help with how to excercise - Exercise & Fitness Message Board

marlene1986 · 08-07-2006, 02:02 PM

hello i have a real problem wit doing situps i had a baby 8 weeks ago so have no stomach muscles whatsoever but i find that when i try and do situps i feel no pull in my stomach and a lot of struggling and pain in my neck, i figured that im using my neck to pull myself up instead of my stomach muscles but no matter how hard i try i cant seem to do it properly. does any one have any hints or tips on how to do it?
thankyou
marlene

chopsky · 08-07-2006, 05:11 PM

Try focus on your abs when you do situps. Its all about the mind to muscle connection. Also, you might be resting your chin on your chest. Dont. Try look towards the roof and pull your head towards the roof using your abs to lift you up. Also make sure youre not using your hands to push your head up. Either keep them on your chest or lightly behind your ears/head.

Jess75 · 08-07-2006, 05:29 PM

Yah, it sounds like your using all of your weight without any support around your head to protect the neck, like supporting your neck with your hands behind your head but not using your hand and arm strength fully to lift you up. A little pressure is okay, but not totally. Hope that makes sense. Like the above poster said, focus on your abs and even if you do use arm strength behind your head, you will eventually feel the "burn" after doing a certain amount. Also, you may be interested in getting a blow up ball to use which offers great support for the back. My favorite video after having a baby was called "6 minute abs" by Denise Austin. She demonstrates proper form.

lugter · 08-16-2006, 07:03 AM

How many situps do you do. I would suggest that you do 3x10 everyday.
You will quickly get stronger, and then you could hold something heavy in your arms to get something more to work with. Most people think that they have to do a 100 situps a day, which is basically a waste of time.

Dave440 · 08-16-2006, 11:18 AM

There are certain ab exersises that can minimize neck extension. For example, lying on your back with your hands flat under your waist while you bring your legs up at a 90 degree angle to your waist and you bring your legs down to the ground and back up.

Another great one is to sit upright with a weight of some sort (small) and your knees bent in front of you. Simple lean back slightly and bend side to side from your waist (left...then back to center...then right and back to center...repeat). This especially helps with the lower ab region without the hyperextension and stress on the neck.