Weight Training days off and push-ups

jah7700

So this week I started weight training. Very simple to start out, 20lb dumbell and I run through several upper body exercises. I've also gotten in a routine where I'll run through 4 different sets of crunches with a set of push-ups in between and would really like to continue that...

My question, on the day off between lifting is it alright to do push-ups?

H_Factor

push-ups, like any other bodyweight exercise, is resistance training...just as using weights is resistance training. I do not recommend doing resistance training for the same body part on consecutive days. work harder on the work days and appreciate that your body needs the recovery day.

HeidiMightyRawr

If you've done chest or triceps the day before I would advise not too. Let your muscles rest and you will see better results

If you only did upper body workouts though, it won't harm to do lower body stuff the next day if you really want to get some exercise in on a day off. eg: squats.

JennLifts

To answer the ?... Yea. It's totally fine. However. What's the point? Doing more doesn't necessarily provide more results faster.

wareagle8706

There is a very simple answer to your question. If you work your chest on weight training days by doing push ups between sets - you do not need to work your chest on your days off. Just like any other muscle, you need at least a 24 hour recovery period before you need to work it out again. Same goes with abs - which most people don't agree with - but abs are a muscle just like any other and there is no reason to do abs every day just like there is no reason to work any other muscle consecutive days with no recovery period.

If you want my opinion (which since you asked a question on here I suppose you're open to opinions, haha) I'd say try doing lunges and squats on your days off. If you sit at a desk all day, like I do, I would recommend getting up every hour and just doing five lunges per leg and 5 or 10 squats and then take a brief walk around the office - to the water fountain to fill your water bottle maybe. It gets your blood flowing, gets you out of your seat every hour, and begins to add up over time.

I hope this helped!!!

H_Factor

whoops...cut off my last reply early. I meant to add that there are things you can do on your off days that wouldn't be doubling up. here's a sample schedule of what I do each week:

Monday: boot camp @ gym for 1 hour. this includes sprints and some form of resistance training...so its a higher intensity workout. I do not do high intensity workouts on consecutive days.

Tuesday: jog for 30ish minutes.

Wednesday/Thursday: one day is a rest day, the other day I do a full body resistance circuit in my home (a mix of dumbbells, stability ball exercises) and bodyweight exercises...roughly 20 exercises, 1 set each. I follow this up with 3-6 100 yard sprints.

Friday: jog for 30ish minutes.

Saturday: sprint interval training...either #3 or #4 described in my work-out blog.

Sunday: jog, bike or rest.

jah7700

Thanks for all the input!