Am I doing them wrong?

[sandrajo]

I do 100 sit ups 3 times a week( I know it's not much), it's taken me a while to build up to this. When I get to 80/82 my neck starts to ache, quite a dull ache at first but as the night goes on it gets quite sore. Is there something I'm doing wrong or could this just be a way for my body to tell me 80 is enough?

[daffy654]

Hi sandrajo,
when doing situps you are supposed to place your hands at the side of your head and not behind the head,you then lead the sit up with your chin, rather than leaning forward with the top of the head and pulling with your head up with your hands.(I hope that makes sense.lol)
A lot of fitness experts these days say that full sit ups are a waste of time and that you should be doing crunches instead but I have no idea whether that is true.

[pinksmartie]

I get a bad neck when I do situps too. haven't really found that I can do anything to stop the ache, apart from rest my head in my hands when i do them, making sure that I don't pull my head forwards when doing the situps. Just the little bit of support seems to help me, so maybe try that?
I've also heard the same as daffy - half situps are better than the full ones.

[Velvetee]

Not sure why you need to do 100 sit ups in one session. If you were doing Biceps Curls for instance, would you do a 100? The abdominal muscles are the same as any other muscle and 3 sets of 12-20 repetitions is sufficient, 2-3 times per week.

As for the ache, you are probably pulling at the back of your neck. As Daffy says, you should just keep your fingers at the side of your ears or temples. Also, your chin should not touch your chest.

Why don't you try some different ab exercises, like crunches on a Fitness ball or weighted crunches, where you have legs outstretched, knees slightly bent, so heels are resting on floor. Hold a medicine ball above your head and raise shoulders off the floor. (You don't need to do full sit up). Hold that position for 3 seconds and then back to start. Make sure you keep the ball above head.

Also, try weighted reverse curls, for lower abs. Grip a lightish ball between ankles, raise legs up, so feet are facing ceiling, then lower the ball slowly towards the floor. You should be lowering the legs from the hips, keep legs static, no bending or straightening at the knees.

One other tip, pull your belly button in towards your spine, when you do ab exercises. This activates your Transversus Abdomini muscles, which are a girdle of deep seated stabilising muscles. Doing this, also when you are walking around, sitting or just in general, works the ab muscles without doing anything. Remember to breathe properly though.

[froggequene]

Buy an exercise video or google one & learn how to do crunches. Properly executed crunches are just as effective & infinitely less painful then sit ups, or you could try assisting yourself by using a towel, put it round your neck & grasp the ends.

[sandrajo]

Thanx everyone...I do100 (or there abouts) of everything Velvetee, out of them all it's only my neck that hurts.

[chazza]

I used to be the same, I was pulling myself up with my neck.

The instructor at my gym advised me to get one of these:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumb er/3023242/Trail/C%24cip%3D1500011615.Sports%2 Band%2Bfitness%3EC%24cip%3D1500011656.Home%2Bg ym%2Bequipment%3EC%24cip%3D1500011664.Other%2B gym%2Bequipment.htm
which you can pick up very cheapy in sports stores, and since you relax your head against them, you dont have the same problem with pulling with your neck!

[Myriad2112]

depends what you're doing :)

[Myriad2112]

I'll be round in a minute xxxxx

[sandrajo]

thaks everyone : )

chazza: you've just reminded me that I've got an abdotrim in the cellar, I'll go get it back out....I've been using a sit up bar under my door....thanks : )