Questions tagged [sit-ups]

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15 votes
3 answers
1k views

Why are push-ups and sit-ups so common?

Growing up in many school activities we were made to do sit-ups and push-ups. In Navy Cadets we did pushups and situps whenever we exercised. I have also seen it included in many general fitness ...
going's user avatar
  • 3,326
15 votes
5 answers
26k views

Skinny but flabby, what to do?

I appear skinny but anyone who's seen me without a shirt knows the truth! My chest, arms, and legs all look healthy (as far as I'm concerned) but my stomach is this fatty mess. It's not that I don't ...
flabby's user avatar
  • 153
13 votes
4 answers
2k views

Are ab exercises more useful to reduce belly fat than other exercises?

I have little bit belly fat which I want to reduce. So I started ab exercises (like sit-ups and crunches) month ago. It's much more difficult to me to do these kind of exercises than other e.g. ...
android developer's user avatar
12 votes
5 answers
155k views

Why cant I do any situps without someone holding my feet

At the Gym I use an abdominal machine to do stomach crunches and over time I've increased the weight and made steady progress. However I have just started a Taekwondo class and as part of the warm-up ...
Paul Taylor's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
20k views

Are sit-ups harmful to female anatomy?

I talked with a female friend about how to lose her small fat tummy. I suggested to her that she do sit-ups every day. She read in a book that doing sit-ups is harmful to women, because they may have ...
Teifi's user avatar
  • 183
8 votes
1 answer
111k views

Why are my ribs sore after doing push ups and sit ups?

My ribs are sore after doing push ups and sit ups. Why? Are there muscles in between my ribs? Could it be something else other than muscles that is sore, like tendons, etc?
Chris Morris's user avatar
7 votes
4 answers
614 views

Are sit-ups actually harmful?

I have seen several references to situps being harmful due to "high compressive lumbar load" and recommending crunches. When researching where the quote came from, it looks like every reference quotes ...
Sean Duggan's user avatar
  • 9,109
6 votes
3 answers
1k views

Is there a benefit to doing crunches over sit-ups?

Leaving aside the health risks (As per Wikipedia, "Some argue that situps can be dangerous due to high compressive lumbar load"), is there any benefit to doing crunches as opposed to sit-ups? From ...
user6751's user avatar
  • 161
6 votes
1 answer
102 views

What is the right way to use this sit-up bench

What is the right way to use this curved inclined sit-up bench? Where do I keep my legs and should I lie all the way back?
codingsplash's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
900 views

What are the benefits or drawbacks of full sit ups vs crunches?

I generally do full sit ups, I just prefer them to crunches. But are there any benefits or drawbacks of full sit ups over crunches?
Daft's user avatar
  • 279
5 votes
3 answers
2k views

What are ways to exercise abdominal muscles without harming your back?

I am frequently hearing of new research finding how bad sit-ups and crunches are (example). So what are safe ways to exercise the abdominal muscles? For example, are planks proven to be safe?
Celeritas's user avatar
  • 503
5 votes
1 answer
7k views

How much weight am I lifting doing sit-ups?

I'm trying to keep a tally of total weight lifted during a workout—to motivate me. I googled "how much weight do I lift in a push up?" and most sites said "64% of your body weight". I couldn't get ...
Mirror318's user avatar
  • 153
4 votes
1 answer
2k views

200 situps in combination with 100 pushups 6 week program?

For those off you that know about the 200 sit up and 100 push ups program, would it be a good idea to combine the two programs in one? The program works by dividing the workout into 3 times a week, ...
mugetsu's user avatar
  • 559
4 votes
1 answer
157 views

Max reps, boredom and carpet-burn

Is there any consensus on the maximum number of reps you should perform, before rotating? Curious as I find I get bored, or start to get say carpet burn (sit-ups), if the number exceeds a hundred. ...
arober11's user avatar
  • 1,185
4 votes
1 answer
269 views

How do I do a proper situp?

What should I be focusing on when doing a situp? Are there ways to reduce strain on muscle groups that should not be getting strained?
ChargingPun's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
3k views

sit-ups form: difference between straight back/shoulders back, vs. hunched

there are two ways to do a sit-up: the easy way, which is the way you probably do it and the hard way, which involves maintaining posture of straight back, with shoulders in their proper position as ...
paIncrease's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
530 views

Are situps considered a good core workout?

I was going through an article : https://www.verywellfit.com/top-best-ab-exercises-1230723 This seems to be a reputable website. I was surprised the trainer didn't mention situps in it. What could ...
Amit wadhwa's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
245 views

Maintaining gains after finishing a training program

I am doing the 100 push up and 200 sit up programs but they are only 6 weeks long. I worry that in ten weeks I will back how I am now as I am a bit of a lazy person. I'm only interested in general ...
Skeith's user avatar
  • 181
3 votes
3 answers
3k views

No matter how hard I try, I just can't lift my back up in sit-ups

No matter how hard I try, I just can't lift my back up in sit-ups, yet I have many friends way less fit than me who can do it just fine.? How do I do it?
Uni Sheep's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
210 views

Planks vs. Sit-ups / crunches

Are planks effective for building nice abs? I've tried a few basic positions and the idea of holding a position for as long as I can, and having a workout for my abs and core areas, is pleasing, ...
user30645's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
256 views

The Maths of Exercise

Lets say for whatever reason You can't do a pushup to save your life. You can't manage the technique and it hurts you too much. Or lets say you're like me and can't do a sit up to save your life ...
Anthony's user avatar
  • 11
1 vote
2 answers
180 views

Are there any benefits to using a sit-up bench for sit-ups?

I would like to know if doing sit-ups from the floor (lying on my back) produces different results from doing sit-ups using a sit-up bench? Are there any other instruments that are better than using ...
Avi's user avatar
  • 319
1 vote
1 answer
916 views

I can't do curl ups without someone holding my feet down?

I'm 14 years old, and throughout the multiple tests we've had to do in gym, I am never able to do a curl up without automatic form break. My lower back doesn't go up and my arms move causing the form-...
Michelle's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
670 views

Stomach muscles burn after doing crunches?

I used to be able to do 100+ crunches, but now I can only do 40 and my abs feel like they're burning so badly(after). I don't do crunches often anymore. I lost weight(about 5 pounds) before this ...
Rob Sterach's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
326 views

Best way to lose stomach fat [duplicate]

Anyone know of a daily workout that can get me slim whilst building muscle? I dont mean a full on workout like going to the gym because there is no gym around where i live. I also eat pretty healthy ...
user21494's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
710 views

Best way to perform sit-ups in order to avoid bruising

I am about 47. I have done regular sit ups for about half a year. The results are good and I almost have a 6-pack. However, I now feel a slight pain in my back. I have realized that the contact ...
Avi's user avatar
  • 319
0 votes
1 answer
1k views

Spinal compression in abmat situps compared to standard situps and other ab exercises

I just read a paper by Axler and McGill (get it here) which compared 12 differend ab exercises their spinal compression force and the EMG intensity. Abmat situps where not analyzed. Is there any paper,...
Sarah's user avatar
  • 1,747
-1 votes
1 answer
72 views

Standing on feet while doing sit-ups [closed]

So yesterday my personal trainer stood on my toes while I did sit ups. More than 30 hours has past and my toes are still sore. I’ve ditched the trainer as I didn’t think he was that good anyway and my ...
PythonPrincess's user avatar
-3 votes
1 answer
125 views

Lower back-friendly abs exercises

I learnt that ab exercises like sit ups are bad for the lower back and now I a looking for alternatives. I found Stuart McGill's “Big Three” exercises, which are back-friendly and two of them train ...
LulY's user avatar
  • 197