I cannot do ONE sit-up

Actually, crunches and situps are horrible exercises...they don't really work the core that well and they are hell on the back and neck...pretty much wreaks havoc on the entire spinal cord. I personally wouldn't recommend doing them at all unless you are required to for a PT test or something.

There are much better core exercises and much better (more efficient and less harmful) ways of isolating your abdominal muscles. Planks are outstanding core exercises and they can take on various forms to keep challenging you. Don't do situps or crunches...they are stupid exercises.

Yep. My Physical Therapist says I should never do them (I have a herniated disc in my low back, and 2 in my neck). She also says that you can actually build mass in the abs area by doing them which is *not* what most women want to do! Planks and push-ups are better for you.

Actually, crunches and situps are horrible exercises...they don't really work the core that well and they are hell on the back and neck...pretty much wreaks havoc on the entire spinal cord. I personally wouldn't recommend doing them at all unless you are required to for a PT test or something.

There are much better core exercises and much better (more efficient and less harmful) ways of isolating your abdominal muscles. Planks are outstanding core exercises and they can take on various forms to keep challenging you. Don't do situps or crunches...they are stupid exercises.

Yeah, this.

:drinker: I do the 10 minute standing ab exercise that's on fitnessblender.com and feel it's more effective. Also lifting weights does wonderful things indirectly.

I get where you're coming from, I know there are better things for my abs, but I just wanted to be able to say I can do sit ups... I can now... sort of. I can't have anyone hold my feet because of a prior ankle injury (last person who held my ankles is still afraid to touch me, she thought she broke me when my ankle popped, turned in and locked in a cramp... it was not pretty and hurt like all get out). Anyway, how I learned is I touch my toes to a wall with my feet a little wider apart and instead of having my hands behind my head I hold a weight (or a weight ball) in my hands over my head and do the sit up to touch the weight to the wall (the weight helps with the up/forward momentum) and as I've gotten stronger I've been able to move away from the wall and put the weight down, still don't quite have the hands right (have to be careful not to pull on the neck, that's the last injury I need). So at least now I can say I can do a push up and throw one in here and there just because I can.... I still stick with other ab exercises though

Actually, crunches and situps are horrible exercises...they don't really work the core that well and they are hell on the back and neck...pretty much wreaks havoc on the entire spinal cord. I personally wouldn't recommend doing them at all unless you are required to for a PT test or something.

There are much better core exercises and much better (more efficient and less harmful) ways of isolating your abdominal muscles. Planks are outstanding core exercises and they can take on various forms to keep challenging you. Don't do situps or crunches...they are stupid exercises.

Came here to say this.