Are you a part of the crunch crew? If you area anything like me it has probably been ages since you did a full-blown sit-up. Although both can help you achieve that “six-pack look,” but bringing some life to the meaning sit-up can impact your abs routine.
Obviously adding thousands of sit-ups to your life won’t instantly give you a toned tummy (aerobic exercise must be included!), but full-sits ups help develop strong muscles beyond your abdominals. This is a fitness classic that is neglected for the fancier abdominal tools or the lazier half-sit ups.
When you are preforming sit-ups you are engaging more muscles than you think. Sit-ups focus on your:
- Abdominal muscles
- Hip flexors (they help you lift your upper body off the floor)
- Back (aids your abdominals and hip flexors)
- Neck (your neck is engage during the exercise)
Back to Basics Boot Camp Tip: Start your sit-ups with the right form. Your feet should be flat against the mat with your legs shoulder width apart and your neck should be in line with your spine so you are not bending or straining it.
Before you get sit-up happy all over again, be sure you are properly executing the move to avoid any potential injuries with this how-to video courtesy of Livestrong:
Once you have mastered the classic try to challenge your ab muscles with some variations:
- Try a decline sit-up by sitting on an apparatus with your lower leg secured under a padded bar. Lower your body back until your hips are almost extended, raise your body back up and repeat.
- Add weights into the movement. Weighted sit-ups add more resistance.
- Utilize a stability ball. Stability balls increase the intensity of the abdominal workout, however, the support makes sit-ups more manageable.
Are you executing the full sit-up correctly? How often do you focus on your abs when exercising?
