Keeping your arms a few inches from your chest, twist your torso from side to side.
• When you move your torso right, squeeze your right oblique muscles, when you turn your body left, squeeze your left oblique muscles.
• To increase the intensity, use a medicine ball or a plate.
• Repeat this for 15-20 times for 2-3 sets.

5. Plank

Plank strengthens your back, chest, shoulders, neck, and abs, making it easier to maintain good posture by keeping your shoulders and your lower back in a neutral position.

How To Do

• Just like the way you do a push-up, place your hands directly beneath your shoulders, slightly broader than shoulder-width.
• To support your body, place your toes into the ground and squeeze your glutes. Ensure not to lock your knees.
• Keep your hip not too low or not too high, neutralize your neck and spine. Your back and head should be in the same line.
• Remain in this posture for at least 20 seconds.
• You may hold your plank for as long as you can without compromising the form or usual breathing.
• Do a set of 3 taking a break of 30-40 seconds in between.

6. Hollow Hold

This exercise works on your quads, lats, and glutes as well as the deep core muscles.

How To Do

• Lie down on your back, legs together, and arms extended behind your head.
• Raise your shoulders and knees off the floor keeping your lower back on the floor.
• Your body should look like a boat while you are in this position.
• Stay there for 30-40 seconds and do a set of 3.

7. Jack Knife

Jack knife is not only an amazing exercise for your core, but it also involves muscles like the lower back, obliques, Transverse abdominis and Rectus abdominis.

How To Do

• Lie down flat on your back.
• Extend your arms above your head and stretch your legs straight.
• Lift your arms and legs off the mat a few inches while holding the position on your tailbone.
• Inhale while elevating your head and half your torso. Now draw your legs towards your hands and make a V-shape with your arms and legs.
• Return to your starting position by lowering yourself back down.
• Repeat this 10-12 times for 2-3 sets.

8. Plank Jacks

Plank jacks are a core-strengthening and aerobic exercise in one. They can help you build upper and lower body muscle strength. Adding plank jacks to your workout a few times a week will help you strengthen your core, burn calories, and lose weight.

How To Do

• Start with your hands shoulder-width apart, palms flat, legs extended behind you, and core and glutes engaged in a high plank position.
• Experiment with putting your feet out and in (like jumping jacks). As you leap your feet in and out, try not to let your hips bounce up and down.
• Repeat this process 15-20 times for a set of 3.

9. Scissors

Scissors work on your mid and lower abs, hip flexors, glutes, quads, and adductors, making it a great exercise to burn belly fat faster.

How To Do

• Lie down on your back with your hands at your sides or beneath your glutes.
• Extend your legs straight out in front of you, then twist them in and out above each other, or straight up and down without your legs touching the ground.
• Keep your core engaged and your lower back pressed against the ground.
• Perform 2-3 sets of 30 – 45 seconds each.

10. Heel Touch

Heel touch is a great exercise to build core strength. It involves obliques, core, and upper back.

How To Do

• Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet near your hips on the floor.
• Extending your arms, lift your head and upper body slightly.
• Now with your right arm try to touch your right heel.
• Stay there for a couple of seconds and do the same with the left side.
• Repeat this 20-30 times for 2-3 sets.

It is possible to get a flat stomach, but you must maintain consistency in whatever activity or workout regimen you are following. Though these ten workouts are effective and will assist you in achieving your goals, it’s advisable to hire a personal trainer who can help you understand your problem areas, your strength, and weaknesses, get your postures right in your workout journey, get the benefits of healthy fat loss while also giving the right suggestion on how to understand your body and maintain a healthy lifestyle.