Even if you are not a dedicated gym goer, you have likely done crunches at some point in your life. In this video, I’m going to show you how to never to crunches and the 10 most common mistakes made when performing this popular ab exercise. It’s said, once you know what you are not supposed to do you can learn what you should do a lot easier.
We start off this list of ab workout mistakes with a mindset, a faulty one at that. There is a belief that doing crunches is bad for your back. While I deeply respect the researchers that have dedicated their life to this topic I simply don’t agree with all of the studies that have been intended to validate this claim. Many times, the subjects are not human beings and often times, the extreme cycling of repetitions is applied in an accelerated manner that does not simulate real life applications of crunches or ab workouts. Your spine can regenerate and recover provided it has bouts of relief and decompression. This is not often times occurring in a lab controlled environment.
That is not to say that crunches can’t cause low back pain. They absolutely can. This has to do often times with ab workout mistake number two and that is hooking your feet under something when performing your crunches. This will cause over activation of the hip flexors and can lead to low back tightness and spasm. The key to fixing this however is to hook your feet either over something or not at all.
Pulling on the neck can also cause pains from crunching. If you want to do this properly, gently place your hands behind your head but do not interlace your fingers. From here, keep looking up to the ceiling rather than forward or down towards your toes. Where you gaze is where you body goes so focus up and your crunches and abs will be better off for it.
The fourth big crunch mistake is worrying about how high you lift off the ground every rep. Some will even think that they have to do full sit-ups in order to get benefits for their ab muscles. This isn’t true. In fact, just clearing the shoulder blade off the mat when doing crunches is enough to get full activation of the abs.
Breathing is also a big area of contention for those that do crunches improperly. You want to learn how to breathe out while not distending the abdomen during a well executed crunch. With the contraction of the transverse abdominis you will be able to cinch the belly down while exhaling, which will engage the abs but not lead to a protruding belly in the long run.
When it comes to the reps you perform in your ab workouts and ab exercises, stop counting them. Instead, make every one count. The way to do this is to once again focus on initiating every lift of the torso with the contraction of the abs. Eliminate momentum and lift only with the work of the rectus abdominis. Pumping away with mini reps is not going to win you any awards and certainly isn’t going to get you six pack abs any faster.
The next big mistake is always doing your crunches on your back. Lumbar flexion can be achieved from many other positions. Make sure to include some of the closed chain options that you see in the video to not only mix up your training but to get better abs in the long run.
That said, certain exercises (even when done out of a different position) can still be misperformed. The crunch pulldown is one example. Instead of sitting your butt back onto your heels on every rep, make sure to keep your butt in the same position that you start. Crunch only by flexing the spine and getting your elbows down to the floor.
Side crunches are another variation that you want to make sure you don’t miss. One of the biggest ab workout mistakes is not doing them. They are great for isolating the obliques and getting a solid contraction of these important waist tapering muscles.
Finally, only doing crunches in your ab workouts is not the answer either. Be sure to train the other functions of the ab muscles. Anti-rotation, Anti-flexion, Anti-lateral movements are all things that are the responsibility of the core muscles. Be sure to include them in a complete ab workout.
If you want a day by day ab workout generator that will give you more than just crunches, be sure to head to athleanx.com via the link below. Start training like an athlete and build a ripped, athletic body in just the next 90 days.
For more ab exercise videos and workouts for six pack abs, as well as tutorials on how to do crunches properly be sure to subscribe to our channel here on youtube via the link below and remember to turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it’s published.
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*NOTIFICATION SQUAD GIVEAWAY* – Alright guys, I’m giving away a complete 30 Day Workout program to 100 lucky clickers within the first hour this video is published! Remember, this is NOT THE FIRST 100, but those randomly selected within the first hour the video is published. Click the link to see if you’ve won. No strings attached!
https://giveaway.athleanx.com/ytg/no-crunches-like-this
If you don’t win, no worries, you’re not going away empty handed. Just be sure you have your notifications turned on so you can get to my next video quickly and try again. Good luck and thanks for being a loyal subscriber…
I did it Guys i won 🙂
@MalumFash Entertainment youtube won’t let me post links to screen shots. I tried though. it said ” CONGRATULATIONS!
