5 Exercises That Can Make You Look Fat

If you are working on getting a slim figure, you should be careful at what you choose for your regular workout, because some exercises will have the exact opposite effect. They activate particular muscles and it may make the body look even bigger than it was. The good news is that there are suitable replacement options for each of them.

We at Bright Side did some research to find out which exercises you should only do occasionally if your goal is a slim body and how to replace them. Make sure that you check our bonus section.

The exercises in this article are very powerful and work on isolated muscles which stimulate muscle growth. Needless to say that when muscles grow they become bigger, and so will the area you’re working on.

1. Side bends

Generally speaking, if you go crazy with the exercises that activate the obliques, you have a good chance of ending up with a blocky wide waist and side bends are on the top list for this.

Replacement option: Side plank is one of the most effective exercises to get strong obliques and avoid bulking them up.

Lie on your side, keeping the legs straight, and place your elbow directly under your shoulder.
Push your body up, activating the core, creating a straight line from the shoulder to the feet.
Hold it for as long as you can.
Slowly lower down and repeat on the other side.

2. Rollouts

Rollouts can be done with a barbell, a pair of dumbbells, or a rollout wheel and it’s a powerful workout for upper and lower abs, however if you over pump these muscles, your stomach may look bigger instead of looking flat.

Replacement option: Plank is a very simple exercise, but don’t underestimate its effectiveness. It engages the entire core but doesn’t bulk the core muscles.

Lie face down with your forearms on the floor placing the elbows directly under the shoulders.
Keep your body straight.
Hold as long as you can.

3. Medicine ball jackknife

Medicine ball jackknives cover a few groups of muscles and may make your waist like look bigger.

Replacement option: A stomach vacuum is very effective for transversus abdominis muscles and if you practice it regularly, you get stronger and firmer core muscles.

Take a few deep breaths to warm up.
Breath out all the air.
Pull your stomach in as hard as you can.
Hold as long as you can.

4. Cable crunches

Cable crunches target the rectus abdominis muscle and if you get too crazy with this exercise, your stomach may become larger than you expected.

Replacement option: The static V hold also works on the rectus abdominis, but unlike the weighted workout, it builds core strength, not volume.

Start from a seated position.
Activate the core muscles and lift the legs up keeping them straight.
Reach your arms toward your shins.
Hold as long as you can.

5. Weighted crunches

Weighted crunches are another weighted ab exercise that can be used for getting a 6-pack, if that’s what you want to achieve. However, it might be not the best choice if you want your waist stay tiny.

Replacement option: An arch body hold is also an effective ab exercise, and it might be a good option if you have a sore back, because if you do it right, you shouldn’t involve the back muscles much.

Lie down on your stomach.
Lift up your upper body of the floor, stretching your legs and arms.
Hold as long as you can.

Bonus: Over exercising

When you want to get fit or lose those stubborn extra pounds, it is very tempting to start exercising like crazy. However, the experts warn that over exercising is your enemy on the way of achieving your fitness dream. Rest and recovery time are crucially important for building strong muscles and preventing injuries. And a balanced diet is always the must, because even the best muscles covered with a generous layer of fat will look big.

Have we left out any other exercises that might make you look bigger than you want? Or maybe you’ve come across to some of them at some point? Tell us about your experience in the comment section