How good are pushups for you?

karmac0matic
karmac0matic Posts: 285
in Fitness and Exercise
I'm just curious because I set my goal at 5 sets of 16 a day (regular pushups). And I want to know if I'm even benefitting from that? Do I need to do more? Less? Different stuff? I already do jogging every day/elliptical when I can get to the gym in place of jogging.

Thanks in advance!

Replies

  • jason_adams
    jason_adams Posts: 187 Member
    Push-ups are great!!!

    If you're benefiting from them... harder to say. How difficult is it for you to complete 5 sets of 16? If you're spreading your 5 sets across the day, you'll want the last 1 or 2 of each set to be challenging. If you're doing all 5 sets together with a short rest (< 2 mins) in between sets, you'll want to have the last few reps of your last set be very difficult.

    To make it harder you can:
    - increase reps / set
    - increase # of sets
    - decrease rest time
    - vary how far apart your hands are
    - try push-up variations (incline, decline, plyometric)
  • ErnestDecker
    ErnestDecker Posts: 19
    Benefits of push ups-
    1. Push-ups are a compound exercise
    2. Enjoy the benefits of a nice stretch
    3. Push-ups boost your cardiovascular health
    4. Push-ups increase your body’s production of human growth hormone, or HGH
    5. Push-ups protect your body from injury
    6. Improve posture
  • HardyGirl4Ever
    HardyGirl4Ever Posts: 1,017 Member
    I agree, they are great! They're REALLY helping me build strength in my arms that I didn't have, and they also help work your core!
  • MityMax96
    MityMax96 Posts: 5,778 Member
    I like push-ups....
    They kill my wrists if I do them flat on the floor, so I got push-up bars, and those help a ton.
  • looseseal
    looseseal Posts: 216 Member
    For variation you could try hindu pushups.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdraWNVARp8#t=68
  • heysarge13
    heysarge13 Posts: 403 Member
    Everyone has had some great insight so far. But one thing I do to test my progress it to see how many I can complete within 2 minutes. Then adjust my workouts after that to improve my performance.
  • CaddieMay
    CaddieMay Posts: 356 Member
    Do they build muscle? I am working on trying to do at least ONE pushup, since I've never been able to. I want to build muscle, but I don't have access to weights right now. Will pushups help?
  • Ilikelamps
    Ilikelamps Posts: 482 Member
    Benefits of push ups-
    1. Push-ups are a compound exercise
    2. Enjoy the benefits of a nice stretch
    3. Push-ups boost your cardiovascular health
    4. Push-ups increase your body’s production of human growth hormone, or HGH
    5. Push-ups protect your body from injury
    6. Improve posture

    This guy was sent to the earth specifically to do push ups.

    They're a good body weight exercise ya
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    Are we talking about bras, pops or exercise?
  • Apple31415
    Apple31415 Posts: 98 Member
    I love pushups for all the reasons mentioned. Especially like varying hand position and incline/decline. Beach body? nah - I'm shooting for the Prison Yard body!
  • Myhaloslipped
    Myhaloslipped Posts: 4,317 Member
    I love them. It took me forever to do them without having to be on my knees, but now I can do about 4 sets of 10.
  • runner475
    runner475 Posts: 1,236 Member
    Push-ups are great!!!

    If you're benefiting from them... harder to say. How difficult is it for you to complete 5 sets of 16? If you're spreading your 5 sets across the day, you'll want the last 1 or 2 of each set to be challenging. If you're doing all 5 sets together with a short rest (< 2 mins) in between sets, you'll want to have the last few reps of your last set be very difficult.

