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Are Sit-Ups a Waste of Time?

Find out what you should be doing.

When it comes to working your abs there is not much you can deviate from. But, are sit-ups a waste of time? You probably can get a better result in less time with this different ab exercise.

In the video below, sports teacher and YouTube fitness guru Alex Lorenz answers: are sit-ups a waste of time? He is the co-founder of Calisthenic Movement and has trained Calisthenics since 2012, uploading videos regularly for those people interested in getting in shape using only their bodyweight.

Are Sit-Ups a Waste of Time?

According to Lorenz, sit-ups are limited in terms of variations and progressions and are not optimal when it comes to spinal health.

Are Sit-Ups a Waste of TimeSource: Gabin Vallet on Unsplash

So, are sit-ups a waste of time? According to him, definitely. And you should change your sit-ups for a much better exercise called the hollow body hold. Three reasons why you should do this instead of sit-ups.

Read More: 22 Bodyweight Ab Exercises Ranked Worst to Best

1. Upper and Lower Abs

The hollow body hold is a great mix between upper and lower abs. During a traditional sit-up you mostly work your abs by flexing your thoracic spine, but the lower abs get little activation.

By tilting your pelvis and lifting your shoulders from the floor, both upper and lower abs will be under tension at all times.

2. Progressions

Depending on how strong of a core you have, you can easily adapt the hollow body hold according to your fitness level. The more you extend your body, the harder the movement gets.

Just make sure you are not arching your back and brace your core at all times.

3. Static Exercise

By flexing your spine many reps for a long period, it can put you in risk of an injury and cause degeneration in your discs.

If you want to do the hollow body roll as a dynamic exercise, you may choose the log roll variation of the movement. In this variation, you will also get to train your obliques while rolling from one side to the other.

Another variation is the hollow body rocks in which you keep a rocking motion while maintaining the core under tension.

Check out Lorenz’s video below that finally answers: are sit-ups a waste of time?

Read More: 8 Excellent Core Workouts You Can Do At Home

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