posted May 21, 2000 04:51 PM            

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hi, i'm Omer and i'm 15 y/o
when i'm doing sit ups I feel the pain
mainly in my back, this problem prevents
me from doing more sit ups and get stronger
abs, what do u think I should do?
if u can, send answers here or to icq#:44771405

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posted May 21, 2000 07:11 PM            

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One of the main reasons many people do not do sit ups is because of the lower back. For the abs, try doing crunches. You can find many different types of crunches to do in almost any fitness publication. These will hit the abs much better.

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posted May 22, 2000 07:25 AM         

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Crunches are better - but you also may be doing to many. You only need to do your abs twice a week really (doing 4-6 sets of 10-12 reps). The common misbelief is that doing loads of sit ups will give you a six pack. The fact is you have to lose body fat to make your abs visible.

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posted May 22, 2000 12:18 PM            

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Both these posts are 100 percent right on.

Situps are not required. Leg lifts, crunches, and concentration on your abs during deadlifts will get you there faster.

You also need to concentrate on your form when doing ab exercises. By pulling your abs down into the diaphram and doing 10-20 reps with 4-5 sets will work the abs better than putting out 200 fast crunches without concentrating on form. Some believe you may actualy force the abs to protrude outwards using bad form by not pulling them in during contraction.

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