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Sit-Ups: Toning or Tortuous?
Sit-ups
may look and feel like they slim you down. But experts say that
exercises focusing only on one part of your body won't work off
fat. What a correctly done sit-up can do is tone stomach
muscles.
Here's how to do the perfect sit-up:
- Lie on your back with your knees bent about 90 degrees.
- Place your feet flat on the floor.
- If you're a beginner, place your hands and arms at your sides. For a more challenging sit-up, place your arms across your chest.
- Exhale as you slowly lift your shoulders and head six to 12 inches off the floor. Hold for several seconds.
- Lower your upper back and head to the floor while keeping your stomach muscles tense.
Start with one set of five at first and try to work up to three sets of 15.
To protect your lower back, avoid twisting your elbows to opposite knees at the top of a sit-up. And those with osteoporosis of the spine should avoid sit-ups and any other exercises that require bending forward from the waist.