4 new, exciting ways of achieving washboard abs

Getting abs is one of the hardest things to do in life, period! Over time, people have cited crunches as the most effective ab workouts. Now, a few fitness experts are telling us we may have had it wrong this whole time.

It may seem super hard to obtain abs but it is by no means unattainable. Here, a few

Get the plank:

“Traditionally, you would crunch your way to training your abdominals...But the core is more than just the six-pack in the front,” according to Harley Pasternak. He wrote the book, ‘5 Pounds’. Pasternak says rather than crunches that give the illusion of a belly and create an imbalance in your midsection, which leads to postural problems, trying working your whole body by planking.

Abs are made in the kitchen:

Joe Lazo, personal trainer, and star of the new Bravo show, Work Out New York, supports moves that make you stabilize yourself, like squatting. Lazo also highlights squats in combination with with other compound movements, but he says that ultimately it’s about diet. “Your abs aren’t going to bulge out of your body by doing more and more crunches,” he says. “Abs are created in the kitchen. If you’re still eating candy, you’re never going to see your abs.”

Increase activity that works your core:

David Kirsch, a fitness expert whose new book, Ultimate Family Wellness, goes on sale in December, isn’t in full support of crunches: “I’ve found much more effective ways to tone, reduce, and strengthen your belly,” he tells me. Kirsch suggests planking or working with a stability ball. He says even push-ups work your abs, allowing you to hit pretty much all your beach muscles in one move.

Crunches are still better than a big tummy:

If you love crunches, well, that’s fine, too. Trainer Gunnar Peterson admits that crunches are still relevant. “Of course they’re still relevant.” Dang. “I don’t think crunches are the one and only, but crunches are still working your core. You’re doing a crunch when you get out of bed, and when you get out of your car.”

The point is there are more options for obtaining abs, other than the traditional brunches, you can benefit from it definitely. Let us know which is best for you.