Sit Ups, Crunches, or Other?

[DrumNFeather]

It seems that over the last 20 years or so, sit ups as part of a work out have become a bit passe.

I know that the p90 programs focus a lot on ab-ripper type workouts that seem to be crunch oriented.

So which produces the best results and provides the most benefit. Sit ups? Crunches? Other?

[TripletDaddy]

Adjusting your diet is the best ab workout you can do.

Chunky people doing sit ups are w.a.s.t.ing their time. You will never see the abs until you burn through the flab. And sit ups dont burn enough calories to ever catch up.

Once you rid the fat, then do crunches...they are easier on your neck and back.

Also, what is up with people that do hundreds or thousands of daily crunches? Abs, like any other muscle, probably need some rest.

[jay santos]

Depends on your goals.

If you want to look good and get a six pack: primarily accomplished by getting your body fat to less than 10% and direct ab work may not be important.

If you want to add size to your ab muscles: even for this a lot of people will not do direct ab work, but will accomplish it with heavy compound exercises in their workout like squats, and standing exercises like military press, standing curls, etc. For direct ab work, I like weighted incline sit ups, but with my herniated disk I've had to back off that.

[DrumNFeather]

Depends on your goals.

If you want to look good and get a six pack: primarily accomplished by getting your body fat to less than 10% and direct ab work may not be important.

If you want to add size to your ab muscles: even for this a lot of people will not do direct ab work, but will accomplish it with heavy compound exercises in their workout like squats, and standing exercises like military press, standing curls, etc. For direct ab work, I like weighted incline sit ups, but with my herniated disk I've had to back off that.

Believe me, I'm not in the same solar system as having my abs visible. I was just interested more from a logistical standpoint of adding some kind of ab component to a daily workout.

[Jacob]

crunches are not as hard on your back. Another pretty good core exercise is the plank:


You simply hold that position for as long as you can. I did it for 2 minutes last night adn that's pretty hard.

For more advanced side plank:


These are not just girly exercises. For example, Dwight Freeny of the NFL does this during his workouts for corre strength, if Men's Health is to be trusted (and it's probably not).

[RC Vikings]

Dr. Oz, it's on when I get home from work so I watch it while grabbing a bite to eat, did a study on ab work and crunches were the best workout for the abs. People do need to realize they will never see those abs until they get rid of the fat and you've got to find a way to burn it and ad work alone won't do it. In addition to crunches I like to throw in core workouts that work on balance. Pilate's type moves help your core, improve your flexibility and helps your balance. It's harder than it looks.

[woot]

Crunches on a swiss ball are pretty good. Bicycle crunches are the best. Planks are pretty good too. There are a ton of ab exercises that are more effective than regular crunches, so I wouldn't recommend those.

And yes, common wisdom applies here: If working out your abs gave you a washboard stomach while the rest of your body remained coated in goo, you'd look like a weirdo. However, having a strong core has a great many benefits regardless. Especially if you have a bad back.

[Soccermom]

However, having a strong core has a great many benefits regardless. Especially if you have a bad back.

I agree. I do ab work (planks, crunches, etc.) primarily to strengthen my core. I have long legs, and a smaller torso, and it seems like my core strength is pretty weak. As I have improved and gotten better at core work, I feel like I can do everything else better.

I always crack up at the infomercials trying to sell the ab rollers et al. I wondered who would buy such things? Then I visited my parents. Apparently, my dad would.

[TripletDaddy]

I agree. I do ab work (planks, crunches, etc.) primarily to strengthen my core. I have long legs, and a smaller torso, and it seems like my core strength is pretty weak. As I have improved and gotten better at core work, I feel like I can do everything else better.

I always crack up at the infomercials trying to sell the ab rollers et al. I wondered who would buy such things? Then I visited my parents. Apparently, my dad would.

I wonder if you are in the minority. Most of these folks that are buying crunch machines on infomercials are probably not overly stressed about their core strength. They want to have abs for summer. And they are fooling themselves because their diet sucks, they dont track calories, and so they eventually just give up. The ab machines end up in the basement somewhere while they are upstairs eating 4 slices of pizza for dinner, wondering why they cant see their abs and probably spending zero time being thankful that their core muscles are holding in their intestines and organs effectively.

I agree re: planks. Very easy to do (the mechanics, I mean....zero equipment required, almost impossible to do incorrectly)....yet extremely challenging. Forget 2 minutes...even 1 minute can be tough when you first start. Do a face down plank and one plank on each side.....3 minutes of hell but it really works. At 2 minutes, you will definitely feel the burn.

[PaloAltoCougar]

For the past five months, I've been working with a personal trainer (the Marquis de Vinnie) who has me doing all sorts of core exercises--crunches, of course, but various types including the use of incline benches, exercise balls, back extensions, leg lift contraptions, and all manner of sadistic devices. It seems to be paying off, although with 18% body fat (not bad for an old guy, but still) my six pack will remain a keg for the duration.

One problem of age is that I get a little vertigo if I turn my head too quickly. To improve my balance, Vinnie has me do a variety of things using a Bosu Ball (an inflated hemisphere with a hard plastic base. With the round side down, I step up on the base and, while looking ridiculous trying to keep my balance, do military presses and curls using dumbbells or kettlebells. It's really hard, but I'm noticing big improvements in balance and core strength. Anyone use a Bosu Ball? I have a serious love-hate relationship with the thing.

[TripletDaddy]

For the past five months, I've been working with a personal trainer (the Marquis de Vinnie) who has me doing all sorts of core exercises--crunches, of course, but various types including the use of incline benches, exercise balls, back extensions, leg lift contraptions, and all manner of sadistic devices. It seems to be paying off, although with 18% body fat (not bad for an old guy, but still) my six pack will remain a keg for the duration.

One problem of age is that I get a little vertigo if I turn my head too quickly. To improve my balance, Vinnie has me do a variety of things using a Bosu Ball (an inflated hemisphere with a hard plastic base. With the round side down, I step up on the base and, while looking ridiculous trying to keep my balance, do military presses and curls using dumbbells or kettlebells. It's really hard, but I'm noticing big improvements in balance and core strength. Anyone use a Bosu Ball? I have a serious love-hate relationship with the thing.

I've seen this but haven't given it a try. I have used them for crunches when someone else was using the swiss balls.

I think I would be nervous to drop the weights while trying to keep my balance.

I don't think it looks ridiculous as much as it looks hard. Or at least challenging.

[PaloAltoCougar]

I've seen this but haven't given it a try. I have used them for crunches when someone else was using the swiss balls.

I think I would be nervous to drop the weights while trying to keep my balance.

I don't think it looks ridiculous as much as it looks hard. Or at least challenging.

The first time, Vinnie had to brace me frequently, providing the image of a boy scout assisting an elderly woman across a busy street. It's still hard, but I can do it unassisted now and I notice a lot of improvement in my sense of balance. If in my day-to-day activities I have to walk across inverted hemispheres, I should be fine.

[Mrs. Funk]

The first time, Vinnie had to brace me frequently, providing the image of a boy scout assisting an elderly woman across a busy street. It's still hard, but I can do it unassisted now and I notice a lot of improvement in my sense of balance. If in my day-to-day activities I have to walk across inverted hemispheres, I should be fine.

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[Commando]

I recommend the Gut Buster.