Your fast action has earned you one month of our NXT training program, absolutely free!
Click the button below and setup your profile to access the program.” and it was added to my athlean profile.
@Poison Ivy it’s not the first person to click it though. It’s randomly one of the first 100 within an hour. If 100 people click the link in the first 10 minutes, it’s over. One of them got it.
@THEMAX00000 I just don’t expect to win anymore .That way I’m not Disappointed.
Sir. I have follow ur videos for so many times and use to do exercises at home and have a pair of dumble. So i have concern with progressive overloading. Please sir, make a video on progressive overloading with same weight. Please.
Thanks to Jeff I’m always doing something wrong! Lol
Video request: graded cardio exercises from burpees to swimming, long distance running, sprinting, jumping jacks, ect.
Really?
Also drills to improve 300m sprint and 1.5 miles run times
The loneliness of the long distance runner…
Hells yeah, Love me some cardio.
Not exactly what you asked for, but this is a good video to look at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqlJcJfKZJw
I always think how one can become like you a professional trainer
4:45
The internet has ruined my mind. Regardless, that’s an awfully strange angle.
Lmao maaaan I was not expecting that when I got to this timestamp
You and Jesse have so much fun together. I appreciate how much you both do to help people with their fitness goals, while picking on each other in amusing, and friendly, ways.
I love how all of your videos are making more and more sense since I’ve been going to Chiropractic School. We’re going over the myology and all the attachment points, actions, and nerve interventions for the muscles. Keep up the great work Jeff!
After I broke my collarbone and messed up my back a little bit. I’ve been watching your correctional vids like crazy. You give out a lot of good info. Thanks
Watching this while literally eating a bag of candy 🙂
The moment I feel like Jeff told me everything about perfecting my abs workout, I learn something new.
Gotta appreciate this guy
True
When I do crunches, I stick my arms straight up and focus on moving my hands straight up as high as possible by lifting my torso. This really helped me work my lower abs as traditional crunches seemed to mostly focus on my upper abs.
This is why I enjoy the V-Up Russian Twist with a 10lb medicine ball. Sets my core on fire.
Slap nuts
You inspired me to start an intense physical workout , get my body in shape again … Thanks Jeff !!
Jeff “pushing out his stomach” looks better than my aspirational goals. FML…
Same!
+1 haha
don’t ever compare your progress and current physique to someone who literally does this for a living man – compare yourself, to yourself only.
In all honesty the abs shuffle generator is worth the price of any of Jeff’s plans that thing is great you just said it and then you don’t have to think about it just follow along. It’s great.
I love all the fun and enjoyable resistance band moves.
Agreed
But it’s too advanced
4:45
The internet has ruined my mind. Regardless, that’s an awfully strange angle.
I was already doing my crunches mostly correctly due to your previous advice, except i anchored my feet at the top of the foot instead of behind the heel. I do levitations as you advised so i don’t go overboard and I’m extremely good at it (50ish no problem). I did try however to mix it up and go quadruped and bring the knees to the chest and I already see i overlooked this because i am much, much weaker in this department (10 exhausts me). Thanks Jeff, I have something new to do.
2:10 xD I love these Jessy skits. Always on spot delivery.
Jeff, how about crunches on a fitness ball?
I’ve been trying it and that way i’ve been able to work my upper abs without any back or neck pain. Any advice on that?
Man I’ve got some respect for you. Thanks for all the hard work you constantly put in Jeff. You are a legend!
I’m going to start trying these things because I don’t do enough abs. This is what I needed to see
My biggest mistake with crunches is eating Nestle Crunch
Jeff has one of the most impressive obliques I’ve ever seen…