Situps are a classic abdominal exercise and have been for decades, but they don't have the power to singlehandedly blast belly fat. According to MayoClinic.com, strength-training core exercises such as situps don't burn enough calories on their own to "spot reduce" fat in the midsection, but they are effective at toning muscles and help you develop a sleeker, slimmer figure.
Situp Benefits
Situps are a calisthenic exercise, so they merge mild aerobics with strength training by using your body's own weight for resistance. Because they force your core muscles to work hard, situps benefit your balance, stability and posture. They're also an ideal exercise for people who don't take fitness classes or work out at the gym, because they require no equipment and are simple to do at home. Although they will not burn off tummy fat on their own, situps are effective for sculpting when combined with calorie-burning aerobics.
Calorie Burn
According to HealthStatus.com, an hour's worth of situps will burn about 325 calories for a 160-lb. person. Losing a pound of belly fat requires burning or saving a total of 3,500 calories, so you'd have to put in many long sessions of situps to get rid of that weight. Aerobics, however, are far more efficient at burning calories. MayoClinic.com reports that an hour of jogging burns almost 600 calories for a 160-lb. person, and an hour of kickboxing burns more than twice the amount of calories that situps do.
Muscle Toning
Burning calories isn't the only factor that can define how you look. If you're already at a healthy weight and don't have much excess fat around your midsection, situps could help you define and tone that area so that your muscles show through. Because situps target primarily upper and lower abdominals, however, it may be more useful to participate in a variety of core exercises so you can also work the obliques, lower back and hips. CNN.com and MayoClinic.com recommend crunches, the plank, the quadruped and the abdominal bridge because they each work several of the body's 29 core muscles.
Considerations
You can also lose excess belly fat and slim down by cutting calories and eating more healthfully. Slashing 500 calories from your daily diet will result in about a pound of weight loss per week on top of any exercise you do. Even though situps are a relatively safe exercise, they can present a risk of injury or strain if you already suffer from pain, have a chronic health condition or use improper technique. Check with your doctor before beginning any fat-loss routine.
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