I heard that if you do sit ups but you don't suck in while you do them it actually makes your stomach push out. That's gotta be bs right? Is there any benefit to trying to suck in while doing situps or other ab work?
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Is this a myth?
- Thread starter realworksuks
- Start date
It's better form to hold your gut inward (suck-in your abs) while doing ab exercises -- this better form also benefits the lower back. Don't hold your breath, just gently suck in the gut & do the crunch or sit-up.
Note: if doing sit-ups, then have your butt on a fairly well-padded surface (use folded towels if necessary), else you'll harm your low-back in the long-run. The famous boxer, Jack Dempsey wrote of doing sit-ups on a soft surface in his book "CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTING: Explosive Punching and Aggresive Defence" © 1950/78/83 ISBN 0-913111-00-7 -- not knowing this I did a lot of sit-ups (often daily) on concrete, asphalt, & hard-packed dirt during my 11-years with the US Marines & I have a bad low-back to show for it. The Marines eventually switched to crunches since a soft surface isn't necessary to do them safely.
Always go for good form, else you invite injury (either immediate, or down the road, on this I speak from much bad experience)... you'll also get much better results than using poor form (my best results come after I learn an exercise's proper form -- & many are the instructors that don't know proper form, so be wary... & note that I'm still learning myself). If something feels a little off, then chances are you shouldn't go there any more -- change so that all aspects of a repetition feel good... & take it slow & easy with new exercises (don't rush into using high-reps or heavy weights). Well, that's my opinion.
Take Care,
Marooned Mike
Note: if doing sit-ups, then have your butt on a fairly well-padded surface (use folded towels if necessary), else you'll harm your low-back in the long-run. The famous boxer, Jack Dempsey wrote of doing sit-ups on a soft surface in his book "CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTING: Explosive Punching and Aggresive Defence" © 1950/78/83 ISBN 0-913111-00-7 -- not knowing this I did a lot of sit-ups (often daily) on concrete, asphalt, & hard-packed dirt during my 11-years with the US Marines & I have a bad low-back to show for it. The Marines eventually switched to crunches since a soft surface isn't necessary to do them safely.
Always go for good form, else you invite injury (either immediate, or down the road, on this I speak from much bad experience)... you'll also get much better results than using poor form (my best results come after I learn an exercise's proper form -- & many are the instructors that don't know proper form, so be wary... & note that I'm still learning myself). If something feels a little off, then chances are you shouldn't go there any more -- change so that all aspects of a repetition feel good... & take it slow & easy with new exercises (don't rush into using high-reps or heavy weights). Well, that's my opinion.
Take Care,
Marooned Mike
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