Friday, 5 May 2023

Avoid this 1 mistake when doing crunches

May 5, 2023 | VIEW IN BROWSER

Happy Friday! If you want to start adding ab workouts to your walking routine, crunches are a popular exercise. But they are commonly performed incorrectly, which leads to neck and back pain. Learn the proper way to perform the exercise to really work your core. Plus, we've got a sneakily healthy recipe for tater tots that's packed with veggie goodness!

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Your Meal Plan

Today's Plan

Healthy tater tots? You heard us right! Joy Bauer replaced the potato with broccoli in this recipe to cut back on carbs and calories without sacrificing texture and flavor. Serve them with hard boiled eggs and a cup or piece of fruit for breakfast or as a side to chicken or fish for dinner. Or pop a few as a snack — no judgement here!

Here's your meal plan for today:

Breakfast: Joy Bauer's Broccoli Tots with Eggs and Fruit
Lunch: Open-Faced Smoked Salmon Sandwich with Cucumber Slices
Dinner: 4-Ingredient Air Fryer Salmon with Broccoli and Brown Rice

See something you don't like? Swap it with another recipe in your weekly plan.

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One Small Thing

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How to do a crunch so it doesn't cause neck pain

Crunches are one of the most popular core exercises. But trainer Stephanie Mansour says they're one of the exercises that she sees performed incorrectly most often.

Doing crunches without proper form not only devalues the exercise, making it less effective at toning your midsection, but it can also lead to neck and back pain.

The most common mistake people make is pulling their necks forward with their hands while crunching. This added pressure on your neck strains the muscles and causes pain and also leads to decreased core engagement.

To correct this mistake when you perform a crunch:

Pull your navel in toward your spine and squeeze your abs, making sure your low back maintains contact with the ground.
Rest your fingertips gently behind your head, and be sure to keep your elbows wide pointed out toward the sides of the room (versus pulling forward toward your knees).

If you're still feeling it in your neck, these 4 exercises will help you build the strength needed to tackle a full crunch.

READ THE ARTICLE >

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