There's a right way to do sit-ups

I used to be one of you. I'd slave away, doing set after set of crunches, knowing I was working my abdominals, yet seeing minimal results. I'd heard that during Alias, Jennifer Garner did 1000 crunches everyday. Sure, I wasn't doing that many, but I was pretty fit ... and pretty discouraged.

Pilates has changed my point of view on sit-ups, and it has also changed my shape for the better. My posture has improved, my tummy is flatter, my waist is cinched in -- all because I do crunches the Stott Pilates way.

Want to know the secret?

If you are going for the six-pack, you are working your rectus abdominus muscles, the outer muscles of your abdomen. What you really want to do is work the inner muscles, your core: the transversus and the obliques. And you can do this with one small change to your crunch technique.

Instead of curving your lower back as you crunch up, keep it in neutral, which means the small of your back will not touch the floor; it will remain with the slight curve that you naturally have when standing up. As you make this change, watch your tummy and see the difference. If you curve your back, your stomach pops out because you are using the outer muscles. If you are doing it right and using the core muscles, your tummy will flatten as you crunch up.

Aim for the core and improve your posture and flatten that tummy. You'll notice the difference, I assure you.