Conference rocks::weight_control

	Piece of junk.
    
    	The rocking motion takes effort out of the sit-up, and you can
    cushion your tailbone with a towel or strategically placed hands.
    
    -mike z

    I am replying to my own note....I started usually it (not long
    enough to see results - only 2 days) but I definitely feel sore
    in both my upper abdominals and in my lower abdominals (but more
    so in the upper).  I didn't feel that the rocking motion took the
    effort out of the situps because if it did I wouldn't feel as sore 
    as I do!  
    
    It was comfortable doing the situps with the Abdomenizer vs. on
    the floor.  Now if I can just keep up the motivation (which is 
    the key factor in any exercise program!).
    
    P.S.  The abdomenizer lists about 2 exercises for beginners,
          intermediates, and advanced.
    
    Nancy 

	The proper way to do a sit up, if you listen to IDEA, the
    International Dance and Exercise Association, is :
    
    
    	Lie on the ground, legs together and bent at the knees, feet
    flat on the ground, about 1 foot away from buttocks.
    
    	Consciously press the small of your back down to the floor in
    preparation - you should make an effort to hold it down to the floor
    all the while you are doing situps.
    
    	Hands can be held in many places, 1 will result in the most
    difficult sit up, 4 the least difficult :
    
	    	1. Behind the head, elbows back
    		2. Crossed at the chest
	    	3. Crossed at the abdomen
    		4. By your side
    
    	Wherever they are, they should not be used for momentum on the
    way up, this only makes the motion less uniform and you may strain
    a muscle.
    
    	Focus on 1 point on the ceiling while still lying down.
    
    	As you come up, tilt your head and shoulders BACK*.
    
    	As you return down, tilt your head back to its normal position.
    
    	This should be done SLOWLY and IN CONTROL!   <- very important!
    
    
    	This motion will isolate the abdominals while removing all tension
    on the back muscles.
    
    	Remember to keep your lower pack pressed down to the floor the
    whole time, this will also help you maintain tension in the abdominals
    and make for a better workout.
    
    -mike z

    * Tilting the head forward adds tension to the back muscles and removes
       it from the lower abdominals.  This motion is called a crunch.
       It does not work the upper abdominals any better than the motion
       IDEA proposes, and it works the lower abdominals LESS.

    
    	Mike,
    
    	How recent is this information from IDEA ?  I just got my AFAA
    	Certification in August, and this contradicts two things we were
    	told.  One, never hyperflex the neck in any movement.  Two, keep
    	good body alignment in all exercises.  Proper alignment for the
    	head in a sit-up would be "a natural extension of the spine", 
    	meaning it neither tilts backward nor forward, but rather lifts as
        as the spine lifts.  The abdominals should still be isolated in
        this type of sit-up.
    
    	Karen
    

.4>    	How recent is this information from IDEA ?  I just got my AFAA
    
    	Maybe a year old.
    
    
.4>    	told.  One, never hyperflex the neck in any movement.  Two, keep

    	There is flexion, not hyperflexion, it's a natural motion.
    
    
    -mike z

	Keep in mind that depending on who you listen to, you can
    get contradictory information re: exercise kinetics.
    
    	Personally, I think IDEA is better than AFAA, they certainly
    are more demanding in their certification and education seminars.
    
    	I do not mean to imply tha AFAA is all wet, just that they
    are overly cautious, and they are behind IDEA in terms of judging
    movements for safety.
    
    	There is some dicussion of AFAA vs IDEA in AEROBICS.
    
    	Check it out!
    
    -mike z

    
    	I prefer not to debate the two organizations.  I personally
    	chose AFAA because I wanted the "Practical" experience (having
    	never taught before).  I feel both organizations strive to provide
    	the most current information available from the Industry, and both
    	have lots to offer.  You choose what works for you.
    
    	I still believe that the head should be a natural extension of
    	the spine during a sit-up, because that is what I was told
    	(verbatim!) and shown. 
    
                                                           

    Hi,
    
    It's me again the person who wrote the orignal note about the
    Abdomenizer...a word of caution - be careful how you do your
    situps - I obviously didn't tuck my neck in the right way (although
    I thought I was doing it right) because I was so sore yesterday
    in the neck and back - I first thought I was coming down with
    the flu!!
    
    Again, read the directions carefully.
    
