sit ups...yeah, right

momma3sweetgirls

I just started level 3 of the 30 Day Shred and I can't do a single sit up. Is this normal? Will I ever be able to bring my upper body up beyond the the basic crunch position? Those girls make it look so easy!

lilac01

It takes time. Use ur arms to pull u forward.

elephantmeg

I couldn't the last time I did shred but I can now. I've been doing extra crunches at work-up to 50 of the double in sets of 10-15 and I think that's helping. I was so amazed I could do some this time! I did 5 or so with Natalie and then the others with Anita! I just started level 3 tonight

LillysGranny

If you hold a medicine ball while you're doing sit-ups, you can throw it (but don't let go!) to get a little momentum. As you get stronger, don't throw as hard. Pretty soon you'll be sitting up your own weight plus the weight of the ball!

StephanieDuckie

Ugh. I don't know. I refuse to do push-ups, haha! Stick with the crunchies. =]

Ariyasnow1

Put your feet under something heavy (couch, dresser, ect). This will help with your forward momentum.

modernmom70

Just keep trying! Eventually you will be able to do them and lots of them! You will feel so proud as your progress!

SunLovin1

Respectfully disagreeing with posters who suggest using furniture or something to propel your body. The goal is to make the abs do all the work. Using aids takes away from your abs. If you can't sit up all the way, just go as far as you can. Controlled movements, exhaling as you come up. I've been shredding for awhile now and it does get easier the more you do it. It's intense, but man does it give results! Good luck!

LillysGranny

Respectfully disagreeing with posters who suggest using furniture or something to propel your body. The goal is to make the abs do all the work. Using aids takes away from your abs. If you can't sit up all the way, just go as far as you can. Controlled movements, exhaling as you come up. I've been shredding for awhile now and it does get easier the more you do it. It's intense, but man does it give results! Good luck!

Respectfully disagreeing, if you can't do it, you can't do it. You are right, using modifications takes away from the muscle group you're trying to focus on. But, while just trying works, there is something to be said for using an aid to achieve and feel the full range of motion that you're trying to achieve. I have a 67 y/o woman in my program who now does her sit-ups with a 10 pound medicine ball "glued" to her chest (that is, she's using it for added resistance, not momentum...also keeps the arms under control so it really is all abs). She could not do a single one when she started. I've been working with people on this very issue 12 years, and using the medicine ball works. I've never seen anyone that could not do a respectable number of full sit-ups in one minute after 6 weeks starting this way.