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Gemma post a pic as I would bet your essence and your in the same part of the world as me, hope your Dads well

Can't do that - wouldn't want to crack everyone's screens!

Go for it, Gemma!

I've met loads of chaps off these forums. Right ugly bunch of barstewards.

Make Doc's day!

Jayne xx

This might be a bit of a silly question, but I don't want to get it wrong.

For my fitness test at the end of next month, I have to do max sit-ups in a minute. Hands on temples, knees bent etc etc.

I've been doing them with my arms folded across my chest as thought it would be more difficult, making the fitness test easier. However it doesn't feel harder. Am I wasting my time doing them like this? Or is it actually benefitting me but I can't feel it.

I think you would be better off doing them as you should for your test.
Folding your arms across your chest makes it easier - Doesn't it ?

Rich

personally i found it harder, perhaps something to do with the arms putting pressure on the muscles being used e.g the abs, but im no expert. www

I figured it would be harder with your arms across your chest. When you've got your fingers on your temples, you use your arms to a certain extent to help you up, even if you have your fingers glued to your temples you can swing your elbows slightly to give you more momentum.

Maybe I've just gotten so good at sit-ups they all feel easy

(Just kidding)

If you move your hand a little bit further back, behind your ears instead of on your temple, and practice that for a while, you'll find it much easier when you switch back to the temple method. At least that's how it worked for me.

I have found this thread riveting.

My tip is you all move your hands to 5 inches behind your head, then bring them forward one at a time to connect hardish with your head.

If this doesnt work try headbutting the nearest wall marked "common sense".

Gemma - a good exercise for working ur abs is the one i use, heres the pics of what u do:

---->

do about 3 sets, each set untill you cant do any more then rest for about 30 seconds.

works for me

(still do the sit-ups)

Hey Roadrunner, how did you get hold of those pictures of me working out?

Hands by yor side are the easiest to do sit ups and then from there the higher up you have them the harder it gets, the hardest being behind your ears.

Thanks everyone for your help , will put it all into practise tomorrow

Does anyone know a good way of increasing running speed? I can run for miles on end at a steady pace but when it comes to picking up speed I tire very quickly. What’s the best type of training to help me get over this hurdle – is it interval/fartlek. I also run with a heart rate monitor, I’m assuming that keeping my heart rate within the 65 – 85% range would also be a good thing?

GemmaLS wrote:Does anyone know a good way of increasing running speed? I can run for miles on end at a steady pace but when it comes to picking up speed I tire very quickly. What’s the best type of training to help me get over this hurdle – is it interval/fartlek. I also run with a heart rate monitor, I’m assuming that keeping my heart rate within the 65 – 85% range would also be a good thing?

I do 6, 5min fast runs with about 1.5mins rest/stretching in between. Massively helped my speed and distance as well.

Thanks Cruicent, I tried something a little similar yestarday.

I must be doing something right though, a couple of weeks ago I tried to see how long I could last at a pace of 1.5 miles in 11:30 minutes (12.6 kph) - I lasted 4minutes. Yesterday I lasted 6 minutes. So I probably didn't really need to ask the question as I seem to have got the right idea anyway

I'd recommend to anyone to get a heart rate monitor and learn how to use it. It's easy to try and train on 'perceived effort' but with a HRM you know you're working hard enough.

http://www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/hrm1.htm