How can I do sit-ups so that I pull myself up with my stomach rather than my back?

Answer 1

You can put your feet underneath something.You can do regular floor crunches with your legs in the air and draw them in tith each rep.Lying leg raises:lie on the floor and lift your feet 6 inches off the ground,spread your legs,return to starting position then down.This will target your lower abs better as well as give you a full contraction.Hanging leg raises are good as well.
Don't forget about your obliques and intercoastals.Do side bends and trunk twists for these areas.
Training your abs will not reduce any more fat there though.That's referred to as spot reduction.
http://www.exrx.net/WeightTraining/Myths.html
There is also no need to drink 8 8 ounce glasses of water a day as many will tell you.
http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses.asp
You lower abs are the antogonist group to your lumbar region by way of your pelvis so there will always be some lumbar activity there.

Answer 2

Haha finally somethin I can answer truthfully.....To do sit-ups using only your stomach muscles, there are 3 rules:
1) Bend your knees. If not, u'd apparently be using muscles that are directly pulling on your spine.
2) Put hands across chest and not behind the neck, as the latter results in putting stress on the neck.
3) Pulling your body off the ground till 45 degrees. Ab muscles will be as short as its ever going 2get. Any further and you'd be using momentum instead, and its also bad for your back.

Answer 3

Hello I had this problem but I sat up slowly until I felt my stomach muscles pulling, then I stopped going any further I stayed in that position for a few minutes then layed back down. The trick is not to let your knees reach your chest. Only travel into the pain barrier not through it. I hope I have helped you many good lucks Hayley-May

Answer 4

From the top....

Your muscles... all of them... can only "contract" or "relax". They cannot "push". That's why every muscle in your body has a pair of muscles that work against each other (biceps vs triceps, for instance).

Your back muscles cannot perform situps or crunches. If your abs are cut, all of the strength in your back in the world will not help you sit up.

What you can do is to work with a body builder, strength coach, etc on your abs. Most of them now advocate "crunches" which is kinda a situp that only goes 1/3 the way to your knees (I learned the "to the knee" thing when I was a kid). And, they usually have a "crunch bench" which raises your feet above your head (your head is downhill while your feet are uphill) to enhance your cruch experience.

Answer 5

Crunches are the best. Thats where you don't do a full sit-up. With your feet held firmly to the floor by someone or something, raise yourself up slowly and only go half way back down, and repeat.

Answer 6

i use a fit ball. i cant do sit ups normally as i get a really sore back and neck, the same happens with an abdo worker which rolls with you, both i find that i use me back and neck to pull. with a fit ball as you are holding yourself balanced it works the muscles and you only pull up slightly. most fitballs have instructions on how to do it and gym staff can show you.

Answer 7

While on your back, place your elbows at your side with your hands lightly on your belly. You can feel your stomach muscles tense this way. Tighten your stomach until it pulls you up. Or you can move slightly upward and do a stomach crunch.

Answer 8

Have you tried doing situps using a large gym ball? It helps to keep the back in position and isolates the muscles. As your muscles grow stronger, you will find yourself using your back and neck less.

Answer 9

Use a abdo worker, it supports your upper body and works on a rolling action. Its the only way I have found I can do sit ups without hurting my back.

Answer 10

Wedge your feet under something. I use my bed or the sofa. They are heavy enough to stop you using the wrong muscles. Wear slippers or thick socks to stop you hurting your feet if they have thin edges.