​Sit-ups do not give you flat abs

I get asked a lot how to get rid of belly fat.  More specifically I am asked how many sit ups someone should do to get flat abs.  Only problem is  sit-ups are very small movements and although are great to do, they alone cannot get rid of the infamous muffin top.  I know that is hard to hear, but sadly it is true. 

It drives me crazy when I see articles that read, “How to get flat abs fast” or “5 Ways to get flat abs.”  In all those articles, they never once spoke about cardio training or completing whole body weight movements.  Sit-ups themselves are body weight movements or calisthenics.  Sit-ups will help build strength and trunk stability but will not burn belly fat. This notion of spot reduction is a huge misconception in fitness and sadly magazines and quick blogs continue this lie by advertising workout plan with quick cures for belly fat in mind.  Isolated movements are just that, isolated.  

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that a person participates in 60 to 90 minutes of cardio or aerobic exercise 5 days per week.  Also recommended is weight training.   Even though weight training burns calories slowly, it will raise your Basal Metabolic Rate, which means you will burn higher amounts of calories while repairing and building muscle.  More muscle building less fat. 

So, the long and short of it is a sit-up does not get rid of belly fat.  It does tone, build stability and strengthen.  You can’t work out one part of your body and loss fat in that one area.  You can participate in whole body movements and gain strength, flexibility and muscle.  In order to lose body fat a healthy diet and well rounded exercise program is the key to success.  

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