How many push-ups, crunches, and squats should I do?

trekkiebeth

I've recently set a goal to walk 2-4 miles a day 5 days a week. I'm really hoping this will finally get me to lose weight, since it means I'm walking for long periods and burning more calories per day than anything else I've tried. (I have a desk built on top of my treadmill, which is why walking for long periods is the most convenient exercise for me.)

I want to add a few strength exercises to help speed my weight loss and help me become more fit. I need something really simple and quick, so I figure the most basic things I'll need are push-ups (I do them on my knees for now), crunches, and squats.

Here's my question: how many push-ups, crunches, and squats should I be doing? I'm not sure what kind of goal to set.

Dexy_

My advice is to see how many you can do, and aim to do more than that. So on and so forth Everyone's starting point will be different!

AddieOverhaul

Personally I find the plank much more effective than crunches.

As for how many, it's hard to say because it depends on your fitness level and what you can do. Maybe start with three sets of 10 of each and see how that feels and go from there?

BBeccaJean

3 sets of 10 repetitions would be a good start for each. As it gets easier, you can add repetitions! My trainer tells me that once you meet one goal, you have to at least do that many or surpass it, so do your best!

obsidianwings

You're going to need some weights for the squats. I would say if you can do more than 10 reps at a time then you weights are to light.
Also have you looked into doing pushups on different angles so you can work you way up to doing full ones? You could do 10 of those as well then when you can do 10 easily move to a harder angle until you are doing full ones. When you can do 10 full ones easily you can start elevating your feet, or doing pauses at the bottom, or do more reps.

natalie412

Try the 100 pushups program (they also have 200 situps and 200 squats). http://hundredpushups.com/

I am doing the pushups program right now. They also have iphone apps. Awesome!!!!!!!

babyblake11

as many as you damn well can
wash, rinse and repeat for as long as you damn well can

JustANumber85

My advice is to see how many you can do, and aim to do more than that. So on and so forth Everyone's starting point will be different!

I agree.

kimosabe1

50-75 sit ups and 25 push ups......

kimosabe1

I also set the treadmill on the hill option-it burns twice as many calories.......

clobercow

As many as you can until you cant do anymore, and then do one more.

AMHouse85

If you are planning on walking. . . on those rainy/snowy/don't want to leave the house days I suggest the Leslie Sansone DVDs(you can check them on YouTube also). She does a walking program that only takes about a 4x6 area of space(about what I have when I push the coffee table up against the couch). She has 1-5 Miles, I do the 4 Mile Super Challenge at least once a week. It's not just walking, but knee lifts, kicks, side steps a nice routine that gets you moving, yet keeps you at home.

xmizlynnax

The most important thing I can tell you is do as many as you can do with GOOD FORM. This is important. If you start compromising your form to do do more reps, you are not getting the full benefit of the exercise, and also you could put yourself at risk for injury.

Squats, pushups, deadlifts, planks... all great.....

Good luck!

Yogi_Carl

You're going to need some weights for the squats. I would say if you can do more than 10 reps at a time then you weights are to light.
Also have you looked into doing pushups on different angles so you can work you way up to doing full ones? You could do 10 of those as well then when you can do 10 easily move to a harder angle until you are doing full ones. When you can do 10 full ones easily you can start elevating your feet, or doing pauses at the bottom, or do more reps.

or - save your money and do Pistol Squats, One legged squats or one-legged lunge with one leg on a chair/bench. should keep you going for a few years!

Capt_Apollo

get the 100 push up app for your phone.

melaniecheeks

I'd go for 2 sets of 20. And as someone already said, you'll probably find squats too easy, so use weights ( a litre bottle of water will weigh 1 kg. Or use tins of beans or soup.)

mamatiger

Don't forget the back of your body! Pushups, crunches and squats all target muscle groups on the front side of your body -- don't neglect your back, your hamstrings and your calves. Weight training is better for your body if you're paying attention to all of your muscle groups.

Basically, do as many as you can, until you hit muscle failure. Then wait one day to rest up, and do it again on the third day. (The rest is important, over-training isn't good for your muscles, it's bad.) Wash rinse and repeat.

