PUSH UPS...Do they work?

Monroe121

Hiya,

Looking to tone these (wings) I mean arms of mine. Started a push up challenge for 30 days. Do you think this is effective? If not, care to share some arm toning exercises?! Please.

Thanks!
Roe

Cherimoose

Well, pushups will build up the muscle there, but it won't target the fat layer covering it, which i think is what you're trying to do. Spot-reduction is a myth, unfortunately.

Strength training is definitely good to include in any fitness plan, but not just pushups. Go with a full-body program, like Fitness Blender, Nerd Fitness, NROL4W, etc.

By the way, good strength programs don't work the same muscles on consecutive days.. unlike "challenges", which have caused overtraining injuries.

sijomial

Push ups are a good exercise but only working certain groups of muscles - so a good part of an overall program but an unbalanced routine if you aren't doing any "pull" exercises.

Not a fan of those challenges - I did a 100 push up challenge and the volume plus lack of recovery caused injury.

If you have "wings" due to too much fat then it's a calorie deficit that will reduce it not any specific exercise.

jessef593

You can't spot reduce fat. Unless you're losing total body fat percentage then you won't see any difference. I do suspended knee to chests while doing push-ups on an upside down bosu ball. That is a a very good push-up/ab combination if you're looking for a push-up that works, the stabilizer muscles being involved make it quite a workout.

Monroe121

Thank you so much. Away with the challenges. LOL

sijomial wrote: »

Push ups are a good exercise but only working certain groups of muscles - so a good part of an overall program but an unbalanced routine if you aren't doing any "pull" exercises.

Not a fan of those challenges - I did a 100 push up challenge and the volume plus lack of recovery caused injury.

If you have "wings" due to too much fat then it's a calorie deficit that will reduce it not any specific exercise.

Monroe121

Thank you so much for the information. I will look at some of those programs. :-)

Cherimoose wrote: »

Well, pushups will build up the muscle there, but it won't target the fat layer covering it, which i think is what you're trying to do. Spot-reduction is a myth, unfortunately.

Strength training is definitely good to include in any fitness plan, but not just pushups. Go with a full-body program, like Fitness Blender, Nerd Fitness, NROL4W, etc.

By the way, good strength programs don't work the same muscles on consecutive days.. unlike "challenges", which have caused overtraining injuries.

Monroe121

Thank you. This exercise sounds super interesting!

jessef593 wrote: »

You can't spot reduce fat. Unless you're losing total body fat percentage then you won't see any difference. I do suspended knee to chests while doing push-ups on an upside down bosu ball. That is a a very good push-up/ab combination if you're looking for a push-up that works, the stabilizer muscles being involved make it quite a workout.

Ws2016

"suspended knee to chests while doing push-ups on an upside down bosu ball."

Oh boy, a new torture for me to try.

tugsandpulls760

Monroe121 wrote: »

Hiya,

Looking to tone these (wings) I mean arms of mine. Started a push up challenge for 30 days. Do you think this is effective? If not, care to share some arm toning exercises?! Please.

Thanks!
Roe

ask a thousand people that did miltary boot camp yup they work

quietandmildspirit

I do push-ups on my kitchen counter while I watch my cooking. Definitely makes a difference!

randomtai

No. You cannot spot reduce.

quietandmildspirit

You are out of your mind if you say push ups are'nt worth it. The proof is in the pudding. Two inches of my arms that I did'nt have just cycling and eating at a deficit loosing 1/2 pound to a pound a week.

randomtai

quietandmildspirit wrote: »

You are out of your mind if you say push ups are'nt worth it. The proof is in the pudding. Two inches of my arms that I did'nt have just cycling and eating at a deficit loosing 1/2 pound to a pound a week.

:huh: Could it have been your calorie deficit?

quietandmildspirit

You tell me. I did'nt loose the inches before I started the push-ups.

randomtai

quietandmildspirit wrote: »

You tell me. I did'nt loose the inches before I started the push-ups.

Yup counter top push ups are the end all for muscles. All that hard work I was doing was for nothing. :laugh: :yawn:

Monroe121

quietandmildspirit wrote: »

I do push-ups on my kitchen counter while I watch my cooking. Definitely makes a difference!

Lol, Thank you!!! I'll have to try that.

Monroe121

Cutaway_Collar wrote: »

Pushups are more like stamina and resistance building exercises. They don't make you buff or reduce fat considerably. You will definitely feel stronger.

Thank you for saying that.

Monroe121

quietandmildspirit wrote: »

You are out of your mind if you say push ups are'nt worth it. The proof is in the pudding. Two inches of my arms that I did'nt have just cycling and eating at a deficit loosing 1/2 pound to a pound a week.

Hahahah Thank you!

Spliner1969

Push-Ups are definitely worth it. If you can't do them, try incline (someone mentioned counter top push-ups) push ups. I now do both type, regular push ups about 3x a week, and incline push ups during my daily training (mostly for toning and cardio benefit). The strength gains are more from the regular push ups, although I noticed quite a bit of improvement when I was first doing incline push-ups. I can't see building huge arms with the incline versions, but you can work your way up to normal push ups and eventually to decline versions as well.

ARGriffy

Just fyi you can't spot reduce no, but my chubby arms were the last thing to tone up and it's not been until I filled them with muscle that they've stopped looking so chubby!

justincooper405

I love push ups ... I love any body weight exercise. I like to do push ups in between sets when I'm lifting and working my chest.

Adding muscle to your arms will help with thier appearance. And as said earlier the best way for toning up is full body workouts, resistance training. Your arms may tone up first, they may tone up last but eventually they will.