Bodyweight exercises for beginners

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EvilPixie Jul 2021 3:47pm, 27 Jul 2021 26,798 posts	0 EvilPixie Question I def need to be improving strength and core (generally speaking and to help improve swimming) If/when I do sit ups they are kinda pathetic "crunches" only lifting a few inches off the floor Which made me ponder a sit up bar (the ones that go under the door) Is a "proper full" sit up to knees using one of these better? ta
HappyG(rrr) Jul 2021 4:08pm, 27 Jul 2021 39,330 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Don't hook your toes under things! Puts pressure on your lower back! Just keep doing the wee crunches. And plank. Your core will improve. Eventually you will be able to do a full sit up! Imho. Other opinions available etc.! G
Velociraptor Jul 2021 4:10pm, 27 Jul 2021 53,597 posts	0 Velociraptor I've only ever done wee crunches with my knees bent. There's no need to aim for full sit-ups from floor to 90 degrees.
EvilPixie Jul 2021 4:13pm, 27 Jul 2021 26,816 posts	0 EvilPixie fabulous I like that answer
Homeless Kodo Jul 2021 4:30pm, 27 Jul 2021 1,724 posts	0 Homeless Kodo EP. Are there any similarities between the movement patterns in crunches/sit ups and swimming? If there are similarities crack on and use crunches/sit ups. If there aren’t similarities is it better to find movements that are more appropriate for trunk training for swimming? Traditional sit ups generally work hip flexors rather than abdominal muscles. Doing them with feet fixed is fine but fixing feet in position takes out the need to use abdominal muscles to stabilise the movement which means you almost exclusively work the hip flexors.
HappyG(rrr) Jul 2021 4:32pm, 27 Jul 2021 39,331 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Plank I would have thought (as said above) would have been better core. EP, there are loads of other core exercises - pelvic tilts, all that sort of thing?
sallykate Jul 2021 4:38pm, 27 Jul 2021 8,109 posts	0 sallykate What G(rrr) said - all round core strength is key, not just the focus on whichever muscles classic sit ups use. So "superman" for back strength, and bird/dog. Toe dips and dead bugs for transversus abdominus. More ideas here girlsgonestrong.com and girlsgonestrong.com
HappyG(rrr) Jul 2021 5:18pm, 27 Jul 2021 39,332 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) THere are about 20 links in this thread too EP, if useful fetcheveryone.com/forum/the-lets-motivate-each-other-to-do-our-strength-and-core-work-thread-47833
EvilPixie Jul 2021 5:48pm, 27 Jul 2021 26,821 posts	0 EvilPixie Awesome I need to do core more (read as do any!) To improve everything! Holding aero on the bike too Plus upper body work for swimming
HappyG(rrr) Jul 2021 9:18am, 28 Jul 2021 39,337 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) I do full sit ups but I'm quite used to them, I include twists in them too. I also do plank and side planks and both with lifting leg within them (just for some variety). I've done these for at least last 10 years on and off, because I was given them as physio exercises 12 years ago when I did my first marathon and I like to get my money's worth from a physio! I still do same hip/leg stretches too! G