There are NO exercises that will "shape" your core // Fitness Myths

Most of us have a pretty nice shape core... Under a little layer of fat.

Most people think that by doing crunches, planks, side planks, or any other traditional "core" exercise, they will be chipping away at their core, carving out a more defined shape... While these exercises MAY have an effect on the muscles, they will do nothing for burning the layer of fat that lies on top of them.

There are not certain exercises (or foods, or supplements or teas) that can burn this belly fat. If that is your goal, you need to be in a caloric deficit. Exercise only plays a very small part in this, but if you do want to burn fat, you should focus on large compound movements that build or conserve muscle mass (like squats, deadlifts, chinups, pushups etc). Even if you are doing all of that, your body will decide where it burns fat from: you cannot control this, it is written in your DNA. And you certainly cannot control it with specific exercise. The idea that we can burn fat from a 'problem' area by doing specific exercises that focus on that area is called "spot reduction". IT DOES NOT EXIST. It is mainly a made up concept that sells fitness videos and programmes.

Even if you do affect the muscles with these exercises, you may cause some hypertrophy (muscle growth). BUT you will not SHAPE these muscles. (I'm not even sure what that means). ...but, alas, if it's under a layer of belly fat, you still won't see it. If excess fat is your problem, cardio and crunches probably won't fix it (unless you are in a caloric deficit). The best exercise to do to assist this process is a well rounded resistance programme