How many Sit Ups?

I may get hung for this, but pilates is more of a belief system than an exercise system. It is valuable or body awareness, but if you have been lifting long enough to remember Steve Reeves (and not having taken a decade or two off) Pilates will be just about useless as a strength training tool.
 
Lifterg, I am not a bodybuilder or weight lifter. The last time I was in any serious shape was over 20 years ago. I'm not looking to get bigger, I'm looking to get fitter. I'm 58 years old, I'm doing Atkins and running to lose fat. I do light workouts with a Lifeline gym, in addition to pushups, crunches and stretching. I started my fitness program in April at around 240 lbs. I was 207 this morning, my goal is 180 lbs. I'm 5' 10" tall, my waist measures 37". I've lost about 5" and would like to lose another 3 - 5". For me to get to a 30" waist I'd need to get down to around 150 lbs. Not my goal.

I think exercises like Pilates and Yoga though not strength training routines can tightened and strengthen core muscles as well as adding to Flexibility. Which at my age is far more important to me than size. My fitness goal is to be able to run 3 1/2 miles a day. The number of pushups or crunches or my measurements would be of a secondary concern for me. Being able to show a six pack would be cool, but I probably wouldn't get a chance to show it off all that often. ;)
 
Phil,
Exercise will be beneficial to you no matter what. So congrats on your decision and good luck with getting the results you want.
When you have the chance, take a look at the recent research on strength training for "normal" people. Strength training is the closest thing to a panacea that there is for joint & back pain, weight loss and quality of life. Even Kenneth Cooper (of Cooper's Aerobic Institute) is espousing strength training over prolonged cardio.
Good luck with the program, and if I can help, just ask.
 
Lifterg, if by Strength training you mean Power Lifting, I've no reason to doubt you, but I really have no interest. I believe in resistance training, but more towards Body Building. I have no current plans for a gym membership and no access to free weights. I can get a very good workout with my Lifeline gym. I do have plans to add additional bands to increase the resistance. I can get up to 300 lbs resistance with the bands, which is more than I'll ever need.

You mentioned before in post #4,
"When I make weight at the lower class I compete in, my waist is under 30". I can still do the sit ups across a bench with a 125# db on my chest at that size. (but I am a scawny little old man)"

What weight class do you compete at?
What are you best lifts?
How scrawny and how old are you?
Do you Know Lifter "Dave" from Jersey?

Curious minds want to know.
;)
 
I am seeing alot of talk about sit ups and crunches. In the military we do alot of both. For strengthining your core I have to say that planks or bridges seem to work the best. When your doing all these core exercises don't forget about you lower back because for me when I am maxing out I start to feel it in my lower back more than anywhere else. Also I found that riding a bike really made my sit ups easier, a real bike not a stationary one. Just my two cents....
 
I do 100 crunches every morning -- 2 sets of 50 -- no six pack, though.

Just like Regis Philbin, he's 75.

Why no six pack?
Do you do anything besides the crunches?
Did you have to build up to 100 crunches?
How long did it take you to get there?
Have you ever thought of doing more than 100?
Or, see if you could do more than 50 in your first set?

If it was me, I would do one set, but try to add one more rep per week.
 
Remember there is muscle under the layer of fat. In order to have ripped seeable abs you must burn the fat. Just because a guy is a little fat and does not look in shape do not assume he is not strong, exercises or is a slouch. Maybe he likes to drink beer. Sometimes it is just genetics too. I took a yoga class years ago and my instructor said for strong abs do not do crunches but rather lay flat on the ground raise your legs and upper torso up off the ground in a u or v shape and hold that position as long as you can. Do a few sets of these and your abs get flat not ripped. She also said that flat abs are good but when you get ripples you actual tear the ab muscles--don't know if that is true or not but that exercise works really good.
 
When your doing all these core exercises don't forget about you lower back because for me when I am maxing out I start to feel it in my lower back more than anywhere else.

It's interesting you should mention the lower back, I've had bilateral sciatica since I was in my 20's. If I don't do my exercises to stretch my lower back I'd be crippled. If you're going to do a lot (or weighted) ab work, you need to be thinking of working those lower back muscles as well, Ying and yang. Learning Yoga can be really helpful with a bad back.

