No more sit-ups!
We all want to look slim and be fit. But at what price? On this site we always advocate moderation. Moderation in diet,
exercise and lifestyle. It appears that moderation in doing sit-ups is also a good thing!
Apparently, the actual mechanics of doing a sit-up can be detrimental to your spinal health by placing stresses equivalent to lifting incorrectly on the low back. Because a sit-up is not a natural movement of the body, the abdominal muscles are stressed leading to the strong likelihood of spinal strain.
What is preferable is to exercise in ways that use muscles naturally, as they work in everyday life. For example,
push-ups force the core muscles to stabilise the torso as the arms and spinal muscles move the body. Just as in real life. And, of course, eat sensibly and have a balanced lifestyle.
References: [Why crunches don't work] and [Sit-ups are bad for you]
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Reader Comments
Wow, this is the first I heard of this! Trainers incorporate crunches all the time. Push ups are much, much harder to do for me.
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Just click on the Wii icon (right) under the Health and Fitness category.
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Jodi
Can you suggest some good natural exercise that would help be preferable then? Swimming would be one of them right?
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Hi Pauline. Well there’s push ups. And swimming is good for just about everything. But not when lifting your head up out of the water, that really stresses the neck. And walking – ensure your posture is good to maximise the benefits. Anything which uses your muscles in a natural way without stressing another region of the body.
What a perfect synchronicity…my nephew who is spending some time with me decided last night that he would start his day with some sit-ups…a punishing ‘wake-up’ for a body that has been sleeping!
I read him your post this morning and showed him one of the articles whose links you provided at the end of your post. I think he’s going to be re-thinking his plans while he also re-thinks his ‘motivation’:)
It seems that we have been socially engineered to put image before common sense…I believe in exercises that match the natural movements of the body.
However, with increasingly sedentary lifestyles, each new generation is likely to redefine ‘natural’…What, if there ever could be one, is the ultimate ‘benchmark’?
Thanks for this post Jan!
Lucy Lopez´s last blog ..Planting seeds of happiness and financial independance and providing them with the right conditions
I totally agree.. it is all about core development that keeps everything in line. Walking…stretching and most definitely a healthy well balanced eating plan all helps to tighten up those tummy slouches.
I have replaced my computer chair with a ball…this is an awesome way to challenge your posture and tone up muscles. The trick is to be aware of how you sit and stand at all times.
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Hi, I have been going to the gym almost everyday; doing different exercises and classes. And at the end of each exercise or class, I will do some sit-ups. Sometimes, I wonder if I had overworked by body. However, I feel quite great at the moment; tired in the evening but great in the morning again.
Well, reading this article will make me do less sit-ups but more push ups !!
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At last sensible advice when it comes to the ever increasing demand that we should all be doing more to keep fit. Years ago, my husband went to some group sessions with an ex-military keep-fit expert and in place of sit-ups they advised what is known as the dog posture. To do this you simply go on all fours, face forwards then suck in the tummy hold to a count of ten then slowly breath outwards. As with all exercise there is a need for repetition and in order to see a flattening of the stomach it requires between 10 and 20 repetitions each day (but at least it doesn’t put any strain on the back). They were also advised to do the same exercise while going about their daily business – standing upright, sucking in the tummy and holding it for a count of 10 … watch out whilst vacuuming and be careful not to suck up the dust!!
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That sounds like very sensible advice.
While performing the dog posture does have benefits, I doubt it would actually flatten the stomach. As has been pointed out by many, there is no such thing as spot reduction, so unless you are losing fat, you will not see a flatter stomach. The only case I could think of in which it might actually cause a flatter stomach would be if your abdominal wall is too lax, causing a slight bulge.
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