How does one do sit-ups?

Sit-ups are a very simple exercise and are generally popular with many people. Both men and women can do sit-ups to exercise the body, improve the body's resistance and increase physical vitality. Therefore, sit-ups have always been strongly sought after by many people. We all know that sit-ups require two people to complete, so how does one person do sit-ups? What are the correct ways to do sit-ups?

The correct way to do sit-ups

Sit-ups are an important part of physical exercise, and some people even misunderstand that they can help lose belly fat.

The main function of sit-ups is to strengthen the abdominal muscles. If done correctly, sit-ups can not only increase the elasticity of the abdominal muscles, but also protect the back and improve the body posture. On the other hand, if performed improperly, sit-ups are not only a waste of time, but can even be harmful.

According to Stamford (1997), the correct way to do sit-ups is as follows: Lie on your back on a mat with your knees bent to about 90 degrees and your feet flat on the ground. Do not fix your feet on flat ground (for example, have a companion hold your ankles with their hands), otherwise the thigh and hip flexor muscles will join in the work, reducing the workload of the abdominal muscles.

Furthermore, straight-leg sit-ups will increase the burden on the back and easily cause damage to it. The position of your hands should be determined based on the strength of your abdominal muscles, as the closer your hands are to your head, the more strenuous it will be to do sit-ups.

Beginners can place their hands on both sides of the body. Once they have adapted or their physical fitness has improved, they can cross their hands in front of their chest. Finally, you can also try crossing your arms behind your head, but each hand should be placed on the shoulder on the opposite side of your body.

Never cross your fingers and place them behind your head to avoid straining your neck muscles when exerting force. This will also reduce the workload of your abdominal muscles.

It is better to use a slower speed when performing it, just like slow motion playback. As your abdominal muscles pull your body upward, you should exhale, ensuring that all the muscles deeper in the abdomen are working at the same time.

After lifting your body 10 to 20 centimeters off the ground, tighten your abdominal muscles and pause for a moment, then slowly lower your body back to its original position. When your back touches the ground, you can start the next cycle of movement. During sit-ups, the abdominal muscles are only involved in the initial stages of the exercise, after which the hip flexors take over the task.

By the same token, turning the body at the end of sit-ups (right elbow touching left knee, left elbow touching right knee, etc.) will not only not help strengthen the abdominal muscles, but may even cause trauma to the lower back due to the pressure caused by the turning.

Beginners should avoid doing too many sit-ups at one time. At first, you can try 5 times, and then add one more time each time you practice, until you reach about 15 times. At this time, you can try to do one more set, until you reach 3 sets.

The main purpose of sit-ups is to reduce obesity, reduce belly fat, increase waist strength and exercise your body proportions. But it should be noted that it is best for beginners to do sit-ups. It requires two people to complete it so that they can find the correct method. Once they have found the correct sit-up essentials, they can practice alone.