This may sound odd but I can't do proper sit ups - not the ones in the RAF booklet anyway, where you have to touch your knees with your elbows. Does this just get better with practise or is there some sort of technique I could use?
Thanks
Share This Page:
need help with sit ups!
-
rockapemk1
- Member
- Posts: 265
- Joined: Thu 11 Nov, 2004 9:42 am
- Location: London
- Contact:
If you have never done them before, or are not used to doing them, you will find you cannot do them, have difficulty trying, or even get pain from them. Basically your abdominal muscles in this case are not used to this type of exercise.
To overcome this, you need to get them used to it!!!
Start off doing normal situps. This is, arms crossed accross chest, hands on oposite shoulders, and come up in a situp position. Aim for about 10, then rest, then do as many as you can afterwards, even if its only half the amount. Obviously if you find you can do more, increase this number, the same applies for when you get more used to it.
A variation you may try, is a "rolling situp". Basically you are in the situp position with arms accross chest, and rolling your body back and forth in a situp motion, with your feet together, not been raised more than a foot from the ground. Basically this variation used momentum, however, also uses your abdominal muscles. A good exercise for those who arnt very good at situps.
A final alternative, is to hook your feet under a bench or similar, then perform normal situps. However, be aware that although this works your abdominals, it uses your upper leg muscles as well, and these may start to ache after a while.
Apart from that there are several other variations of situps you can try. But the ones above may help you get started. Good Luck!
To overcome this, you need to get them used to it!!!
Start off doing normal situps. This is, arms crossed accross chest, hands on oposite shoulders, and come up in a situp position. Aim for about 10, then rest, then do as many as you can afterwards, even if its only half the amount. Obviously if you find you can do more, increase this number, the same applies for when you get more used to it.
A variation you may try, is a "rolling situp". Basically you are in the situp position with arms accross chest, and rolling your body back and forth in a situp motion, with your feet together, not been raised more than a foot from the ground. Basically this variation used momentum, however, also uses your abdominal muscles. A good exercise for those who arnt very good at situps.
A final alternative, is to hook your feet under a bench or similar, then perform normal situps. However, be aware that although this works your abdominals, it uses your upper leg muscles as well, and these may start to ache after a while.
Apart from that there are several other variations of situps you can try. But the ones above may help you get started. Good Luck!
Pain is only weakness leaving the body
-
Spe||3inder
- Member
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Thu 21 Oct, 2004 12:08 pm
- Location: North Oxon, UK
-
flo
- Guest
Correct sit-ups
I've been reading through your posts on sit-ups and I have a few more pointers for you.............
......When you begin you should lay flat on your back with your feet flat on the floor (obv. with your knees bent!) Your feet should only be about 13cm away from your bottom and only hip distance apart. If you start by pushing your lower back towards the floor so there is no longer a gap between your lower back and the floor this automatically tenses your stomach, then your'e ready to begin.
It's better if you don't relax your stomach between sit-ups try to keep it tensed. (you wont really have a choice if your started by pressing your back to the floor)
Oh and remember to breathe! Exhale as you come up and inhale as you go back towards the floor.
I've had A LOT of practice at these as I used to be a prof. dancer and had to do hundreds of them lol thanks to my "wonderful" slave driver, sorry I mean dance teacher! lol
Sarah xx
......When you begin you should lay flat on your back with your feet flat on the floor (obv. with your knees bent!) Your feet should only be about 13cm away from your bottom and only hip distance apart. If you start by pushing your lower back towards the floor so there is no longer a gap between your lower back and the floor this automatically tenses your stomach, then your'e ready to begin.
It's better if you don't relax your stomach between sit-ups try to keep it tensed. (you wont really have a choice if your started by pressing your back to the floor)
Oh and remember to breathe! Exhale as you come up and inhale as you go back towards the floor.
I've had A LOT of practice at these as I used to be a prof. dancer and had to do hundreds of them lol thanks to my "wonderful" slave driver, sorry I mean dance teacher! lol
Sarah xx
