Can't Do a Full Sit-Up

fitmom07

I cannot do a sit-up. I have tried and tried and I can come up only halfway unless someone has their hands on my feet. I asked my Bootcamp Instructor about it and she said it was because I had a C-Section, so my lower ab muscles have depleted. Any ideas on how to get the lower ab muscles strong again?

ViktoryaC

I would also love some advice on this.....back when I was thin and healthy I was a sit up machine, 50 pounds later I cant bend around my belly anymore. :frown: Is there a modified sit up we can do?

sharonfoustmills

sit-ups are a thing of the past and can damage your back, do some research online on alternatives to the old sit-ups, like crunches and such, there are many new ways to work your tummy into shape

eta: lie on bed with legs straight out off the side, raise and lower legs- to work a different muscle bend legs at knees and do the same: note that you do not go down until feet touch floor but instead only until your body makes a straight line and it is much easier to do if you put a pillow under your butt to raise it up some- you do this very slowly, like a five count down and a five count up

navyrigger46

Sit-ups are pretty bad on your spine, so that you can't do them is not a bad thing. To strengthen your core you can do planks, leg levers, flutter kicks, and even push-ups. Many compound lifts like squats and deadlifts also work the core muscles.

Rigger

__Di__

I cannot do a sit-up. I have tried and tried and I can come up only halfway unless someone has their hands on my feet. I asked my Bootcamp Instructor about it and she said it was because I had a C-Section, so my lower ab muscles have depleted. Any ideas on how to get the lower ab muscles strong again?

Do not do a sit-up whereby you sit fully up, it does your back right in, your Instructor should be well aware of this and should not be trying to get you, or anybody to do such a thing, c-section or no c-section.

Lay flat on your back, bend your knees, only lift your head and shoulders off the floor by approx four to six inches, there is no need to lift up any more than that.

I am dubious about your Instructor.

TeaBea

I cannot do a sit-up. I have tried and tried and I can come up only halfway unless someone has their hands on my feet. I asked my Bootcamp Instructor about it and she said it was because I had a C-Section, so my lower ab muscles have depleted. Any ideas on how to get the lower ab muscles strong again?

Lower abs (be careful of your lower back) .... take it slow

http://exercise.about.com/library/blpostpartumabs1.htm

http://video.about.com/exercise/Best-Lower-Ab-Exercises.htm

RGv2

Sit-ups are pretty bad on your spine, so that you can't do them is not a bad thing. To strengthen your core you can do planks, leg levers, flutter kicks, and even push-ups. Many compound lifts like squats and deadlifts also work the core muscles.

Rigger

^^^Yep Sit-ups don't really activate the core muscles anyway. They fire the hip flexors.

fitmom07

Thanks for the ideas everyone. Jilian Michaels also had me doing them on her 30 Day Shred video on Level 3.

meerkat70

Thanks for the ideas everyone. Jilian Michaels also had me doing them on her 30 Day Shred video on Level 3.

Ignore her... She's a sadist whose main motivation is lifting money out of people's pockets.

Sit ups give me back pain, neck pain, and do no particular good.

For core strength, you're better off with the crunches described here, bicycle crunches, and planking. Or better still, do some compound lifts.

Good luck! :-)

__Di__

Thanks for the ideas everyone. Jilian Michaels also had me doing them on her 30 Day Shred video on Level 3.

What, sit-ups whereby you fully sit right up??

brboydjr

Do crunches and you'll gradually build enough strength to do do sit ups.

maybeazure

Thanks for the ideas everyone. Jilian Michaels also had me doing them on her 30 Day Shred video on Level 3.

I love Jillian. I find her inspiring, but I think she's wrong on that one. I did bicycle crunches instead. I didn't want to get hurt over a stupid sit-up. They nice thing about a video trainer is that you can tell her to shut the heck up without hurting her feelings.

deksgrl

Planks, planks, planks. With your forearms on the floor, not the Jillian way which is harder on your wrists. I can plank a lot longer and get more benefit for the core doing it that way whereas my wrists give out long before my abs do, trying to do it that way.

skylark94

Planks and pushups have done wonders for me. I don't do any targeted abdominal exercises, but I have great abs. I had a c-section 8 years ago.