    To make it harder you can:
    - increase reps / set
    - increase # of sets
    - decrease rest time
    - vary how far apart your hands are
    - try push-up variations (incline, decline, plyometric)

    +1.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,992 Member
    One of the best body weight exercises to do. And there are so many variations that one can always challenge themselves. I've almost got the AZTEC push up mastered to do 8.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • CitizenXVIII
    CitizenXVIII Posts: 117 Member
    I'm a big believer in the humble push up. One of the best bang-for-your-buck exercises there is. To the OP doing 5x16, have a look at hundredpushups.com. They have a 3xweekly program of 5 sets/day designed to get you up to a single set of 100. Tremendous free program.
  • thavoice
    thavoice Posts: 1,326 Member
    3 days a week at work I do a set every hour, increasing by 5/week.

    Gets a good little burn going and the results have been good!
  • karmac0matic
    karmac0matic Posts: 285
    Benefits of push ups-
    1. Push-ups are a compound exercise
    2. Enjoy the benefits of a nice stretch
    3. Push-ups boost your cardiovascular health
    4. Push-ups increase your body’s production of human growth hormone, or HGH
    5. Push-ups protect your body from injury
    6. Improve posture

    This guy was sent to the earth specifically to do push ups.

    They're a good body weight exercise ya

    Your response made me lol.

    Thanks everyone, I guess I didn't realize the benefits! And yeah, I spread the 5 sets over the day and I agree, I should make the last 1 or 2 more difficult for myself. I'll up to 24 the last two sets.
  • karmac0matic
    karmac0matic Posts: 285
    Are we talking about bras, pops or exercise?

    Any or all if you'd like.
  • No_Finish_Line
    No_Finish_Line Posts: 3,661 Member
    better then bench press if you ask me.

    probably benefit a little more by doing your sets back to back rather then space out.

    also suggest picking a push up variation where you can't do more then 12 ish
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    One of the best body weight exercises to do. And there are so many variations that one can always challenge themselves. I've almost got the AZTEC push up mastered to do 8.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    That's very impressive
  • karmac0matic
    karmac0matic Posts: 285
    I tried one of the Aztec ones and landed almost on my face, I'm glad my reflexes are back to good standards lol
  • No_Finish_Line
    No_Finish_Line Posts: 3,661 Member
    I tried one of the Aztec ones and landed almost on my face, I'm glad my reflexes are back to good standards lol

    you can start with just clapping your hands at the top. thats actually pretty challenging.

    another, more difficult (then clapping) variation would be to push for some air but not try to touch your toes.

    another variation would push up into a pike position with your feet on the ground. in this version your hands never really leave the ground.
  • astrampe
    astrampe Posts: 2,169 Member
    Do they build muscle? I am working on trying to do at least ONE pushup, since I've never been able to. I want to build muscle, but I don't have access to weights right now. Will pushups help?

    Go take a look at this - really good beginner bodyweight stuff in there.... www.nerdfitness.com - under programs....
  • CaddieMay
    CaddieMay Posts: 356 Member
    Do they build muscle? I am working on trying to do at least ONE pushup, since I've never been able to. I want to build muscle, but I don't have access to weights right now. Will pushups help?

    Go take a look at this - really good beginner bodyweight stuff in there.... www.nerdfitness.com - under programs....

    Thank you!
  • EricJonrosh
    EricJonrosh Posts: 823 Member
    I love them. It took me forever to do them without having to be on my knees, but now I can do about 4 sets of 10.

    Newton's 3rd law of motion applies. :wink:
  • Myhaloslipped
    Myhaloslipped Posts: 4,317 Member
    I love them. It took me forever to do them without having to be on my knees, but now I can do about 4 sets of 10.

    Newton's 3rd law of motion applies. :wink:

    :laugh:
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,992 Member
    I tried one of the Aztec ones and landed almost on my face, I'm glad my reflexes are back to good standards lol

    you can start with just clapping your hands at the top. thats actually pretty challenging.

    another, more difficult (then clapping) variation would be to push for some air but not try to touch your toes.

    another variation would push up into a pike position with your feet on the ground. in this version your hands never really leave the ground.
    Yep, you modify until you're strong and fit enough to do a full one. I actually started with clap pushups, then Muay Thai pushups (more explosive) then progressed to push up to a pike position with my feet still on the floor, then to Aztecs.

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