Trying to address a belly pooch after 55? These 5 full-body moves do more than crunches alone.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve spent years doing crunches in hopes of flattening your midsection, you\u2019re not alone. For decades, crunches were marketed as the go-to exercise for trimming belly fat and revealing stronger abs. The problem? That\u2019s not how fat loss works.<\/p>\n
Research<\/a> shows that spot reduction, which is the idea that you can burn fat from a specific area by exercising nearby muscles, is a myth. Training your abs won\u2019t selectively burn fat from your stomach any more than bicep curls will eliminate fat from your arms. However, that doesn\u2019t mean exercise isn\u2019t essential for fat loss.<\/p>\n The best way to reduce body fat around your waistline and tone your midsection involves increasing your physical activity, maintaining muscle mass, and strengthening your entire body. This becomes even more crucial after 55, when age-related muscle loss (known as sarcopenia<\/a>) begins accelerating if strength training isn\u2019t part of your routine.<\/p>\n \u201cDespite what many fitness headlines suggest, crunches are not the most effective exercise for reducing a \u2018belly pooch\u2019,\u201d explains James Brady, CPT, a certified personal trainer at OriGym<\/a>. \u201cIf the goal is to lose body fat and strengthen the midsection after 55, full body movements tend to deliver far greater benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n