Are Abdominal Crunches Required To Produce Bodybuilder Caliber Stomach Muscle Definition?

Bodybuilders frequently seek to improve the abdominal muscles, as this particular area helps produce a powerful, attractive looking physique. In hopes of achieving the most impressive abdominal appearance, bodybuilders frequently pursue body weight exercises such as crunches or sit-ups, and sometimes even increase resistance by adding weight to induce failure within a lower rep range, taxing the abdominal muscles with considerable intensity and overload to theoretically enhance appearance.

But is the commonly held belief that crunches are the most effective abdominal exercise yet another in the myriad of bodybuilding myths? Not quite, but the idea that direct abdominal exercise is the key to improving stomach appearance is a very misleading suggestion, as exercise is actually the least important technique in producing lean abdominal definition, since a proper diet is the foundation behind the success of any correctly structured abdominal muscle enhancing routine.

For abdominal muscles to reach the impressive appearance all bodybuilders seek, muscle size need not necessarily improve by any significant margin, but body fat, which covers abdominal muscles and hides their shape, must decline dramatically to improve definition, which is the very goal that all bodybuilders seeking to enhance the stomach musculature are striving for. Although in other muscle groups, weight lifting is normally the chosen weapon used to improve muscle appearance, abdominal definition is more contingent upon body fat percentage than mid-section muscle size improvements, therefore a properly designed fat loss diet system is the basis for producing a streamlined, muscular abdominal section.

What many bodybuilders are not aware of is that performing a large number of ab crunches will cause very little if any stomach appearance improvements unless accompanied by significant body fat reduction, and the latter goal does not depend in any way upon direct abdominal exercise, but rather is contingent on whether diet variables are correctly constructed for consistent fat loss, and this not only involves the correct caloric intake for a bodybuilder's individual metabolic rate, but also effective fat, carb and protein ratios so that suitable macronutrients are available to create an ideal fat burning platform for abdominal definition improvement. The number of bodybuilders who constantly perform abdominal crunches or sit-ups without any visible mid-section improvement is staggering, and due to lackluster results, they then seek other abdominal muscle building exercises, when in fact, direct stomach exercise is not related to mid-section definition, and any bodybuilder in such a situation is in desperate need of a structured, efficient fat loss diet system.

In addition to a professionally designed diet, a bodybuilder should implement aerobic activity five days per week when attempting to enhance definition in any part of the body, as although aerobic exercise does not substantially improve abdominal appearance when following a poorly designed diet routine (which is why many mistakenly assume aerobics is wasteful), cardio will significantly enhance the rate of fat loss when used in conjunction with a potent diet philosophy. Take note that I have yet to place emphasis upon sit-ups or abdominal crunches, the two most often sought after solutions by bodybuilders attempting to greatly enhance stomach appearance, as despite their popularity, such exercises actually rank last in terms of priority when seeking abdominal improvement, behind aerobic activity, and the most critical tactic which a large number of bodybuilders neglect to address, a intelligently designed fat loss bodybuilding diet routine which will enhance definition in all areas.

The benefits of pursuing a fat loss phase do not only relate to abdominal enhancement, but will actually cause the biceps, chest, arms, and all other muscle groups to appear larger, specifically because they become more shapely with the missing layers of fat. So, when you are searching to enhance abdominal appearance, remember that sit-ups and crunches are far less important than integrating effective fat loss diet techniques, despite the propaganda you've heard surrounding crunches. When you decide to focus upon body fat reduction, you need not fear muscle loss if you continue to employ correct weight lifting workout techniques, and make certain to never drastically reduce calories, and avoid low carbohydrate diet methods, as both can drastically burn away muscle tissue, which will harm, as opposed to enhance, overall body appearance. Lastly, I recommend that you continue performing abdominal crunches or sit-ups, but know that the fat layer must vanish before the fruits of your labor become evident, and this is directly related to how you eat, not abdominal training.