Home :: Articles :: Britney does 300 crunches but you don't have to...

Britney does 300 crunches but you don't have to...

Britney does 300 crunches but you don't have to...

Melanie one of my super wicked strong clients with the best abs loved training her abs. She would get on the ball and start doing her crunches. She would often count 1, 2, 3, 4.....47, 48, 49....I'd ask "Mel are you feeling a burn yet?" She would shake her head no and kept going. Okay I didn't really feel like counting to 300, we are not trying to match Britney Spears here. Instead I made Mel stop and we started again. Obviously she needed to be challenged!!!! And if she wasn't complaining from the burn then I wasn't doing my job!


I started by repositioning the ball. This is the key. If position the ball so that your shoulder blades and ribcage are off the ball entirely you will be challenged more. If your shoulder blades are resting one the ball then the exercise will be easier. So walk back and froth with your feet accordingly


So here is how you are to do your crunch effectively.

  • Start by placing the small of your back on the ball. Lean back by walking forward with your feet until your shoulder blades are off the ball.
  • Place your hands at your temples and look at the ceiling. Relax everything in your body except for your abs.
  • This is where the crunch comes in. Through a slow controlled motion (aka crunch)raise your ribcage to the ceiling. Remember not to change the shape of your arms(meaning don't bend them up with you, since your arms have some weight this will take away from them acting as a lever).
  • While in your crunch position keep looking up at the ceiling. At the same time press your low back lightly in the ball. This will keep the ball moving from under your hips. You don't want that ball to move.
  • Finally return down slowly to your starting position. Don't move that ball or your eyes.

    • To determine the size of your ball use this as a benchmark. Have a seat on the ball. When bent your legs should form a perfectly 90 degree angle. I'm 5'6 so I use a 65cm ball.

    Each crunch should take you about 4 seconds to go up and down. Do a total of 20 in this manner, you should feel a burn. Seriously if you still don't feel them after this make sure you write me an email at vesna@trainerpack.com.

    crunch