How Many Sit Ups Should I Be Doing?

Is it wrong to use a blog to ask a dumb question?

No. No, it isn’t. It wont’ be the last time I do it, either.

A few weeks ago I had this picture taken on a particularly good ride to Todmorden and back with my longsuffering OH.

My Hydration Pack Has Slipped To The Front!

I wasn’t impressed.

So I’ve started doing a bit more work on my core. I know it helps balance and general agility and it will help me be a better rider, and less likely to fall off so much… into canals, for example.

Anyway…

I’m not looking to enter Mr Universe (what do you mean, you know?!) but I’m not happy about the size of my gut. I’m not really overweight, it’s a localised issue.

How many sit ups should a slightly wobbly-paunched man in his early 40s be doing, a couple of weeks after first starting to do them again?

And how often?

Tell me, please. Thanks!

9 comments on “How Many Sit Ups Should I Be Doing?”

One Loose Nut 17 June 2011

From the photo and “…on a particularly good ride to Todmorden and back with my longsuffering OH” I thought that OH referred to your Over Hang – hence the need to do sit ups.

That doesn’t help, does it?
Toby Field 17 June 2011

Sit ups will build core strength but they won’t get rid of the belly. Exercise and burning calories is what you need. Ride that bike more and eat less! lol.
Cyclingtwit 18 June 2011

Toby is right- core exercises don’t burn that fat, believe me I know! However ifyou do lots of different core exercises targeting different muscles you can tighten the underlying muscles and flatten it a bit. I stuck to 100 a day for 100 days – bit of a personal challenge- and it made a bit, but only a bit of a difference.
I’m sorry to say it, but look at your average cyclist and it’s a middle aged man with strong legs, skinny arms and a gut!
Clive Chapman 18 June 2011

The Toby Meister is absolutely correct mate.
Phill 18 June 2011

Thanks chaps!

Toby & Clive, fair enough, I do need more core strength though, so I’ll stick with the exercises and try to make sure the fat is hung on a firmer foundation! I’ll try to cut down on the bad eating too, but I think I have a very good diet. I’ll have a think about that.

Juan, my Over Hang, and my Hang Overs, are entirely separate from my OH 🙂
gary walder 20 June 2011

Hi Phil

I’ve the same issue. I really think I am quite fit and getting fitter, but the fat is not dropping off me at the rate I’d like. Interestingly, a friend of mine from Hong Kong who is THE fittest person I’ve ever met (http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/output/2006/01/17/story7936210t0.shtm), told me that more weight is lost during short, high intensity workouts as opposed to long, slow rides. He says the body tends to preserve energy over longer exercise periods. This is not what I would have thought, but since I’ve been following his advice, the weight has been coming off quicker (although not as quick as I would like).

On the other hand, as Clive and Toby suggest, eat less and do more–that recipe will always work!
Phill 20 June 2011

I’ve heard a lot about that approach recently, but my rides tend to be more for enjoyment than exercise, so the high intensity workouts tend not to fit into what I do.

At some point, I’m going to have to do some work specifically aimed at improving my fitness, rather than having the additional benefit of greater fitness as a bonus by-product of enjoying myself, as I’m doing now.

I think in the short term I’ll try to build some strength and see how I look. It’s not the weight that bothers me, it’s becoming a paunchy middle-aged looking bloke! 🙂
Jon 21 June 2011

There’s some great items on QVC that will convert you to Mr Universe in the space of 28 days, or your money back!

BTW have you not installed instagram on your phone? There might be an anamorphic filter that will help with shots like that!! (rotated 90deg!) :-)*

*not that I have any room to talk. I’m a gazillion miles behind you this year on the cycling front 🙁
@phillconnell 21 June 2011

Ha ha yeah, I’m not sure I can cope with ripped abs in 28 days or my money back! 😉 Maybe instagram is the way to go – if I can’t lose my gut, I’ll edit photos! 🙂

Hope you get back on the bike soon Jon, it’ll be nice to see you out and about before it’s winter and you’re just a torch beam again!