That's a nice six-pack, too.
Repeat after me: Crunches, leg-raises, and situps do not give you killer abs.
In all probability, you already have moderately decent abs, they’re just shy. Hiding. Phased out. Or, you know, well-insulated. Unless you’re incapable of holding yourself upright, or have been corset-training for years, your abs (and your entire core, for that matter) are strong enough to keep the entire upper half of your body from folding over on your keyboard, as well as provide a platform for any upper-body lifting you’re doing.
There’s exactly one move that is guaranteed to flense that insulation from your six-pack: pushing back from the table. Hm, that sounds suspiciously like one of the main components of “eat less and exercise more.” There’s a reason: for guys, definition in the abdominals tends to happen in the high single digits as far as body fat percentage. For women, who have a higher essential body fat level, your abs will show up in the mid to low teens. This is tough territory to get into without a lot of discipline and dedication, not to mention attention to what you’re putting in your mouth.
Truthfully, crunches and situps are a good way to mess up your back, even with one of those contraptions you see advertised at three in the morning. (Want to protect your back? Strengthen your butt.)
[Via @Fitness_tips on Twitter]
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There is a good chance this is my favorite article yet. I hate situps and crunches. I really wish more nerdy girls were into sports. I’d much rather be playing football or basketball than doing any of those horrible situps.
Honestly though, I might take situps over golf. I think I might hurt someone otherwise.
That being said, adding in some full body exercises which also strengthen the core can benefit just about anyone. But yeah, visible abs are all about what you put into your mouth.