Which is better for the abs, sit ups or crunches?

hey hun....crunches are if you do em' right....the key to it is make sure you blow the air out of your mouth when you crunch up and hold the contraction for 3 seconds then relax BUT! (now here's the trick) when you start to lay your head back down don't let it touch the floor! that's right you need to keep your abs some what contracted the whole time if you can that way they get a good burn and not just a good stretch when you crunch...i like to use ankle weights (not every time mind ya) to help me feel more of a burn like when im doing reverse curls or leg lifts to get that maximum burn goin...the reason im against setups is you get as much of a work out doin crunches (if done correctly) then you do setups and you put a lot less strain on your back in the process...so remember ta just set realistic goals for yourself and if you can't do a lot at first that's OK!...it's the little changes that makes the biggest difference! and have fun with it....e mail me any time if ya wonna talk more hun....love daisy

The people are right on crunches ,the sit up is hard on the back but the best ab work is the hanging leg raise.

I second the Dogpreachers answer...if you are looking to sculpt the abs, crunches are the way to go.

If you are not accoustomed to doing crunches, try starting out doing them on one of those big balance balls. They will help cushion your back and the extra work you use balaning is also good for you. In fact, there are many, many great ab exercising you can do with a ball, all of which are gentle on the back. Try sittingon the ball and then rolling downward, inching your feet out until your knees are at a 90 degree angle and the ball in centered at your lower back. Now, raise your head and shoulders up. You can cross your arms over your chest, put them behind your head or, if you are just getting started, keep them out in front and aim the tips of your fingers towards your knees.

For floor crunches, my trainer started me out on my back, on the floor withmy knees bent so my feet were flat on the floor. I had my hands on the ground, palms down and would basically slide my hands downward and raise just my head and shoulders off the ground. That is a good beginning crunch, probably only effective if you are just starting out.

Good luck and take care of yourself!

There both good. Sit ups tend to work the extended muscles of the abs and the crunches tend to word the flexor muscles of the abs. You need to do both for good definition

Good Luck

CERA

Sit ups actually work very little of the abs. They primarily work the hip flexors and are bad for your back.

Crunches (regular and reverse) are the way to go.

Don't do those exercises you mentioned the old fashioned way- on the floor. Try the exercise ball, it really works your core area and there are so many different ways to work your abs while on that ball. It's really cool.

Combination of both

I thought they were the same