How to Make Sit-Ups More Effective

by Susi May 0

Whether you love 'em or hate 'em, sit-ups are here to stay. But like all staple exercises, they can lose their luster and shine. Bust the boredom as you bust your gut, and give your sit-ups a makeover. After mastering the basic sit-up, experiment with these three variations using a medicine ball that I just learned from my Equinox trainer.

Get Medical
Once the basic sit-up feels rote, add a 4 kg medicine ball (a little over 8 lbs) to the move to take it to the next level. Hold the ball close to your chest as you sit up and roll down. The ball makes it more challenging for two reasons, the obvious one being that the medicine ball increases the amount of weight you're working against. Secondly, holding the ball to your chest means you can't throw your arms forward and use momentum to reach the top of the sit-up. Do 20 reps for three sets.

Toss It
Rolling up to sitting holding a medicine ball is fun, but tossing the ball once you make it to the top doubles your pleasure. Throwing the ball once you're sitting up not only means you're now working your arms along with your abs, but your core is forced to stabilize itself as you throw the ball. This is more work and makes for a stronger torso, and a stronger you! Do 20 reps for three sets.

Learn my favorite move when you read more.

Get Twisted
The Russian twist, which targets the obliques, is a great ab exercise on its own, but mixing the move with a sit-up means all the layers of abdominal muscle benefit. After rolling up holding the medicine ball to your chest, rotate the ball and your torso to the right, then the left before returning to center and rolling back to the floor. With your next rep, twist to the left first and continue alternating the side you start on as you finish your reps.

How do you feel about sit-ups?