Exercise Misconceptions - Exercises You Don't Really Need

Give up crunches—for good! Let these fitness pros help you find a more effective alternative for those and other exercises.

By Corrie Pikul
Original Content | August 26, 2011

Photo: Thinkstock

You Think You Need the Squatting Dumbbell Front Raise...
But This Is a Combination of Two Exercises

Although putting these two moves together seems like a smart way to multitask, the combo can throw off your balance and hasten fatigue. If you're wobbly and out of control, you'll do both exercises wrong and may also strain muscles in your neck and back.

Better: Dumbbell front raises. Then squats. Separately. Be aware that, due to physics, "the long lever of your arm makes the weight of the dumbbell feel even heavier than it is," says Pire.

How to Do Them

Start with a 1- to 2-pound weight in each hand. Lift one arm at a time in front of you to shoulder height, keeping it straight.
Lower your arm back to the starting position.
Repeat with the other arm.
Make sure that you can do 10 to 12 controlled reps in good form (five to six with each arm) without pain before moving up to a heavier weight.

Get instructions on how to squat properly