Frustrated tonight

Conquer14

I finished my workout tonight barely. I was so fed up with it tonight. I feel like I'm not doing my crunches right. Well I know I'm not. I don't feel it in my abs really. I feel like I'm using my neck to much. I have tried and tried to work on doing it right in the past but I can't seem ti get the hang of it. My husband tries to gi e me tips but I just snap at him because I'm mad at myself. I really wanted to give up and did take short small break throughout. Almost cried at one point. I'm judt not feeling it at the moment. Hope tomorrow is better. Also, I hope everyone had a good day today!

Linnaea27

Oh blah, I think we all have those days. I certainly have days when I really really don't want to exercise. I'm sorry you're feeling like this!

I used to do crunches with my neck rather than my abs too. Then I came across an article somewhere online (this was a couple years ago, so I don't know where it was) that made some good suggestions-- your hands are on the back of your neck when you do crunches to keep them out of the way. They shouldn't be putting any pressure on your neck at all-- if you pull at your neck with you hands, you're (as you know) not doing the crunches right, and also damaging your neck.

When you do crunches, try just letting your hands rest very lightly on the back of your neck or the back of your head, or put them somewhere in the air, where you can't use them for extra momentum. Sticking your elbows out to the sides and placing your fingertips on your shoulders could work, too. Make sure you're lifting your upper body/shoulders off the floor by contracting your belly only, while your feet stay on the floor. You might only be able to bob your shoulders and upper back an inch off the floor for 5 or 10 crunches at first, but that's OK. Your abs should feel really tight as you do each crunch, and keeping them engaged and your hands not putting pressure on your neck are the most important things to remember about crunches.

Hope this helps!

Don't feel sad. Starting out a lifestyle change and learning exercise techniques and relearning eating habits is hard, and a lot of stuff at once. Take it day by day, and good for you for starting!

craftywitch_63

In 2009 I was finally fed up with my muffin top. I couldn't get rid of the d****d thing; I tried crunches, sit ups, the ab roller, cardio, diet, you name it but the muffin top stayed. Worse, I wasn't able to do the crunches and sit ups the way I was supposed to so the more I did the bigger the muffin top got. I went to a plastic surgeon for a tummy tuck. The doctor explained that after carrying large children (8 1/2 and 10 pounds, respectively) the abdominal muscles were stretched out and separated down the middle. That's why I was unable to do crunches/sit ups correctly and why I could never lose my muffin top. He also said obese people have that problem because the abdominal muscle is stretched.Since my muscles were repaired during the tummy tuck, I've been able to do abdominal work correctly. From 2010 - 2011 I had a pretty good six-pack going (I binge ate it to death but that's another story.)

You don't say in the post whether you've had children or been very heavy but those are two reasons why you may not be able to do crunches correctly.

BTW, men do not understand this. My ex-husband (who is also ex-military) kept correcting my form and I told him repeatedly that I couldn't do the crunches the way he told me to do it. Years later, after the plastic surgeon explained the problem I told him and he told me I was making an excuse. I guess I wasn't making an excuse when I had the six pack!!:glasses:

Conquer14

I have had 2 children. One 8.2 and the other 7.4. The heaviest I have been is 167 and that wad at 9 months pregnant. I'm judt having a hard time gigiting it out. My husband is also ex-military. He talks about my form as well. I know he's trying to help but I just take it the wrong way at the time. Going to keep working at it though. I get upset so easily. Thank y'all for the support!

hill8570

Crunches are a pretty tough exercise unless you've already got pretty decent abs (and if you don't have enough weight in your legs to counterbalance your upper body, they're pretty much impossible unless you weight your ankles or put your toes under something.

Not sure what the rest of your workout is, but maybe your should just concentrate on an ab workout that is easier to build into -- planks can start "slow" and build as you get stronger (check out the "plank challenge" sometime -- it's a great way to build up your abs a little at a time).

Hang in there -- everyone has the occasional "blah" workout day (generally at least once a week for me).