[benchmarkman]

So recently I decided I want to work my abs some. I came to this very sad reality when I found out I can't even do 1 freaking sit up. When I was fat I was able to easily d0 60 sit ups in a minute. I've started trying ab exercises but most require some kind of leg movement and I can't do them either because I have no strength in my legs

I tried all of these excercises but can't do them because I can't either strech or lift my legs for the amount of time required because the legs are too weak.

Any suggestions for a pathetic loser?

http://health.msn.com/fitness/womens...2252&gt1=31036

http://health.msn.com/fitness/articl...1013&gt1=31036

[KDuffer]

How about starting with some basic crunches? Come up as little or as much as you can and over time you should be able to do more. Also, regular frontal planks (the website you posted shows side planks which are harder). Hold the plank position as long as you can and repeat for several sets.

[canadianangel]

i had the same problem when i started out. I found that doing crunchs on a exercise ball made it alot easier...

ang

[mandalinn82]

You can do this - you just have to build your way up!

Crunches on a ball are great. There are also resistance band curls you can do by attaching a band to a high point on a doorframe and kneeling, then curling against the resistance of the band. You can work your side obliques with standing or prone curls. Even knee lifts will work your abs to a certain degree, due to the lifting you have to do to get your knee up.

[quiffy]

Heck, when I started.. I was doing Neck Ups and working on just rolling over using my core rather than momentum. Now, I do tons of ab stuff. My trainer has me doing 100 ball crunchs a day with 3 lbs weight held at neck level - up to 500 a week. The last 2 times, I was actually able to get all 100 in one set.

With all that said, I still can not really do the plank. I try periodically and sometimes I can get 5-10secs and other times, I can't even get into correct form. I started working towards the plank, by holding myself in knee push up position, then full pushup position.

It really is baby steps to strength. Start where you are and do what you can. Next thing you know, you'll go to move in a certain way and you'll be using those abs you thought you didn't have.

Also, those legs/hip flexers, will get stronger as you work them as well. Try the heel slide and straight leg raises in: http://www.fairview.org/healthlibrar...liopso_art.htm
or the stability ball hip flexion: http://www.fitnessthatfits.net/exercises.html

My newest ball exercise is a quad pulse - similar to the leg press on this page but putting feet much closer in and only moving about 2 inches rather than full range of motion http://exercise.about.com/library/blbeginnerball.htm - I'm working towards squats and lunges but my hips and quads are not strong enough for my current weight.