#1 Worst Exercise that Causes Bad Posture (beware)

Published: Tue, 10/04/16

This exercise has been an exercise staple since the 1940s. The exercise recommended by late night TV commercials, magazines and wannabe fitness gurus at the gym.

But REAL fitness experts threw it into the trash can YEARS ago, knowing the dangers and how ineffective they are.

5 Reasons You Should Stop Doing Crunches & Sit Ups Immediately

1) Crunches causes lower back stress.
 
A 1995 study found sit-ups placed over 3,000N of force on the lower spine, which could cause herniated discs. Imagine willingly applying that force on any other part of your body through exercise? You wouldn't.

If you fall for the crunch myth, you will end up in pain, either in your back, neck or elsewhere.



2) Your spine has a shelf life.  Crunches age your spine.
 
You only have so many flexions in your spine before it starts to deteriorate. You can’t repair it. You can’t change it. That’s how it is. The more you flex your spine, the more you age your spine.

That’s fact. So why would you actively try to flex your spine at its most vulnerable point causing it to age faster and further?

3) Crunches don’t aid good posture; they reinforce bad posture.



Think about it: what is a crunch?

You're just replicating the bent over movement you make when you're sat at a desk or slumped in a seat.

4) Because you're doing crunches, you're not PROPERLY working your core.
 
You're becoming weaker, less powerful, and more susceptible to problems.

You see, crunches aren't functional. They don't replicate ANY natural movement our bodies were designed for. Our bodies thrive on exercises in alignment with their function.

Crunching isn't a natural movement. It actively opposes the purpose of the spine and works against it. We are meant to be upright and be able to bend, twist, reach and extend.

5) And here's the worst part...crunches DON'T work.
 
Yes, you feel the burn. But it's a fake burn - it feels good, but does it actually deliver results? No.

Crunches miss your core muscles. The narrow range of exercise does nothing to strengthen your deep abdominal muscles, your transversus abdominis, or your obliques.

Crunches ONLY work your rectus abdominis close to your skin.

So the abs you DO end up with tell a lie. They don’t represent strength. They don’t represent inner power. Your core is no stronger for these "cosmetic" abs. In fact, they put your midsection out of balance and increase the risk of injury.

What if I told you that creating these "superficial" abs actually takes more time, more energy and wastes much more effort?



It's Much Easier to Build Sculpted Abs the Right Way

Keep training hard,

Mike Westerdal
CriticalBench.com