When aiming for visible six-pack abs, consistency and the right exercises are key. Doing 20 crunches a day can be a starting point for building core strength. Crunches specifically target the rectus abdominis muscle, which is the front sheath muscle that constitutes what many refer to as the “six pack.”
However, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, merely doing 20 crunches daily, without considering other aspects, might not be sufficient to achieve visible abs. While crunches help develop the muscle, the visibility of your abs also depends on your body fat percentage. If there’s a layer of fat covering your abdominal muscles, even the most toned abs won’t be visible.
To make your abs stand out, you’d need a combined approach of strength training, cardiovascular exercise, and a balanced diet. Strength training helps build muscle, which in turn increases your resting metabolic rate, making you burn more calories throughout the day. Cardiovascular exercises like running, cycling, or swimming can help you burn the excess fat. Meanwhile, a balanced diet ensures you’re consuming the necessary nutrients without excessive calories, further aiding in fat reduction.
Coming back to the 20 crunches, while they can be beneficial, as you progress, you’ll find that variety and increasing intensity in your abdominal exercises will be necessary. Our abdominal muscles, like any other muscles, adapt to regular routines, and over time, doing the same number of crunches might not provide the same benefits as when you first started. It’s essential to incorporate other exercises like leg raises, planks, and Russian twists to challenge different parts of your core.
20 crunches a day is a good starting point for building core strength. However, to achieve visible six-pack abs, it’s crucial to combine this routine with other exercises, cardiovascular activities, and a healthy diet to reduce body fat.