Alternative to sit-ups

Lifting weights helped strengthen my low back and abs.

I do the captains chair at the gym, dead bugs, planks, lying toe touches, standing weighted Russian twists and lying leg raises. I have a nerve problem along my lower spine so those exercises are safe for me to not aggravate my nerves.

How to describe some of them...haha. Well, dead bug is laying flat with both knees bent like you would have for a bicycle crunch. Arms straight up, slightly Loft your shoulders and neck off the ground and then alternating left arm and leg together push down to the floor and then repeat on other side. You can find some good videos online that show exactly how to perform. Lying toe touches are laying flat with knees bent, feet on floor bending to the left and right while trying to touch your fingertips to the heel of your foot while shoulders and neck are slightly raised. Russian twists while standing is just holding a dumbbell or plate in your hands with elbows bent right above pelvis while turning left to right while engaging your ab muscles. I usually use about 10-20lbs for this. Lying leg raises what I do is lie flat with my feet about three inches off the floor, hands tucked a bit under my lower back for some support, one leg at a time lift the leg straight so toe points towards ceiling and the lower but don’t put foot on ground, stop three inches above floor and repeat on other side. I hope this makes sense. Try looking online for videos that will help give some visual. These work different areas of your abs which crunches just can’t work.

Try gentle pelvic tilts while lying on your back and really think about engaging your whole core when you do them. Youtube if you don’t know how to do this. I also recommend dead bug and leg raises. It’s good to do exercises like this kinda slow and thoughtfully to start out.