Start by laying on your back and bring your legs up so that they are in an upside down V position. Then place your hands behind your head. Be sure that when you are doing situps or crunches that you do not put your hands behing your neck and pull. This will cause stress on your lower back and cause pain. Instead, lightly place your hands behind your head and let your abdominal muscles do the work.

Now keep your elbows out and sit yourself up nice and slowly while breathing out. Focus on your stomach muscles and let them contract. Be sure that when you sit-up and come down that you are doing it slowly and not in a jerking motion.