Sit Up - Weighted With Bands

Recommendations: 2-3 Sets, 10-15 Reps

Beginner Abdominals Hip Flexors Strength Band Decline Bench Pull Gym Home

Purpose: Sit up exercises strengthen the upper abdominal muscles.

Benefits: Sit up exercises will give you a well-defined mid-section.

Attach two exercise bands of equal tension under the head end of the decline bench. Lie on a decline bench with your feet under the restraining bar. Hold the band handles against your shoulders with the palms towards your body. This is the starting position. Slowly raise your shoulders and upper back by contracting your abs until you are upright. Exhale during this movement. Hold this position for 2-3 seconds. Slowly return to the starting position. Inhale during this movement. Repeat for the recommended number of repetitions.


The abs can be divided into the abdominals themselves and the obliques. The obliques are the outer abs and are used in twisting movements. For the sake of exercising, the abdominals are sometimes divided into upper abs and lower abs (this is not a technical division but something for exercising). Both upper and lower abs are used in straight line ab exercises while the upper abs are also involved in twisting movements.

Step 1

Lie on your back on a decline bench holding exercise band handles at your shoulder.

sit-up-weighted-with-bands-step-0

Attach two exercise bands of equal tension under the head end of the decline bench. Lie on a decline bench with your feet under the restraining bar. Hold the band handles against your shoulders with the palms towards your body. This is the starting position.

Step 2

Slowly raise your shoulders and upper back. Pause.

sit-up-weighted-with-bands-step-1

Slowly raise your shoulders and upper back by contracting your abs until you are upright. Exhale during this movement. Hold this position for 2-3 seconds.

Step 3

Return to the starting position.

sit-up-weighted-with-bands-step-2

Slowly return to the starting position. Inhale during this movement. Lie on a decline bench with your feet under the restraining bar. Hold the band handles against your shoulders with the palms towards your body.