Hello. I am trying to lose some weight and while I can do regular sit ups at home, I can't at work...

To be clear, Sometimes at work I get moved from a cash register to the people greeter post at Wal-Mart. I only work overnights, so when it starts getting slow I can start doing other things at the front. I clean up and move carts forward, but that only lasts so long.

I wear ankle weights usually (5 lbs each) and for the past couple nights I've removed them and lifted them like dumbbells (curls)... Today I noticed some results from the lifting, but I want to work on other areas as well.

So I would like to know if there is a good alternative to sit-ups that I can perform while standing, and without any equipment... Even something that works more or less than sit-ups but gives similar results...

I suppose I could use my ankle weights as equipment if weight is required, but I can't use a resistance band or anything...

Thanks for any advice, even if my request is absurd and unrealistic, thanks for any insight. :)

This is a no brainer,solid, basically you stand and do whatever you want to do while pulling your stomach muscles in. Try it sitting, you can do this driving your car, while on your bike, while walking. Start with as many reps as you like and keep on doing them. Mind you, this is not a whole exercise but an addition to the harder crunches you do when working out.

I have always found this works for me. It is similar to kegels.

Tick

Thanks for the advice. I honestly hadn't thought of that... Any recommendation on like, duration? As in; how long should I pull in the muscles to count as one rep?

Start with twenty and work up, remember not to hold your breath while doing them. I am doing them right now sitting at the computer. Works great.

Tick

One of the big myths of fitness is that sit-ups and crunches give you a flat tummy. By all means do them, but the abs are quite a small muscle group, and don't burn many calories when you exercise them.

The king of all exercises is the squat. And this is one you can easily do at work. Do it body weight, or with whatever weight is handy. When you get good, do it with a weight over your head, or do it with one leg at a time. Also lunges and stiffleg deadlifts and deadlifts.

An interesting thing is that heavy barbell squats actually work the abs harder than crunches do.

Thanks for a different opinion. I have read that sit-ups don't do much, but building muscle period is supposed to help increase metabolism and thus, kill calories... (I know it's not killing calories, just saying... lol) I figure, the more muscle I have, and the more I work them, the more calories I will burn all day long...

Lifting weights and building muscle is something I haven't done above the knee... lol. I was in my High School track team for a semester, but got discouraged because I only lost around 10 pounds. I was only running and throwing shot-put and discus... Not lifting weights at all (I was too lazy). I've only recently decided to take things more seriously and try something new.

My main goal is to lose enough weight (about 100 lbs) to join the Air Force. I know that this won't happen overnight. It took me 4.5 months to lose 10 lbs just running... So I'm in it for the long haul...

Any other recommendations are much appreciated. I will definitely be trying everything that gets posted as an answer. Thanks!

With a lot of weight to lose, you need to look at your diet as well. It's virtually impossible to exercise off that amount of weight.

Base your diet on fresh whole foods, and cut out the empty calorie food. Cut out the white carbs: sugar, bread, pasta, rice, potatoes. Also fruit juice, box breakfast cereals, ready meals, processed foods. Base your diet on oily fish, whole eggs, fresh meat (not deli), chicken, lots and lots and lots of green vegetables, olive oil, dairy, nuts and seeds. Some whole fruit (not juice or smoothies) and small amounts of wholegrains.

And yes, building muscle is a really good idea.