It is widely thought that you can reduce excess fat in a particular body area such as the abdominals if you perform a ton of reps of an exercise like crunches. Unfortunately this is completely untrue and is commonly known as the Spot Reduction myth.
Body fat is called adipose tissue and is distributed in different amounts all over the body. A certain amount is essential as it performs a number of very important functions like protection, nerve conductivity and energy storage. We all have a small amount of fat surrounding certain internal organs while most of our body fat is found just beneath the skin. Women typical have a larger body fat percentage than men. Where you store it and the amount is very dependant on your genetics and your gender. Women tend to have more fat in the hips and thighs giving them what is known as the pear shape. Men tend to store it more in their abdomen giving them the apple shape or spare tire.
Where you lose body fat from and how quickly you lose it is dependent upon a number of factors including genetics, gender, age as well as activity level. The only proven way to reduce body fat is to engage in a regular exercise program that incorporates cardiovascular training as well as strength training and eating a healthy diet that provides the right amount of calories.
There is some research that shows that fat is lost from the places it most recently appeared. So if you gained a belly first then this will be the last place you lose it from. So no matter how many crunches you do it will not affect the layer of body fat that is lying above your abdominal muscles unless all those reps are part of an overall exercise plan coupled with a healthy diet.
