Need to double sit ups!

[Sam Blake]

My sit ups have always been weak.
Im about to be in a situation where Im going to need to do about 4 sets of 25 push ups and sit ups ( unsupported ) on a regular basis, a couple of times a day.
Ive been practicing frequently for months, and still start struggling around # 17 on each set. There is no getting around the number of reps or the form, unsupported, shoulders on the ground, hands cupped behind the ears, all the way up, elbows to the knees.
Im 24 167lbs 5' 11". Any thoughts, pyramid workouts, plans , ect ? My max in 1 min supported is 47.

HELP!

[Jason Lopez-Ota]

Try impossible or atomic situps.

Seriously try some weighted and other variations.

[George Mounce]

I'd PM Skip Chase - he's a world record holder for sit-ups.

Read this: http://www.board.crossfit.com/showthread.php?t=21635

[Frank C Ollis]

Sam, hit up George's advice for sure.

Also, you should consider going to an affiliate for some help. You may be doing something wrong bio-mechanically.

For someone your age/weight/and how much work you have put into it, 2+2 is not =4. You are having some core strength issues.

[Sam Blake]

Thanks for your help,

Im willing to try anything to get them up there.

Sam

[Donn Lampost]

Sam, since 17 reps is your max, begin performing 1 set of 8 sit ups throughout the day. Once an hour would be ideal, but 5-6 times will work. After 2 weeks, test your maximum. I think you will be pleased with your growth.

[Leonid Soubbotine]

What's your squat and deadlift max? Having a high squat and dl will help you tremendously with situps.

Also you can try Recon Ron pullup program (just do it with pushups and situps). I've been doing it with pullups and kb presses - works very well!

[Jay Cohen]

Sam;
Buy an Abmat, leave it laying in plain sight. Do 10 every time you walk by it or at least a few times a day. Do knee to elbows on pull up bar, do OHS, Plank, Turkish Get Up, yada yada yada, and oh ya, do Squats and Dead Lifts as mentioned.

In time, you'll be a beast.

Another rant, sorry, way to much coffee today.

[William Hutson]

Try tabata situps. 8 sets, 20 secs per set, 10 second rest.

Or any program with a series of situps and FIXED rest periods in between, not exceeding 30 seconds of rest.

[Ryan Blake]

To piggyback of Donn-

If you have a sportswatch with a countdown timer set it on thirty minutes and every time it goes off do a set push-ups and sit-ups. Start out slow (10, 15, or whatever) and go up 2-3 reps a set each week. It doesnt seem like a lot but they add up and you are practicing what you will need to be doing anyway. Stay committed to it, if you are in the supermarket or someplace where you cant do a set add it to the next one or drop down there and laugh at the looks you will get. Even if you only do it for 8 hours a day it is a lot of volume and hopefully you will see improvement. Good luck.