To wonder why i cant do a sit up?

[Member869894]

I' went to an exercise class last night and realised that I was the only tone there who simply could not go sit up from a lying down position without using a hand to help myself up..

I'm about twenty pounds overweight but otherwise fit.

Will I ever be able to do one? It just feels like I have no stomach muscles at all

Have you had babies in the last few years? They destroy your core, plus show up weakness in that area that was maybe masked more easily before. Many of us use other muscles to compensate for weak tummy - thighs, back, neck, and when you start to do exercises that isolate tummy this is exposed. I’d really recommend Pilates to build strength, I’ve done it since after my first baby when like you I discovered I was a weakling

yes Merename; I' e had three babies. I will look at Pilates thanks

I can't sit up like that either. I never have been able to though, even Pre babies 😊

Stuart McGill is a well-regarded spine researcher and he's convincing on the topic that sit-ups suit very few people:

uwaterloo.ca/applied-health-sciences/hes-got-our-backs

Do Pilates, it’s magic!

But also, sit ups are crap if you’ve got any kind of pelvic floor weakness. I don’t do them, ever, because they make my prolapse try to escape into the outside world. I’ll happily trade internal organs that merit the ‘internal’ bit of their name over a corrugated abdomen.

Another vote for Pilates. Start with a beginners class, chose the easier version of the exercises you find challenging, always go one easier if you are in pain. Keep it up for a few months and you’ll feel a real difference to your core. There are a lot of Pilates videos on YouTube if you prefer to exercise at home - I do 3-4 sessions a week so it’s a lot easier to do it at home, but have at a few sessions with a trainer to make sure you understand how to engage your core.

Yes, I have tummy muscle separation following 3 babies, and sit ups aren't advised and can make it worse. I'm starting Pilates classes next week in the hope of gaining strength and reducing my pregnant looking belly.

Torn psoas muscle? This happened to me and my first knowledge of it was not being able to sit up after a relaxation exercise on the floor.

Theres a difference between finding them tough, and not being able to do them at all - and from what you've described it sounds like it could be the latter. Pregnancy can weaken the muscles but in some cases (and especially with c sections) muscles can be damaged to such an extent that things like sit ups just aren't possible. It's worth talking to the instructor and asking for an alternative as there will be plenty that you can do.

When I try, all that happens is my legs lift up instead, d'oh!

I use the power core to assist sit ups I can't recommend it highly enough to get core muscle strength back