5 exercises for your core that are better than sit-ups

Sit-ups are over-rated. They are the exercise that many people think of when they want to tone up their tummy, but if you think that doing 100 sit-ups is the best way to get washboard abs then there are much more effective exercises you can do.

Sit-ups are simple – but actually hard to do correctly. Using poor technique will put strain on your neck and lower back, which can cause unnecessary pain as well as pulled muscles and poor posture.

The tummy area isn't just one single muscle. It is made up of several groups of muscles, that all work in a different way...and this is why you can't expect one single exercise to get you a sculpted waistline.

If you really want to get results, you need to be regularly doing a variety of exercises that target the different muscle groups that make up your core.

Try this effective core-workout:

Plank (30 – 60 secs)

Squats (3 sets of 12 – 15 reps)

Side-dips (3 sets of 10 – 12 reps each side)

Mountain climbers (3 sets of 30 – 40 reps)

Cross-crawl (3 sets of 20 – 30 reps)

It's important to note that the abdominal muscles are really well-concealed beneath layers of fat and this is true even of very fit and healthy women. You may have a very strong set of core muscles, but still have belly fat. Keep doing varied workouts like the one above as well as following your meal plan and you will start to see results.