Sit up with the bell, then punch it overhead.
Sit up with your abs, not a leg kick, and lock the press out at the top.
The sit up portion makes your abs curl your whole torso off the floor against the added weight of the bell held at your chest, which is a serious step up from bodyweight sit ups. Pressing at the top forces the core to keep you tall and balanced while the load travels overhead, so the trunk never gets a rep off. It earns its place as a simple way to load core flexion and add an overhead stability bonus in one move.
It is core first. The bell makes the sit up harder and the press at the top is a stability challenge for your trunk, so choose the weight based on what your abs can sit up with, not what you can press.
Slow the lowering phase and keep your feet quiet, if your legs kick or your heels slam you are cheating the abs. Anchor the feet lightly if needed, but the curl up should come from your midsection.
Lighter than your ego wants, the sit up under load surprises people. Start with a bell you can control for 8 to 10 smooth reps with a full press lockout, then build from there.
