Lose Belly Fat Over 40- Why Crunches Don't Help That Much By Perry Permann At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Are you over 40? Do you want to lose belly fat? You'll frequently get the advice to do crunches and other physical exercises targeting the ab muscles.

It seems to be logical- if you are working out a body part, the fat on this particular body part will get less. Unfortunately our metabolism doesn't work that way:

It is not possible to burn fat in just one part of your body. It's genetically programmed where you increase weight and where you lose it first. Over 40 this genetic program is getting stronger and stronger. Many changes in the hormone system affect how you feel, and where on your body excess fat is stored. For many women over 40 surplus fat ends up on the thighs, the hips or the belly.

Belly fat is particularly unsightly- if you’d like to wear stylish, elegant, tight-fitting clothes, it’s hard to cover up additional fat on your belly.

When you’re thinking of summertime and all the things you can do- for many women over 40 that’s a challenge: You’d like to go to the beach, a pool party, whatever- but be seen in a bathing suit is not on top of your agenda.

Often I hear people saying things like "I want to lose belly fat" but it is not possible to lose fat on a particular body part. But we can achieve something much better: We can get an overall slim body.

If you want to make the muscles around your midsection stronger, then crunches are a great way to do it. To get a nicely formed physique, numerous exercises for the ab muscles will help you reach that. I recommend to do some exercises for the lower back muscles as well, to make the whole midsection strong. This will help your posture too and keep back pain away. The latter is very common for people over 40; we sit more as we should.

The desk-bound sedentary lifestyle contributes to weak back muscles. Weak back muscles might cause back pain, back pain might cause headaches- and if you have headaches your productivity at work suffers. As well as your mood. So doing some exercises to strengthen your back is a good idea.

Crunches are- comparably- a waste of time when it gets to losing weight. Compared to the leg muscles, your ab muscles are relatively small. So you burn more calories when you work out the leg muscles compared to exercising the belly muscles. Your leg muscles are much bigger and will burn more calories in the same time.

If you consider doing crunches, do it for the right reason: To tone up your midsection. You’ll stand taller, feel more energetic and look better. People might respect you more, just because your body language is more confident. You’re becoming more attractive as well: Dancers tend to stand very straight, what gives them a very elegant appearance.

Yet: If you want to lose weight permanently, better exercise the bigger muscles on your body. Go for the energy-burning muscles and work out the abs muscles for your posture.

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