Sit-ups versus crunches

[ReaLuvsAOxymoron]

Which one yields the best results in the quickest time?

[Nonie]

I vote crunches coz they focus on the tummy without involving your back or thighs. (You need to have really strong back and stomach muscles to do a good situps so it's easier to injure yourself with situps if you don't do them right.) Also it's easier to maximize the contraction with crunches since you can isolate the tummy better. One thing you need to learn to do is to pull in the area below your navel and concentrate hard on keep that held in. I'm not saying hold your breath. I'm saying using your muscles pull that area in and hold before you start crunching. If you do this right, you won't have to lift high (or move your knees much for the reverse crunch), but you will begin to see results in no time. Just concentrate HARD on holding in that part of your abdomen through the entire set without relaxing. http://www.longhaircareforum.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Quality over quantity (<--distance of movement ie). Small but efficient...without letting your lower abdomen relax even for a bit.

[ReaLuvsAOxymoron]

I currently do crunches but I didn't know if doing sit-ups would be upgrading or pointless.

[pressncurl]

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ReaLuvsAOxymoron said:
I currently do crunches but I didn't know if doing sit-ups would be upgrading or pointless.

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Pointless (IMO). I think crunches keep the abdominal muscles engaged for more time per cycle than sit-ups, and that's what you need to build strength and tone.

[MizAvalon]

I vote for crunches. You see results practically immediately if you stick with them.

[ladylibra_30]

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nonie said:
I vote crunches coz they focus on the tummy without involving your back or thighs. (You need to have really strong back and stomach muscles to do a good situps so it's easier to injure yourself with situps if you don't do them right.) Also it's easier to maximize the contraction with crunches since you can isolate the tummy better. One thing you need to learn to do is to pull in the area below your navel and concentrate hard on keep that held in. I'm not saying hold your breath. I'm saying using your muscles pull that area in and hold before you start crunching. If you do this right, you won't have to lift high (or move your knees much for the reverse crunch), but you will begin to see results in no time. Just concentrate HARD on holding in that part of your abdomen through the entire set without relaxing. http://www.longhaircareforum.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Quality over quantity (<--distance of movement ie). Small but efficient...without letting your lower abdomen relax even for a bit.

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sounds real good nonie. i think i will try this tonight. this was right on time b/c whenever i do decide to do crunches i ONLY get results in the upper region and the little pot remains http://www.longhaircareforum.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[sengschick]

@LL: To target the little pot you have to work the lower ab, by doing an inversed crunch. Lie on your back and bring knees up towards your chest. Make sure your tailbone is off of the floor before you begin to return your feet to the floor. You really want you whole butt off the floor. That works! It's the only thing that every really worked on my pot. You can interlock your feets as you get more advanced and when that becomes easy you can cross your legs, by placing your ankle on the opposing knee. It's like doing it w/a weight on your leg. http://www.longhaircareforum.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[ladylibra_30]

thanks sengs!

i think this will be easier for me b/c i tried the other version but i am forgetting to breathe http://www.longhaircareforum.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif http://www.longhaircareforum.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[lilchanel]

ReaLuvs, you don't appear to me to need to do any crunches or sit-ups at all. Your tummy is flat! http://www.longhaircareforum.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif