Barbell Sit Up

The barbell sit up loads a movement that bodyweight work runs out of quickly. Holding a bar across the chest adds resistance to trunk flexion, and pressing it overhead at the top of each repetition turns the exercise into a combination of core work and an overhead press from an unstable position. The abdominals do the work of lifting the torso while the shoulders and triceps handle the press, and the transition between the two demands more coordination than either on its own. Start considerably lighter than you expect, since the bar sits far from the hips and the leverage against the abdominals is unforgiving. Keep the chin off the chest and let the movement come from the trunk rather than from pulling the head forward, which is the fault that turns this into a neck exercise.