(Make sure you read the page on “body” first)
I used to hate sit-ups growing up. Some years ago someone explained to me that there was an easier and safer way to do them. For starters, you don’t clasp your hands behind your neck pulling and bending your head. Second, you don’t need to touch you forehead to your knees.
This was all it took and I am now dedicated to sit-ups even if it means doing them for two minutes every other day. Bottom line. Do them. Recent studies show that having belly fat makes you at greater risk for dementia and Alzheimer disease. Also, having a big fat belly makes you at greater risk for migraines (recent study done), doubles your risk for death (see article here), makes you more likely to get diabetes (article here) as well as heart disease. So why continue?
I found a great way to start. When I “fall off the (exercise) wagon” I tell myself I am going to do 10 sit-ups. It sounds silly but it works. First off, anyone can do 10 sit-ups. If you can’t, you definitely need to get help and change your life style. Second, when you are down on the floor, you realize how silly it is to try just 10 sit-ups. And so you end up doing more. In the long run, you will end up doing thirty, forty, fifty,and one hundred sit-ups. The key is to try to pass yesterday’s number of sit-ups. Always push for more; unless you are up to three hundred sit-ups. Then I’d say, “That’s enough for the day.”
But the main point is this; one to two hundred sit-ups a day mixed with a good leg exercise (like fast walking, biking, or swimming) along with yoga is a great way to keep healthy, happy, and feeling young.
Here are some great sit-up videos to watch, learn, and do yourself.
* Note – Youtube has been having video playback problems recently and so if you get an error, click on the youtube logo on the bottom right if it doesn’t play for play back from their site.