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When you start to put together your own home fitness program, you will inevitably be confronted with the issue of Sit-Ups. Nobody really likes doing Sit-Ups and they seem like such and old-fashioned exercise. Surely there is some new high tech device that will let us skip this old school method of strengthening abdominal muscles.

We've all seen the television infomercials for various ab exercisers. These commercial promise you a thin stomach and six-pack abs in less than 30 days. Some of these gadgets may actually help you with your form, but none of them are capable of performing miracles. Ultimately, it's just another piece of junk that will end up laying around on your floor. You should only buy one of these devices if you want to waste money while procrastinating about something you really should be doing -- SIT UPS!

THE UNFORTUNATE TRUTH ABOUT SIT-UPS

Before we get started with our Sit-Up Tips, we should address something important: Sit-Ups will not make you thin. If you've got a beer belly or a significant amount of excess stomach fact, Sit-Ups are not going to help you get rid of it. When you exercise, your body burns calories, but you don't get to pick which of your fat deposits it chooses from.

If you want to get rid of body fat, you've got to burn calories. Lots of them. Your abdominal muscles are relatively small. This means that you are going to burn a minimal amount of calories while doing Sit Ups. If you want to get rid of that fat quickly, you should investigate a meal replacement or caloric reduction plan. You should also probably take up running.

Despite the low amount of calories you'll be burning, abdominal exercises are a crucial aspect of any home fitness plan. They will strengthen your core, which will ultimately help you with all of your other physical activities. Having a strong core will even help you be a better (and less injury prone) runner.

5 SECRETS TO ULTIMATE SIT-UPS

Sit-Ups are so simple, it seems like there's no way to screw them up. But here are a few tips to ensure you are making the most of your exercise time.

1. Lie on your back on a padded surface. If you are exercising on hardwood floors, use a beach towel or yoga mat so that you have a soft surface. While keeping your feet flat, bend your knees to approximately a 90 degree angle.
2. Hand placement depends on how much abdominal strength you possess. As a rule, the closer you bring your hands to your head, the more you are exercising your abdominal muscles. Beginners should start with their hands on the floor to their sides. An intermediate step would be to cross your arms against your chest. Once you have built up more abdominal strength, put your hands behind your head - but DO NOT interlock your fingers or pull on your head while performing the Sit-Up. Doing this may cause strain on your neck and back and will reduce the amount of benefit your abs are receiving.
3. Pull yourself up towards your knees - exhaling as you do so. This will exercise your core muscles. Don't inhale while you are in the Sit-Up portion of the exercise as this can cause strain to the lower back.
4. Midway into to the sit-up - when you are about 6-12 inches above the floor, hold the position and flex your abs. Hold this position momentarily before curling back towards the floor.
5. Keep your abdominal muscles taut and lower yourself back down until you are lightly touching the floor with your head and upper back. This isn't time to rest, so move immediately back into the next Sit-Up. You can lay all the way down when you have completed your set.

If you follow these simple guidelines, Sit-Ups can be a vital part of your home fitness routine. Sit-Ups are a vital and simple way to strengthen your abdominal muscles. angelplayground playground swing