I'm ashamed to admit I can't even do one sit up...

[OuchyMcOuch]

How can I change that? I know my abdominals aren't great but that's bad. I wanted to follow the thirty day abs programme but I can't even start if I can't do a sit up!

Start with crunches - it's much easier to do a sit up wrong than a crunch, which can give your body lots of stress for not a lot of ab benefit. Google ab exercises for loads of alternatives. Holding a plank position is a great core workout too.

Hopefully, I'm recovering from foot surgery at the moment so can't do planks yet... Plus I find they strain my back quite a bit. When you say crunches do you mean like this?

I can't do one sit up either unless I have my arms forward to sort of help with propulsion (although if that's the case I'm probably doing it with very bad form :-/). The other thing to try would be to hook your toes under something, so the edge of the sofa -or get someone to hold them. I can do them then with my arms by my head. But I guess you might not want to do that having just had foot surgery!

I agree though that there are lots of other ab exercises that don't require sit ups. I've been going to fitness classes for 20 years with lots of abs stuff and I've only ever been asked to do a full sit up about 3 times (which is when I discovered I can't do them either!!!)

Yup, those are the crunches. They feel 'easy' compared to sit ups, but are effective IME. Bicycle crunches also good as they work the full range of abs, and lying on your front sand lifting shoulders and toes off the floor for a few seconds and building up to strengthen back muscles if you want to strengthen your whole core.

Ooh hopefully, I'll try those bicycle ones, because my back really needs strengthening too.

Ouchy, dont worry! just start with easier movements and work your way up gradually as you strengthen, try searching youtube with search terms like 'beginners pilates ab exercises'

watch some videos to get a feel for the kind of things you could be doing.

I never do sit ups either, mostly I do swiss ball crunches

Just do planks instead, works more areas of the body. Increase the time you hold it.

Lumpy, I've just had a foot op (well 4 weeks ago now) but I can't do planks yet cos I can't perch on my toes. It'll probably be another 2 months at least before I can.

Suzanne, thanks for the tip, I'll check those out.

Righto, have a look at fitness blender, either on you tube or just google. They have a lot of online workouts.

I can't neither & I consider myself fit (half marathons/10k's etc.). They are a right pain in the arse to do!!!

Oh phew anna, that is very reassuring to hear

I'm going to sound like a complete bore now as I always post this.

Please do check to see if you have a diastasis recti post birth if you've had kids. You can find tutorials on youtube. If you are more than two fingerwidths apart, then you're not supposed to do crunches or situps anyway and should do modified abdominal exercises. Again, you can find these on youtube.

Showtunesgirl... never heard of that. What is it? I have had children, both were born by cs. But I've never been able to do a sit up, so perhaps I don't. Off to google now.

ok, so I've found a video to diagnose it , and I can't find any discernible gap, so I guess I don't have it, just shit abdominals

Ouchy if planks hurt your back then it's probably worth doing some back strengthening exercises first or as well, it's all core strength and we often neglect our back and focus on our tummy due to aesthetics . Supermans (google for instruction) are very good, also bent over rows with a barbell or dumbells if you have them/use a gym.

I don't mind planking. And I have a sit up bar under the bathroom door. I can do 20-30 in a go with that but I really don't think I'm doing it rights. I go to a bootcamp and sit ups are part of the workout weekly....and women carrying more weight than me do them....where the hell am I going wrong!?!?

A tip I was given was to put your feet against a wall so it help you lift your back.

Another great abs exercise is the abdominal twist. Burns like hell chick!

I also like swiss ball jack knife/pikes and swiss ball rolls outs