sit ups??

Question:

What exactly is the correct way to do a sit-up? i was taught in school differently then the way my mom taught me adn then i jsut do them a different way. But im afraid they arent wroking the way i do them. So whats the correct way.

Answers:
don't do full sit ups bad for you do crunches work better. crunches for upper abs. Do leg lifts and knee bends for lower abs and side bends or twists for your obliques

Other Answers:
Has you ever seen the products they sell for situps

When doing a situp only come up less than halfway

Coming up all the way is bad for your back..

The good news is that there are different correct ways to do them, some are harder than others. The traditional ones, where you lay back, raise your knees and crouch forward are good to start with, don't do them too fast, that's just wasted energy try to hold each for at least 5 seconds and do as many as you feel comfortable doing. The more it hurts, the more it's working, the more it stings, the more you're hurting yourself, you can also go for the obliques in this manner, just bend your knees to the left or the right and crouch forward like you would do a normal situp. hope this helps

1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor in front of you. Lie on an exercise mat rather than a hard floor to prevent back strain. (Image 1)

2. Position your feet as wide as your hips. (Image 2)

3. Place your hands behind your head so that your thumbs are tucked behind your ears.

4. Hold your elbows slightly out to the sides and keep your chin pointing upward. (Image 3)

5. Curl up and forward so that your head, neck and shoulder blades lift off the floor. Make sure you're not pulling your head forward with your hands. If your chin is making contact with your chest, the abdominal muscles aren't being used in the exercise.

6. Pause for a moment. Lift your head up enough so that your middle and lower back stay on the floor. Squeeze your abdominals as you pause. (Image 4)

7. Slowly lower your head, neck and shoulder blades to starting position.

8. Keep your knees bent, your feet in the same position and your back straight throughout the entire exercise.

Tips:
For a more difficult crunch, do the exercise starting with your knees bent roughly at right angles and your feet lifted off the floor 2 or 3 inches. Cross your feet at the ankles for stability. Doing the crunch this way puts more pressure on the abdominals.

For an easier exercise, fold your arms across your chest with each hand resting palm down on the opposite shoulder. Pay special attention to your neck since your hands are not supporting the back of your head. (This method also prevents "cheating" for those tempted to use the larger shoulder carriage muscles in the "hands-behind-head" method.)

For a more advanced crunch, hold lightweight plates (1 to 10 lbs.) on your chest or hold the plate behind your head as you support your head.

Crunch with a twist by curling up one elbow (or side) slightly above the other elbow. This works the obliques - the side muscles of your abdomen.

Do two to three sets of 15 to 20 repetitions once a day. You should see results in 4 to 6 weeks.

There are multiple variations of the abdominal crunch, including pull-down and cross-knee crunches - see Related Sites for details.

Lying on an exercise mat rather than a hard floor helps prevent back strain.

Despite what you may think, commercialized abdominal machines/rollers are not enough to get you solid abs. A "six-pack" results from not only crunches, but also consistent aerobic and fat-reducing exercise (such as running), as well as eating a low-fat diet.

Once your abs are a little stronger, look into ab video workouts and ab machines. They will introduce more advanced exercises and add definition to your stomach.

Warnings:
Avoid using your hands to pull up your head. This can cause serious damage to the neck and spinal cord regions.

One clear sign of improper technique is touching your elbows together when doing the exercise.

If you have any condition that would impair or limit your ability to engage in physical activity, please consult a physician before attempting this activity. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

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sit ups??

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