Side Crunches
An Easy Stomach Exericse

Side Crunches work the internal and external oblique muscles. Unfortunately, they won't magically get rid of your love handles.

Most people do exercises for the love handles and obliques thinking that they will target the fat that is under the skin in that area. This is a common exercise myth, and it's important to really understand how your body burns fat.

Spot reduction is the #1 ab myth. It is important to understand this myth so that you workout more efficiently.

Starting Position: Lie on your back and turn both knees to the right side and on the ground.

Form: Exhale as you lift your shoulder blades off the floor. Even though your knees are turned to the side keep your upper body moving straight up and slightly to the left side. Hold at the top for 1 second and slowly lower. Repeat 8-15 times and switch sides.

Personal Trainer Tips: The range of motion may be less during this movement compared with regular crunches, but push yourself to hold the squeeze at the top.

Some people love side crunches, but I will honestly say that they are not on my list of top exercises.

They work through a small range of motion, so the ab muscles don't get the same challenge as they do with other exercises.

The greater the range of motion, the greater the muscle work!

I rarely show my clients this variation of crunches.

If you want to work your obliques, I think you would be better served doing oblique crunches on the floor or oblique crunches on the ball. Once you've master those, I would choose something like the side plank, bicycle crunches, or Russian twist.

To view learn these other exercises simply visit the Directory of Abdominal Exercises.

Yours in Health
Dr. Charles

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