proper way to do crunches(?)
 

I was wondering if putting one's hands behind the head or across the chest is the proper way to do crunches?

Also, what are good exercises to work the obliques?

Really arm position doesn't matter much. Just do what's more comfortable. Do note, however, that some people will say that having your hands behind your head is in bad form, but it's acceptable as long as you aren't using your arms to hold your head up. Also, sticking your arms out can add weight in different spots can give you just wee little bit more resistance.

For obliques you may want to do more crunches, but at an angle. Kind of roll over onto one buttcheek (but not onto your side) and do crunches with a slight twisting motion. Do it on each side.

I used to do regular crunches for a year or so, and the best way i found was to have your hands behind ur head, just sorta barely touching you, and try to keep your head/neck straight. I do reverse crunches now...god they hurt

For me, I just put my fingers around my ears, instead of my head. Then I crunch, and REALLY focus on squeezing your gut.

This might sound silly, but I recently got one of those inflatable "body balls" and I use it to do all of my stomach exercises. It will force you to do pefect crunches :).

I put my hands behind my head and use an decline bench... Seems to work well for me.

Yeah, the Swiss Balls help a lot in keping the form while you concentrate on the squeeze in the abs. As for the positioning of the hands at or above the head, that adds more resistance to the crunch so you are working harder.

hands behind your head is fine, just so long as you aren't pulling on your head, hyperextending your neck. remember to drive your bellybutton into the floor when performing crunches to make them work the deepest part of the abs [and keep from getting that bloated look]

I wouldn't recommend doing weighted exercises for your abs because all that does is push your fat out. If you want your obliques to show you have to lose the fat there.

Exercise Ball or (Body Ball) is the way to go on crunches. Plus you can do a lot more exercises on it than I expected. They usually run between 25-30 dollars at your local sporting goods store. Well worth it though when you start to see results on the abs.

argreed, it just streches your core so much more

isn't there a crunch postion specifically for the lower abs? If not, what works well for that area?

Can't you just lie on your back, put your hands under your butt, and then slowly lift your straightened legs from the floor to a 90 degree angle, then down again? I do that and it seems to work the lower abs, I can definitely feel it.

crunches make my neck hurt....

How often should one do crunches?

With all other weight training I do... I do my set every other day. But I've heard some people say you can work your abs every day, even twice? My belly hurts like hell.

I'm nowhere near fit, I do around 40 crunches a day and it kills me. Where are some better people at?

Sorry to raise a dead thread but props to the search function in use, no?

Your abs are like every other muscle on your body, which means that you need to be careful not to overtrain them. Muscles cannot grow without the proper time to recover (which is at least 48 hours). At the most, you should be training them 3 times a week and that is only if you are training them without weights. If you are using weights to train them (ex. weighted crunches, an ab machine, or some other form of weighted ab exercise) then you should only be working them out twice a week. I train my abs 3 times a week (non weighted high rep), and that is plenty to maintain my six-pack.

I prefer to lay with my ankles crossed above my head. I cross my arms over my chest and lift my shoulders so my elbows hit my knees. Though I do approve of V-sits but I dont do them much.

Problem is that exercise mostly works your hips instead of your abs. If that's your goal that's fine but be aware that that is what muscle you are really working there.