Hanging leg raises - What am I doing wrong???

Snipsa

Hey all, so I started attending a Health Club close to my work this week, with focus on circuit training. It's been going well, nothing is easy, but everything is doable except the hanging leg raises. I've tried it single and double leg, but can only do two before I feel my arms starting to give in. I realize it's a core exercise, but for now it feels like it's my arms that can't handle the weight. What should I focus on strengthening to be able to do them with the correct form and at least 10 reps. Should I focus on abs and core, or on arm strength.

Anybody else that used to struggle with them have any tips?

amnsetie

Are you doing them with straight or bent legs?
Bent legs are easier and that will help you get strong enough to do them with straight legs.
If your legs are all ready bent then try planks and upper body exercises and the ab crunch machine.. do weighted sit-ups too if you can
Took me quite a while

red0801

Is it your arms (bicep/tricep/deltoid) or your shoulders that fatigue?

I added the following on days I wasn't doing hanging crunches to help strengthen my arms/shoulders/back:
Deltoid dumbbell raise (side & front)
hammer head bicep curls
tricep dumbbell kickbacks
Overhead dumbbell press

All of these can be done with less then 8lbs to start and will help engage the arm/shoulder/back/core muscles @ a lower intensity until I could support my body weight.

DavPul

The great thing about hanging raises is that all the work is built in. Sounds like your grip is the weak link but if you keep working at it each week your grip will improve along with everything else. Get going and try to do a little more each week.

Enjoy trying some variations:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqOgtFcqWbE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Snipsa

Thanks everyone!

I have been doing crunches and most of the upper body exercises, will incorporate weighted sit ups, deltoid raises and planks.

I think it is my grip that's the main issue - and I feel it more in my elbows than shoulders.

O, and I've been struggling with them with bent knees, so won't even attempt straight legs yet.

But thanks for all the encouragement, I know with time this will become easier as well!