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A Full Sit Up is an core body exercise that strengthens both your upper and lower abs. Sit ups have been around for a long time, but in recent years have received somewhat of a bad rap.
While planks and other core moves are certainly excellent choices, the traditional Full Sit Up remains a very effective ab strength move.
Perhaps one of the reasons the Full Sit Up has gotten negative attention is due to the poor form used by so many people. You’ve seen it before, right? The guy pulling on his head like crazy to sit up? The lady yanking her elbows forward and scrunching her face?
All of these things create a sense of momentum and overused upper body muscles instead of initiating the move from the belly as it should be.
If you learn how to do a Full Sit Up you will have a basic ab exercise that helps create a strong core and flatten your abs. The key to getting real results is to use good form. Arms can be behind the head, but keep them relaxed and don’t pull the elbows in.
If that proves to be too heavy for you to life up with control, then cross your arms over your chest instead. This will ease up some of the weight you need to lift making the move a little easier.
Once you have it down pat, you can even add a dumbbell or medicine ball to the move, holding it at your chest as you sit up.
Full Sit Up Exercise Instructions
- Start with knees bent and feet on the mat. Arms are crossed and resting on the chest.
- Bring chin to chest and flex, the head, neck, and torso off the mat coming to a seated position then return back down with control.
Targets: core, back
