Subscribe for more workouts and tips: goo.gl/sxLYmP Additional fitness tips: goo.gl/vFWbTL Quick Workouts: goo.gl/mj1b0C The crunch is a very simple exercise, but also one that is easy to do the wrong way. This can decrease the results that you will see from doing crunches, so it is very important to be doing them in the correct way. In this video, Bowflex Fitness Advisor, Tom Holland, walks you through the proper form to do your crunches correctly and get the maximum benefit from them. The key steps to doing a perfect crunch are: 1) Lie down on the floor. 2) Bend your legs towards your body to find a position where your feet can rest flat on the ground. 3) Place your hands either across your chest so that your hands are touching the front of each opposite shoulder, or place them behind your head for a little more of a challenge. 4) Slowly lift your upper torso towards your knees using your abdominal muscles, squeezing the muscles while lifting, and stop when your abdominal muscles feel fully flexed. You should have around half of your back elevated off the ground. Any more than that and you are going too far. 5) Slowly return your upper torso to the starting position on the ground. Key things to remember: 1) Don’t go too fast. Going slow works the muscle harder. 2) Don’t try to use momentum, or swing your body up using your legs. This is cheating your ab muscles out of a workout. 3) Don’t bend too far forward. You don’t need to go very far to fully engage the abdominal muscles. This will also help keep stress off your lower back. 4) Flex your abs as you are doing your crunches to fully engage the muscles. Other fitness resources you may find helpful: http://www.Bowflex.com – Find all the fitness solutions you’ll ever need to get on your way to being a healthier you. http://www.BowflexInsider.com – Head to the Bowflex Insider blog to read the latest in all things related to fitness and health and find simple ways to start losing weight.