Full sit ups back in style?

[delfin]

I've noticed that on a few of my newest fitness dvds the full sit up is back! I felt like this move was a no-no for so long... hence the "crunch." Why the change in view I wonder? Just pondering...

 

[atompki1]

I was wondering the same thing!!

 

[exercise-lover]

I have a hard time doing the five full sit ups and then the push ups without momentum in the situps because of the speed of the movement! I'm not sure it's using my core as much as momentum. I think I'll slow it down while pausing the DVD or something.

 

[mini-natty]

I did Hard Strikes last week and was pleasantly surprised that traditional sit-ups were back in style. I'm not a fan of ab work but I found the sit-ups to be a refreshing change from all the "plank-based" stuff . I kinda, dare I say, enjoyed it?

As for the sit-up/push-up mega speed that Cathe & crew do them at, I could not for the life of me, keep up. I did them slow and controlled and got a terrific burn in my core.

Natasha

 

[JeanneMarie]

I didn't realize they were out of style! I've continued to do them, in addition to crunches, all along.

As with anything, I think mixing it up is what always works best!

 

[L Sass]

Wanna get fun? Lie down on your step - 4, 5 risers, whatever, so that your body is on the step, knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Inter-lace your fingers behind your head or neck. Now, sit up.

 

[JeanneMarie]

Wanna get fun? Lie down on your step - 4, 5 risers, whatever, so that your body is on the step, knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Inter-lace your fingers behind your head or neck. Now, sit up.

Of course you know as soon as I read this I had to run downstairs, set up my step on 4 risers, and try it.

It was actually easy for me, as I am very strong in the core. However, it definitely forces you to use your core more than if you were on the floor with your knees bent.

Thanks for the idea of a new way to do situps!

 

[L Sass]

Isn't it AWESOME!!?? Totally takes ALL the momentum out that you get with your arms. And of course to challenge yourself, you just hold a dumbell behind the head instead of interlacing the fingers. Fun huh?

 

[bonjonbart]

Isn't it AWESOME!!?? Totally takes ALL the momentum out that you get with your arms. And of course to challenge yourself, you just hold a dumbell behind the head instead of interlacing the fingers. Fun huh?

I was all set until you added the dumbbell ... Maybe I'll use a medicine ball so I can use it as a pillow and take a nap between reps!

LOVE this idea! Thanks for giving us something new to work on.

 

[Cathe Friedrich]

Full sit ups have come back into the "acceptable" list of ab exercises for a few years now. It started when planks became more popular. The fitness industry shifted towards functional core strength which opened a new category of metabolic workouts which then started turning its back on traditional crunches and making planks and full sit ups and all variations of them more "in". The thought is that when you live life you use your muscles to react to whatever is thrown your way so therefore you should train with a more non-traditional approach which involved, twists, deep squats, full sit ups, box jumps, pull ups & push ups from all angles, etc.

I personally believe both approaches work well (crunches and full sit ups). That being said, I do think you need to use "today's" less conservative approach to fitness more conservatively than what I am seeing put out there.

As far as the sit up push up combo....PLEASE do them as slowly as you need to. They are tough!!! But as you get better at them you will see that you are able to flip over and do them with more speed too. Bottom line: Do whatever you can do to the bet of your ability