The Perfect Situp

Well, I know you've been waiting impatiently for the second exercise, but I have been having computer problems ALL day - it is SO frustrating!! Anyway, the second of the three exercises that will use all the muscles in your body is the situp - your favorite!! No really, done right and done regularly, these will give you the abs you've always wanted. Lay on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor; your elbows are out and your hands are interlocked behind your neck. Keeping your eyes on the ceiling, slowly raise your head, neck and upper back off the floor, while keeping your lower back on the floor. Concentrate on holding your stomach in, as if you were trying to touch your belly button to your spine. SLOWLY is the key - this is an isometric exercise that will tighten the tiny little abdominal muscles that help to flatten your stomach - hey, just what we wanted!! Work up to 3 sets of 10, but remember that 5 perfect ones are better than 500 crummy ones; those will only make your larger abdominal muscles even bigger and actually make your stomach stick out (oh no!), and will hurt your neck and back. Also, it won't make a bit of difference what you do for five or ten minutes three to four times a week if you walk around all day with your stomach hanging out. Practice holding your stomach in and standing tall, with your shoulders slightly behind your back. You will automatically look five pounds thinner, and you will see the results of your hard work much sooner. Make yourself a sticky reminder, and put it on your steering wheel, mirror, phone - wherever - and then practice, practice, practice. You'll be perfect!! Well, after tomorrow, when you get your last one...Melissa