by David Colello

Created on: June 26, 2008

ALTERNATIVES TO SIT UPS

Remember those videos of sit ups that we all watched in gym class? They looked a little grainy, everyone had a crew cut, and you got the odd impression that the child actors in them were collecting Social Security by now, am I right? Fortunately, society has evolved quite a bit since then, and exercise options are no exception.

As a certified personal trainer, the one universal complaint I hear from each of my clients is that they are unhappy with their stomach. The second complaint, which usually follows the first in the same breath, is that they absolutely hate sit ups. They're desperate! Well have no fear, because there are dozens of easier and (dare I say it?) fun alternatives to sit ups.

While there is clearly too little space to cover them all is this article, I will simply offer a few main categories with some brief descriptions. Hopefully this will whet your appetite for working out.

CRUNCHES

This is a great starting point for those of us (and there are quite a few I'm sure) whose last exercise session was sometime in the 20th century. Crunches are any type of exercise that requires you to contract your abs by lifting up only your upper torso. This puts less stress on the lower back and neck, which will be much weaker in an untrained individual and more prone to injury. Although this typically limits the range of which abdominal muscles are worked in each exercise, it allows you to isolate different areas more effectively. Some common examples of crunches include:

1) Lie Flat Crunches- For these, you lie flat on your back from head to toe, then lift up until your shoulder blades come off the ground. (Good for upper abs)

2) Double Crunches- These require you to have your knees up over your hips. Then you bring your knees and elbows together, pulling from both directions. (Good for upper and lower abs)

3) Side Crunches- Start out as if you were doing a sit up, then let your legs drop down to the side until your knees rest on the ground. Keep your torso flat to the ground, then lift up straight as if doing a regular crunch. Do a set, then switch sides with your legs. (Good for side abs)

LEG RAISES

It is often overlooked that lifting your legs works your abs just as much as lifting your torso. It also serves to break up the monotony of crunches. The down side is that they will put added stress on your lower back, but when done in moderation or with a modified range of motion, they are an excellent alternative to sit ups and crunches. If you've

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