Crunches vs. Sit-ups

[La La La]

I was wondering what is the best way to work out abs. Are crunches or sit-ups more effective at building strength? And is one better for your joints?

I have tried machines but they don't really work as I can easily lift the whole stack on both machines in my gym. I started using an inclined bench holding weights but I find it uncomfortable to do full sit-ups. It didn't feel like it was doing much. A friend suggested I use one of those bent tubes of metal that fix your range of movement doing crunches. He suggested touching the top part of the tube with your fingertips. It seems to work quite well. I can feel my abs working. I don't like the tube much as it slips around when I use it. I have heard there is a way to use a cable machine.

Also, there is no machine in the gym I am now using to work obliques. What is a good oblique excercise? I see a lot of people (girls mostly) doing crunches with their knees to one side. I know twisting crunches and situps are meant to be good. Idealy I want a method that I can build strength with. I don't want to be doing 200 reps a session.

What do you suggest?

 

[jsb]

From reading your post i have to question whether you are doing the exercises correctly, have you gotten a gym instructor to show you how to do cruches and sit ups correctly.

Personally i find cruches a lot better for me as it is easier to concentrate on ab movemnet without accidently using other muscle groups and they are eaasier on the back

 

[La La La]

From reading your post i have to question whether you are doing the exercises correctly, have you gotten a gym instructor to show you how to do cruches and sit ups correctly.

No, I have never been shown how to lift correctly. There is no personal trainer available at the university gym I go to. I think I would need to join the weightlifting team to get proper training. I will try to ask about that though. There is a new personal trainer who has just opened up around the corner from me who I could visit. I have asked instructors at the gym but their advice is mostly along the lines of this is a leg press machine you sit in it and straighten your leg out. I regret not going on a better course when I was at a university with a descent sports and rec service.

 

[theleip]

Yes crunches are really about form. You better have focus, tighten those abs up and really make it hard on yourself so to speak. Any one that tells me that do 100 crunches I tell them they are doing them wrong.

Go here and check out some different ab moves. Just scroll down some and look at the list under the picture, all kind of different moves with proper form.

 

[La La La]

Yes crunches are really about form. You better have focus, tighten those abs up and really make it hard on yourself so to speak. Any one that tells me that do 100 crunches I tell them they are doing them wrong.

Go here and check out some different ab moves. Just scroll down some and look at the list under the picture, all kind of different moves with proper form.

Yeah, I think you're right. I see this:

and I remember that in school I was taught that to do sit-up you literally go to a sat up position so your back is almost 90 degrees to the floor. I would call this more of a crunch where you are just supporting your torso's weight barely held off the floor. I think I maybe need to concentrate more on making sure my abs are the only muscles working.

Once you can comfortably do leg lifts or crunches how can you add more weight? There seem to be many different way to excercise the abs how do you choose which to do. I think ideally I want something that I can gradually increase the weight I am lifting.