How do I train myself to do a sit up and push up?

For push ups, I suggest working your way up to a full one. Start with wall push ups, push ups on your knees, etc. until you can do one with standard form.

For sit ups, you should not be pulling your neck forward and straining your spine. I'm pretty sure you can modify these as well by starting with your legs straight on the ground and/or your arms at your side helping to pull you up or something. Hopefully someone else can chime in on this one though. I don't do sit ups enough to give adequate advice.

My trainer had me use stairs. I started up high, working my way over months to the floor.

I also did planks which helped to strenghten a lot of my body. When I finally did the one full push up it was an amazing feeling and I was almost 50!

Now you are making me want to start up again

Don't do situps they are bad for the back and don't work your core well. Do planks instead. As for pushups do them against the wall to start. Then move to something lower like doing them on the second or third stair step.Again, as you build strength move to lower steps until you are down to the floor.

A plank is basically high push-up position, but with your arms directly below your shoulders. If you stay in the pose for a while with your abs tight and your body straight, it is a great workout. http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/470/

Skip situps - they are ineffective and not good for your back. Instead, try stabilization exercises like a plank. Basically just get in pushup position on hands and toes with your body in a straight line from your toes to your shoulders and hold for 90 seconds.

Don't do situps they are bad for the back and don't work your core well. Do planks instead. As for pushups do them against the wall to start. Then move to something lower like doing them on the second or third stair step.Again, as you build strength move to lower steps until you are down to the floor.

they are only bad for the back if you use improper form which is the same for any exercise. plus shouldnt people be able to get up from a lying position not just from exercise? being able to perform functional movements like those are important as people get older..


OP for the situps you can first start off by doing negatives where you start in the up position and slowly control yourself down. keep your core tight, spine in normal position (no rounded upper back, head and neck in neutral position) and slower lower yourself. use your hand on the outside of your legs if you need to. eventually you'll get strong enough to do situps


good luck

Like everyone else said, start on the wall, then chairs then stairs then floors I'm trying to learn how to do push-ups too!
But don't do sit ups, if you don't have good form you can hurt yourself and it is SO hard to do it right.
BUT In this Ygoa video, she does a move that she said is a good alternative for sit-ups

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUQxBAzBZbg

This whole video works a lot of core muscles, so I think it'll really help

Don't do situps they are bad for the back and don't work your core well. Do planks instead. As for pushups do them against the wall to start. Then move to something lower like doing them on the second or third stair step.Again, as you build strength move to lower steps until you are down to the floor.

I'm going to try this!!

I didn't read all the replies yet, but from my experience I had a real hard time with push ups.. I still do, but I lifted weights (started low lbs and moved up, and that helped me a TON before I even attempted a pushup. I haven't worked out in about 5 months and I just started to again this week and surprisingly I can do about12-15 pushups without stopping.. I was amazed.

Push ups... Variations of the push up... push up against a wall, then with varying degrees of elevation like against a supported chair or step... gradually move to horizontal. In addition to that, other exercises do similar things... chest press, bench press, etc. All these things will work the chest and triceps necessary to do a proper push up... Of course, the push up also requires a strong core so working crunches and planks will also help in this.

Sit ups... Others mentioned that sit ups are bad... I do them but on an elevated bench with my legs secured and with my arms crossed in front of my chest so as not to hurt my neck. I also avoid going back too far since that seems to involve my back muscles more. Other core exercises are crunch machines, crunches, torso rotators, leg lifts, and planks... these are things that tend to help the core and that is the usual objective of the standard sit up.

Best wishes on your journey.