    Nancy

.9>    situps - I obviously didn't tuck my neck in the right way (although
.9>    I thought I was doing it right) because I was so sore yesterday
.9>    in the neck and back - I first thought I was coming down with

    	Tucking your head down will only aggravate that situation.
    
    	Do not tilt the head down (chin towards the chest) if you have
    any back pain, that ADDS tension to the back muscles.
    
    -mike z

    After reading thru all these notes about the "how to" of sit ups, I
    was surprised that I didn't come across the one thing that *I've*
    always been told about situps....  and this is the cure for getting
    a sore tailbone...  DON'T SIT ALL THE WAY UP!  Keeping in mind to 
    concentrate on keeping your lower back flat on the floor, just bring
    your head and shoulders up off the floor about 6 inches..  rolling
    up slightly, but not with your chin in your chest.  knees should be
    bent and hands can either be behind your head (but not supporting
    your head) or straight out in front of you, crossed at the chest,
    or actually whatever is most comfortable for you.  the the key is,
    you don't have to come all the way up to a sitting position.  believe
    me, you'll still get the same workout in the abdominals, but you won't
    have a sore tailbone!  these situps can be done slowly or you can pick
    up the pace a bit... i don't think it really matters...
    
    try it!
    
    peggy

.11>    After reading thru all these notes about the "how to" of sit ups, I
.11>    was surprised that I didn't come across the one thing that *I've*
.11>    always been told about situps....  and this is the cure for getting
.11>    a sore tailbone...  DON'T SIT ALL THE WAY UP!  Keeping in mind to 
.11>    concentrate on keeping your lower back flat on the floor, just bring

    	You obviously missed this ...

.3>    	Consciously press the small of your back down to the floor in
.3>    preparation - you should make an effort to hold it down to the floor
.3>    all the while you are doing situps.
    [ ... ]
.3>    	Remember to keep your lower pack pressed down to the floor the
.3>    whole time, this will also help you maintain tension in the abdominals

    -mike z

.11>    always been told about situps....  and this is the cure for getting
.11>    a sore tailbone...  DON'T SIT ALL THE WAY UP!  Keeping in mind to 
.11>    concentrate on keeping your lower back flat on the floor, just bring

    	You obviously missed this ...

-------

	YOU obvoiusly missed the point I was trying to make....

	The point was NOT the importance of keeping your lower back
	pressed to the floor...  BUT, NOT SITTING ALL THE WAY UP!
	You get just a much out of a sit up WITHOUT coming all the
	way up to a sitting position and risking injuring the
	tailbone...  that wasn't made clear in your note....

	

.13>	The point was NOT the importance of keeping your lower back
.13>	pressed to the floor...  BUT, NOT SITTING ALL THE WAY UP!
    
    	If you keep your lower back pressed to the floor, you cannot
    sit up all the way.
    
    	I'm assuming normal human anatomy.

        
.13>    tailbone...  that wasn't made clear in your note....

    	Perhaps you're right.
    
    -mike z

    Folks,
    
    	Nancy wanted your opinions on the "Abdomenizer".  She provided
    	the only feed back regarding the thing.  Everyone else debated
    	on the proper way to do situps *without* one.
    
    	Let's get back to the topic at hand.  Is it junk or not ?
    	Have *thousands* of people been had ?!?!?
    
    	Tess
    

    
.15>    	Nancy wanted your opinions on the "Abdomenizer".  She provided
.15>    	the only feed back regarding the thing.  Everyone else debated
 [ ... ]
.15>    	Let's get back to the topic at hand.  Is it junk or not ?

    	See .1.

-mike z

    Re .15 (Tess)
    
    Thanks for trying to get us back to the original topic regarding
    the Abdomenizer...
    
    Am I the only person who was "suckered" into buying this?  I
    think it WILL work if you give it a chance - I just haven't been
    motivated to do situps (with all the earthquakes we're having!!
    I know....excuses, excuses!
    
    Come On....let's hear from other people who bought one and what
    their opinions are.
    
    
    Nancy
    
    

    
    	I just read in UFP::FLEX (note 117, replies 12,13) that the
    	abdomenizer HELPS you do sit-ups (ie. minimizes the work) and
    	also may be potentially damaging to the back.
    
    	I'd discontinue use at the first sign of back soreness (actually,
    	I'd opt for regular abdominal work without any 'equipment', except
    	perhaps an incline board).
    
    	Karen