Also remember that muscle = burning calories. So the more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism is, even at rest.

http://www.exrx.net/ Exrx.net has information on any kind of exercise you can think of.

mamatiger

Oh my, when I was out of shape, squats were not at ALL easy. A couple of sets of 12, and I was crippled up. But for those for whom they are easy, then adding weights is a good option, or try doing lunges or walking lunges. Those will rip you right up.
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Quadriceps/BBWalkingLunge.html -- Barbell walking lunge.

Yogi_Carl

Weight training is better for your body if you're paying attention to all of your muscle groups.

Not wishing to pick a quarrel, but I can't think of a single muscle or muscle group that is not adequately covered by bodyweight exercises so long as the workout is designed to cover all areas.

obsidianwings

You're going to need some weights for the squats. I would say if you can do more than 10 reps at a time then you weights are to light.
Also have you looked into doing pushups on different angles so you can work you way up to doing full ones? You could do 10 of those as well then when you can do 10 easily move to a harder angle until you are doing full ones. When you can do 10 full ones easily you can start elevating your feet, or doing pauses at the bottom, or do more reps.

or - save your money and do Pistol Squats, One legged squats or one-legged lunge with one leg on a chair/bench. should keep you going for a few years!

Although harder than normal squats and lunges I think most people would need weight for those to. If not straight away then very soon.

Yogi_Carl

You're going to need some weights for the squats. I would say if you can do more than 10 reps at a time then you weights are to light.
Also have you looked into doing pushups on different angles so you can work you way up to doing full ones? You could do 10 of those as well then when you can do 10 easily move to a harder angle until you are doing full ones. When you can do 10 full ones easily you can start elevating your feet, or doing pauses at the bottom, or do more reps.

or - save your money and do Pistol Squats, One legged squats or one-legged lunge with one leg on a chair/bench. should keep you going for a few years!

Although harder than normal squats and lunges I think most people would need weight for those to. If not straight away then very soon.

With respect; I doubt it.

obsidianwings

You're going to need some weights for the squats. I would say if you can do more than 10 reps at a time then you weights are to light.
Also have you looked into doing pushups on different angles so you can work you way up to doing full ones? You could do 10 of those as well then when you can do 10 easily move to a harder angle until you are doing full ones. When you can do 10 full ones easily you can start elevating your feet, or doing pauses at the bottom, or do more reps.

or - save your money and do Pistol Squats, One legged squats or one-legged lunge with one leg on a chair/bench. should keep you going for a few years!

Although harder than normal squats and lunges I think most people would need weight for those to. If not straight away then very soon.

With respect; I doubt it.

I doubt doing any of those exercises without weights would keep anyone going a few years, unless they built up to doing ridiculous amounts of them.

c53204

Apps are appearing for smartphones that provide you with a course of crunches, situps, etc. Clever thing is they use the accelerometer to count each rep. They add in rest days, etc.

Runtastic are the ones I am using.

Tyrone_S

Try and see how many you can do, and then keep trying to beat your previous best. If you're getting up to 3 sets of 20 then you need to look at adding weight or changing to a more difficult bodyweight exercise.

meshashesha2012

You're going to need some weights for the squats. I would say if you can do more than 10 reps at a time then you weights are to light.
Also have you looked into doing pushups on different angles so you can work you way up to doing full ones? You could do 10 of those as well then when you can do 10 easily move to a harder angle until you are doing full ones. When you can do 10 full ones easily you can start elevating your feet, or doing pauses at the bottom, or do more reps.

or - save your money and do Pistol Squats, One legged squats or one-legged lunge with one leg on a chair/bench. should keep you going for a few years!

depends on your beginning strength level. some people could end LOSING strength relying solely on body weight exercises, especially as weight is lost.

basically everyone should do what's challenging to them as one size doesn't necessarily fit all even when you're talking about exercises newbs

robin52077

you do as many as you physically can without puking or fainting. When you fall down and can't move any more, you're done.