Is Long-Arm Weighted Crunch Among The Best Abs Exercises For Men?

There are so many different abs workouts for men that it can sometimes get difficult to decide which one is most suitable. The fact is however that which ab workout is the best for you depends mainly on what you are after. Different exercises are suited for different purposes, such as which part of your abdominal muscles you wish to develop – the lower abdomen, the side abdomen (commonly referred to as love handles) or the gut. But what about the long-arm weighted crunch? So many people seem to sing its praises, but is it really one of the best ab exercises you can follow?

How To Perform The Long Arm Weighted Crunch?

Performing the exercise is simple enough. To get started, you need to first get into position by lying down flat on the ground on your back. Then slowly draw your feet in towards your body so that your knees are slightly upright. Holding this position steady, extend your arms over your body, directly in line with your head. This step can also be done with dumbbells in each hand if you wish for a more exerting workout.

Once your hands are directly above your head, you need to then extend them towards your raised knees. Make sure your movements are steadier and breathing regularly. Holding the maximum position for a while, release into the initial position, and then carry on for a few sets.

What Is The Benefit?

The exercise seems simple enough and indeed is so too. It isn’t highly exerting and it’s nothing a beginner can’t start out with. But the question is whether it shows results. I personally find the long arm weighted crunch suited best for those who wish to work on their upper abdomen. I don’t think it is well suited for those who want to lose weight off their gut, or want to get their side abs or love handles into shape.

Assuming your abs are roughly in shape already, the long arm weighted crunch can be used to give you that final edge, pushing you to that perfect six pack. It can be hard to get clear defined results and in that regard this is one of the best exercises that can push you to the end, but if you are starting out then this probably isn’t the exercise you are looking for. The upper abdomen is generally the last to show results and so you will be better off performing some other exercises.

What Are Some Other Exercises I Can Perform?

I recommend the following exercises for beginners starting out on their abs.

The Russian Twist

This exercise greatly benefits the side abs. To perform it, you get into a sitting position on the floor with your knees bent in front of you. Keeping your hands straight ahead of you (supported by a weight) twists away towards the side of your body, once on each side and repeating as desired.

The Plank

This is another simple exercise, good for abs overall. To perform it, bend down facing the ground, resting on your elbows and toes. Squeeze your abdomen in, lift yourself off the ground, and hold the maximum position for a few counts. Staying steady, slowly come back down and repeat as desired.

Once you have mastered these simple exercises, you can move onto the long arm weighted crunch as well.