Best gym-free toning exercises?

[Riestrella]

Originally Posted by indiblue

I'm going to quibble with a few of these comments. For abs, there is a lot of evidence that crunches are not the most effective tool for toning your ab muscles, and they are certainly not the best for protecting your back. Check out this sticky thread in the exercise forum. It links to a good article on alternatives to crunches, and why crunches should not be your "best friend", or the focal point of an ab work out: From Muffin Top to Six-Pack: A Guide to Getting the Abs Everybody Wants.

But, this is just the perspective of some people, others do put crunches and trunk flexion exercises at the center of their ab workout and think that's the best way. Different opinions.

Also, regarding reducing love handles, you can't "spot reduce"- or reduce certain amounts of fat deposits by exercising that specific area, through a crunch, etc. You can tone the muscle underneath, but you can't reduce the love handle.

I see what you mean, but I know that crunches don't reduce fat - I don't just crunch my fat away don't get me wrong! I do a lot of cardio as well as the exercises I detailed with a weight work out too - sort of like circuit training. I balance out any ab work with core strengthening exercises so I don't ruin my back.

[Krizstyling]

Originally Posted by indiblue

I'm going to quibble with a few of these comments. For abs, there is a lot of evidence that crunches are not the most effective tool for toning your ab muscles, and they are certainly not the best for protecting your back. Check out this sticky thread in the exercise forum. It links to a good article on alternatives to crunches, and why crunches should not be your "best friend", or the focal point of an ab work out: From Muffin Top to Six-Pack: A Guide to Getting the Abs Everybody Wants.

But, this is just the perspective of some people, others do put crunches and trunk flexion exercises at the center of their ab workout and think that's the best way. Different opinions.

Also, regarding reducing love handles, you can't "spot reduce"- or reduce certain amounts of fat deposits by exercising that specific area, through a crunch, etc. You can tone the muscle underneath, but you can't reduce the love handle.

Thank you for posting this. This whole "toning" and "spot reducing" nonsense is the bs I filled my head with for years when I would exercise. YOU CAN NOT SPOT REDUCE!!! You have to lose the fat and by doing strength training, cardio and eating a healthy diet, this will help that and while you're doing the strength training, you're creating a beautiful toned body underneath the fat, so when it's gone, you're good.