The Sit-Up Myth Sit-ups are a common physical activity that women and men perform to help strengthen abdominal muscles. In reality, classic sit-ups are proven to be ineffective at reducing belly fat and increasing core strength. Additionally, research shows crunches can even be bad for the spine.
However, if you are looking to tone your stomach muscles and improve your core strength, then doing sit-ups on a daily basis is a good place to start. Aim for 3 sets of 20 repetitions and gradually increase the number of sets and reps as you get stronger.
Unfortunately, performing sit-ups alone will not help you lose belly fat. Spot reduction, or exercising to lose fat in a specific region, is ineffective. You can't pick where you lose weight when you work out. And when exercise is paired with a balanced diet and an active lifestyle, fat reduction is more effective.
While there is no single exercise that burns just belly fat, any exercise can help reduce overall body fat when done regularly in combination with a healthy diet. Abdominal exercises such as crunches or sit-ups do not specifically burn belly fat, but they can help the belly appear flatter and more toned.
Aerobic exercise includes any activity that raises your heart rate such as walking, dancing, running or swimming. This can also include doing housework, gardening and playing with your children. Other types of exercise such as strength training, Pilates and yoga can also help you lose belly fat.
Fitness Myth: To get flat abs or six-pack abs, do 100 crunches every day. The crunch is a classic abdominal exercise but only work on the top layer of superficial abdominal muscles that when worked out alone, do not sufficiently achieve visibly trim and ripped abs.
Can a person lose belly fat by walking? Regular aerobic exercise such as walking may be an effective way to lose belly fat. A 2014 study supports this and concluded that walking could help to burn body fat, including fat around the waist and within the abdominal cavity.
The best types of belly fat exercise combines resistance exercise (such as strength training) and cardiovascular exercise. Resistance exercise can help maintain your muscle mass and your glucose metabolism (the way your body processes sugar and uses it for fuel). This is important for managing your weight.
It takes anywhere from three to 12 weeks for new muscle to develop. Healthy (and sustainable) fat loss means losing only one to two pounds per week. Achieving visible abs is no different.
Get active.
Strength training exercises are recommended at least twice a week. If you want to lose weight or meet specific fitness goals, you might need to exercise more. There is some evidence that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can help reduce belly fat, as can strength training.
A sit-up is actually the least effective abs exercise you can do. Doing 100 sit-ups a day will not change your body in the slightest.
Unfortunately, sit-ups and crunches can't eliminate visceral fat directly. You can't reduce fat from specific parts of your body by exercising that body part; our bodies simply don't work that way.
The Bottom Line. So, what happens when you perform 100 squats every day? The short answer is amazing things. Your legs will become stronger and more defined, your butt will become firmer and more shapely, and your overall fitness level will improve.
The Science of Fat Loss
Think of it like a balloon losing air—it deflates, but doesn't disappear immediately. Over time, your body adjusts, but the jiggly feeling can be a temporary step along the way.
A research study states that regular walking helps reduce belly fat, which improves the body's response to insulin. Walking for at least 30 minutes every day allows you to prevent weight gain. It can also strengthen the muscles in your legs and tone your legs.