Good point cb4life..."Now drop and give me 20!" :D
 
Because you asked
I compete in powerlifting at 148 and 165.
I am currently the #1 ranked Masters (over 40) lifter at 148 in the US.
My best recent lifts at 148 were at 2006 APF Masters Nationals.
The weights are approximate (in pounds/approximate because weights were in kg)
Squat 535, bench 355, deadlift 550, total 1444
Those are currently world records in my age and wt class
I am 47.
"Back in the Day" I was stronger. I have officially squatted and deadlifted well over 600 at 165.
Bench used to be my worst lift, and I am excited be I should hit my first official 400 at 165 on Sept 1.
 
Wow!
That is very impressive.
Unfortunately I just dropped a nut just reading those numbers. :eek:
Good luck on the First. :thumbup:
 
Are those lifts raw? Very impressive! :thumbup: I blew out my L5, and thus pissed off my sciatic nerves making full or Olympic squats really suck, unless I want my lower chest to go numb, and my right foot to get even more so. I can still "football" squat (half squat, slightly above parallel) with 405 for 10 though, and lock out rack squat 635. But I don't like to, as it feels like my spine gets "smooshed" and I'm really out of sorts for a couple days. Ass to ankles squats are gone forever :( My Deadlift is weird as well, I'm fine till 425, then I get pain in the groin area. I think my injury caused muscle imbalances, as I do bent rows with 265 for 5, at 5' 8" 162. I kinda had to give up on the power lifts, they are not healthy for my body anymore. Usually I just do bodyweight ass to ankles squats for legs, 100 a set for 5 sets. Got me in better shape for sure, but I feel weaker without the lower body weights sometimes. As for the abs, diet is most important, unless you have freaky great genetics.
 
They weren't raw, I wore clothes.:eek:
My bigger lifts were a while ago when gear wasn't an issue.
Phil, thanks, I have a shot, see what happens.
Samhain, Doing rows with 265 and pullig 425 at 162 is great. Congrats and hang in there. I herniated 2 disks at 1986 nationals. I can understand your back pain. When I squat 5+, my back seems to self-adjust. Not sure why and not sure I want to ask too many questions.
 
Bench used to be my worst lift, and I am excited be I should hit my first official 400 at 165 on Sept 1.
Best of luck to you!
I got up to 385 at 175, before having problems with my shoulder-my goal was 435, which obviously never happened. Never got over 365 after that, regardless of body weight.
And I was ~20 yrs. old at the time...at 47 that's just plain awesome.
Now I'm 36, and am rarely going over 225(on much of anything), even when I'm into it regular, and just do sets of 15+. You're giving me quite a bit of inspiration, and yours are spectacular numbers all around:thumbup:

Phil, sixpack aside, ab and lower back work is high priority for fitness, and avoiding injury. I've been working out since I was 13, and if I have a regret it's the years spent focusing on numbers and "show muscle" vs. 100% proper form, and working for overall heatlh, fitness and longevity.
lifter didn't elaborate on weightlifting for "normal people", but I do believe he meant resistance training in general, not powerlifting specifically. There are positive effects on your general well-being, metabolism, bone strength, and of course, your appearance. There's really not a downside.
 
PhiL- I don't do situp or crunches very often. While a six pack is nice, you'll never get one through situps if you have any sort of belly fat. Running and biking regularly has gotten me to the the point where there's some actual definition. When you run or bike, you'll feel those muscles getting worked after a period of time, and if you don't quit, it'll give your gut a plenty decent work out. However, I do leg raises on a regular basis.
 
I am 63 years old, 6'2" 185lbs.
I do 200 crunches and 75 full push ups every morning.
This has been my routine for the last 12 years.
I don't believe I have missed more than a dozen days in that time.
I teach a martial arts class for teens. They can be unmerciful. You want to be in shape.
Fred
 
I am 63 years old, 6'2" 185lbs.
I do 200 crunches and 75 full push ups every morning.
This has been my routine for the last 12 years.
I don't believe I have missed more than a dozen days in that time.
I teach a martial arts class for teens. They can be unmerciful. You want to be in shape.
Fred

O/T, what style fred?
 
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