Anaerobic exercises are intensive activities that build muscle mass through tension. Anaerobic exercises include weightlifting and using strength machines and your own body weight to create resistance. Therefore, sit-ups and crunches are considered anaerobic. A regular strength training program can help you decrease body fat, increase lean muscle mass, burn calories and promote weight loss. Performing sit-ups daily may help you lose weight in a week.
To properly execute sit-ups, lie on your back and place your hands behind your head or across your chest. Bend your knees and firmly place your feet on the ground. Tuck your chin into your chest and elevate your shoulders and upper back off the floor. Upon meeting your knees, briefly maintain the position to maximize resistance. Return to the starting position and repeat. To prevent injury, it is important to avoid arching your back during this movement.
KidsHealth.org defines a calorie as a unit of energy. Calories are essential for your body to operate correctly. Calories are gained from the food and drinks you consume. Unfortunately, if you don’t burn them off with exercise, they will be transformed into fat, leading to weight gain. Excessive fat can dramatically increase the chance you will develop a disease or suffer from other grave health conditions.
Your pulse, commonly referred to as your heart rate, is the number of times your heart beats per minute. Your heart rate will rise, and calories will be burned, when doing sit-ups. If you weigh 150 lb. and perform sit-ups at a moderate pace for an hour, HealthStatus.com reports you can expect to burn approximately 306 calories. A moderate pace is regarded as completing 100 sit-ups in about 1.6 to 3.3 minutes.
Conversely, if you weigh more, additional calories will be burnt. At 250 lb., you will burn roughly 510 calories executing the identical exercise. If you maintain a nutritious diet, and regularly do sit-ups, you may burn more calories than you consume. Therefore, you could potentially lose a couple of pounds in a week with a regular sit-up routine.
Sit-ups are a difficult exercise, and you should consult a doctor prior to starting a new workout regimen.