Sit-ups shouldn’t be your go-to ab exercise — and not just because they’re boring. If you’re only doing sit-ups, you’re only training one part of your abs, your rectus abdominis or “the six-pack muscles” that run from the bottom of your chest to your pubic bone.

That leaves the transverse abdominis, the deep layer of muscle that wraps around your torso, and the obliques, muscles that run down your sides, untouched. Neglecting these muscles leads to dysfunction and even injury, not to mention that you’ll never look quite as good as you could with your bikini on.

But the worst part of sit-ups isn’t what they’re missing, it’s what they’re acting on — namely, the spine. Imagine that you’re standing up, and throwing your torso forward to touch your toes, over and over. It’s easy to see the havoc that wreaks on the lower back, and it’s similar to what’s happening with most sit-ups.

While performing a slow and controlled sit-up can work fine to build one section of your abs, there are far superior alternatives that can target the entire core, while strengthening other parts of your body and even burning fat. Here are 6 moves that have been proven time after time to be more effective than sit-ups.

What You Need: A pair of dumbbells weighted just slightly heavier than your comfortable level and a pair of resistance band (heavy tension).

How This Workout Works: Perform each of the movement as many times as possible in a slow and controlled manner for 30 seconds with no rest in between each exercise – that is one circuit. Work your endurance and strength up to complete 3 circuits 3 times a week on non-consecutive days. Then, sit back and watch your abs transform.

You know losing weight would both make you feel and look better.

But, every attempt you’ve made so far has ended up with that you gained the weight back.

The biggest problem has been that all your diets have been 1) very strict and 2) involved counting calories.

1. Map Out Your Food Habits

• Date and time – Monday 10/8 7:30 AM
• Food and drink – A bowl of milk and oatmeal, one cup of coffee
• Hunger/fullness – Super hungry! Very full after eating
• Emotions – Energized and satisfied

• If you eat a small breakfast, do you find it harder to concentrate at work?
• If you skip lunch, do you snack more in the evening?
• Do you eat very differently over the weekend compared to during weekdays?

2. Cut The Junk

• Where do you want to be?
• What do you want to look like?
• More importantly; how do you want to feel?

• Eat without feeling guilty
• Become more energized and rested out
• Become more happy and confident
• Look yourself in the mirror and feel proud

• Veggies – Broccoli, Spinach, Paprika, Cabbage, Onions
• Protein – Chicken, Turkey, Eggs, Fish, Soybeans
• Carbs – Root vegetables, Legumes, Bulgur, Quinoa, Fruit/Berries
• Fat – Fat fish, Almonds, Seeds, Olive Oil, Avocado

3. Avoid Drinking Your Calories

4. Eat Enough Protein

• Fish: tuna, mackerel, salmon, cod
• Meat: Beef, pork
• Chicken
• Eggs
• Soybeans
• Lenses
• Almonds
• Seeds
• Cheese

5. Make Your Plate More Green

6. Eat Regularly

Losing excess belly fat is a challenge and we all know it. There’s nothing that works beside a diet+exercise combo, and to be honest, most of us don’t want to make those sacrifices. We don’t have the time to hit the gym or jog, and that pizza is simply too good to pass.

However, that kind of combo isn’t the only thing that can make you lose belly fat. As a matter of fact, there are quite simple exercises you can perform at home that will target your belly fat and get you in shape in just a short time.
We present to you the best exercises for losing excess belly fat at home:
1. Crunches

Some say they work, others say they don’t, while some experts consider them bad for the back. We’re here to clear things up – although not the best belly-fat busting exercise, crunches do work. Do 3 sets with 15 repetitions in each (or more) every day and you’ll see the results soon.
2. Twist Crunches

A variant of the popular exercise, twist crunches will target your abs and that hard-to-get-rid-of love handles as well. Take a look at the picture to see how to do them – once you master the twist crunch, your belly fat is going to disappear in no time.
3. Reverse Crunches


It’s just like a crunch but in reverse. Instead of bringing your chest to the knees, do the opposite – bring your legs up to your chest.  Besides the abs, this exercise will also target your love handles.

4. Reclined Spinal Twist

Although it may not seem like that, the reclined spinal twist is a great exercise aimed at your abs. It’s actually very powerful and effective if you’re persistent.
To perform the reclined spinal twist, lie down on your back, then bend one of your knees, bring it to your chest, and move it to the opposite side. Hold the stretch for about 15 seconds, then repeat on the other side.
You’ll need 3 sets with 15 repetitions in each every day for the exercise to work.

5. Leg Lifts

A simple, yet effective exercise, the leg lifts can bust your belly fat if you learn how to do them properly. It’s fairly simple –go down on the ground on your back and lift your torso up by putting your elbows beneath the shoulders, then lift your legs 25 cm. off the ground. Lower them back after 15 seconds, then repeat the process. Do the exercise 15 times or double that amount for best results.
6. Knee-to-Elbow Plank

Go down in a plank position, but instead of staying in it, bring one of your knees up to your chest and stay like that for a few seconds. Bring it back to the original position, then repeat on the other side. Fifteen repetitions every day will do the job nicely.
7. Reverse Plank with Leg Lift
The reverse plan exercise is just what it says it is – a plank in reverse. Take a look at the picture to see how to perform it and make sure to keep a straight line with your body. You need about fifteen repetitions every day to see the results after a few weeks.


Although you shouldn’t expect wonders with this set of exercises, they will definitely trim some belly fat. Be consistent with them and try to eat healthier and you’ll soon get the abs you’ve been dreaming of.