In the Crunch

By Brittany Lavery
Special to the Critic

Some health advice given by an LSC student and an LSC professor.

If the crunch isn’t cutting it, here’s why.

Some people believe that doing stomach crunch after stomach crunch will make a difference in how their stomach is shaped. Sadly, that is not the truth. Jesse Potter, an exercise science major at Lyndon State College, said. “The old myth that crunches are the fastest way to lose fat in the stomach are untrue.” He also said any kind of workout one does will help remove fat from that region, and “increase overall health.”

First of all, why does it appear that the stomach is typically the largest part of one's body? Is fate playing some cruel joke on us, by giving us a midsection which is seemingly impossible to get rid of? Potter says “…the body tries to place fat (or adipose tissue) around the midsection in order to better utilize it if it’s needed as energy.”

Potter said another type of exercise which is beneficial for weight loss (if that is what you’re looking for) is “resistance training for all large muscle groups does wonders for weight loss.” He also advises keeping an active cardiovascular regimen (running, biking, swimming, etc.) as a part of your workout routine. Not only are these exercises good for keeping in shape, but they also help battle diseases such as heart disease.

Gregory Ledoux, professor of exercise science at Lyndon State College, also reminds us that weight loss isn’t the only sign of improved health. So, no worries if you don’t see the results you may have been expecting. Ledoux tells us “One can change their body composition by building lean tissue and burning fat through exercise while experiencing no change, or even a slight increase in weight.” If weight is gained, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it just means you have gained more muscle mass.