Are push-ups one of the bet upper body exercises?

Ruger2506
Ruger2506 Posts: 309 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
While I still haven't jumped into Insanity I have been strength training with positive results.  After doing a fair bit of research I have come to the conclusion that push-ups are a great exercise that works many different muscle groups.  I am just finding dumbbell free weights to be to muscle specific and requires a lot of exercises to hit all the different muscles.  

For those of you who love working out and weight lifting does this sound right or wrong?  

I have decided to challenge myself to the 100 push-up challenge. I am anxious to see who this will go.

Replies

  • mrseelmerfudd
    mrseelmerfudd Posts: 506 Member
    push ups use a whole pile of different muscles. i personally struggle with my push ups at the minute but that is due to a shoulder injury ive been carrying since january. i love the plank for core muscles, and i find it doesnt put as much stress on my shoulders. but there are lots of different exercises that are extremely effective for upper body.
  • stuey39
    stuey39 Posts: 159
    I've just started wk 5 of the 100 push-ups and you are right, in my opinion anyway, they are awesome as they work so many areas at once....good luck with the challenge
  • Sabine321
    Sabine321 Posts: 55 Member
    As far as I know they are good. They help with chest muscles, bi- and triceps plus core. I am happy if I can do 3 sets of 10. Good luck on your challenge
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    The only problem I see with push-ups are that once you can do 20+, they are more of an endurance training exercise, not strength training. For you to work your muscles to make them stronger (best way to make them stronger) is heavy weights and 3-6 reps. To Gain muscle size the best range is 6-12 reps, and once you get to 15+ you are basically doing endurance training.

    So until you can do a lot of push-ups they are great and they do work a lot of different muscle groups, but you outgrow the biggest benefits rather quickly, unless you do weighted push-ups to keep the number of reps lower.
  • jasperann
    jasperann Posts: 136 Member
    They are one of the best upper body work outs. You use over 65% of your body weight when you do them. So depending on how much you weigh you are lifting a lot of weight. Besides the fact that there are so many different ways to do push-ups. My personal favorite is the hands up push-ups (chest touches the floor and hands come up then you push yourself all the way back up). I seem to be the sorest all over from doing those ones.
  • KyleB65
    KyleB65 Posts: 1,196 Member
    Push-ups are awesome and can be varied so many ways!

    Things like how wide apart the hands are placed, the elevation of the feet, etc are all great ways to add/improve to the work being done.

    Have fun with the 100 push up challenge.

    I'm not there yet but it is on my "to do" list.
  • candykay0605
    candykay0605 Posts: 1,019 Member
    i love push ups they have done amazing things with my chest area and my arms :)
  • keegannati
    keegannati Posts: 114
    I'm working on a pushup challenge right now and they are a great exercise. I've only been doing it for a week and I already feel improvement in my arms and core.
  • candykay0605
    candykay0605 Posts: 1,019 Member
    what is the 100 push up challenge?
  • ronitabur
    ronitabur Posts: 178 Member
    Well said erickirb!
  • aprilgicker
    aprilgicker Posts: 395 Member
    My husband is string bean runner. He got out of doing pushups until just before his PT test. well now they can randomly call you for PT And he has bee keeping up with them. I have to say he has started getting some nice form from doing pushups and planks.
  • Ruger2506
    Ruger2506 Posts: 309 Member
    what is the 100 push up challenge?

    http://hundredpushups.com/index.html
  • PeaceLoveVeggies
    PeaceLoveVeggies Posts: 673 Member
    From what I've read, push ups help you in every single part of your body - abs, back, arms, legs, etc :)
  • JamesOfLondon
    JamesOfLondon Posts: 60 Member
    I do "super sets". (2 different exercises alternated through sets)

    Ie.

    Barbell bench press - 12 reps
    Pushups (hands on a balance board (unstable plate like thing) to improve the core muscle workout - 12 reps

    Repeat 3 or 4 times.

    If you can!


    Trust me, you'll notice the difference.
  • JamesOfLondon
    JamesOfLondon Posts: 60 Member
    From what I've read, push ups help you in every single part of your body - abs, back, arms, legs, etc :)

    Standard pushups target:

    1) chest (pectoralis major and minor)

    2) shoulders (deltoids)
    3) triceps
    4) upper back 
    (rhomboids and trapezius)
  • mtread13
    mtread13 Posts: 31 Member
    The only problem I see with push-ups are that once you can do 20+, they are more of an endurance training exercise, not strength training. For you to work your muscles to make them stronger (best way to make them stronger) is heavy weights and 3-6 reps. To Gain muscle size the best range is 6-12 reps, and once you get to 15+ you are basically doing endurance training.

    So until you can do a lot of push-ups they are great and they do work a lot of different muscle groups, but you outgrow the biggest benefits rather quickly, unless you do weighted push-ups to keep the number of reps lower.

    Once you get to that point (when no longer getting the strength training benefit), and you use other methods for strength training, do you recommend endurance training (push-ups, etc.) on off-days, every day or most and it becomes part of "daily activity" or what? I often see endurance work contrasted with strength training, but I don't see much advice on how/when to work on endurance training.

    Thanks!
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    The only problem I see with push-ups are that once you can do 20+, they are more of an endurance training exercise, not strength training. For you to work your muscles to make them stronger (best way to make them stronger) is heavy weights and 3-6 reps. To Gain muscle size the best range is 6-12 reps, and once you get to 15+ you are basically doing endurance training.

    So until you can do a lot of push-ups they are great and they do work a lot of different muscle groups, but you outgrow the biggest benefits rather quickly, unless you do weighted push-ups to keep the number of reps lower.

    Once you get to that point (when no longer getting the strength training benefit), and you use other methods for strength training, do you recommend endurance training (push-ups, etc.) on off-days, every day or most and it becomes part of "daily activity" or what? I often see endurance work contrasted with strength training, but I don't see much advice on how/when to work on endurance training.

    Thanks!

    I would say no, as if you are doing other chest strength training, your muscles need the rest as they get bigger and stronger during recovery then they do from working out. On top of that you would be using the energy needed to repair the muscle, to do exercise which would be counter productive.

    If you are to still do them I would suggest putting them in at the end of your chest day as the last exercise of the routine.
  • candykay0605
    candykay0605 Posts: 1,019 Member
    what is the 100 push up challenge?

    http://hundredpushups.com/index.html

    thanks Im gonna give it a try
  • ahamm002
    ahamm002 Posts: 1,690 Member
    The only problem I see with push-ups are that once you can do 20+, they are more of an endurance training exercise, not strength training. For you to work your muscles to make them stronger (best way to make them stronger) is heavy weights and 3-6 reps. To Gain muscle size the best range is 6-12 reps, and once you get to 15+ you are basically doing endurance training.

    So until you can do a lot of push-ups they are great and they do work a lot of different muscle groups, but you outgrow the biggest benefits rather quickly, unless you do weighted push-ups to keep the number of reps lower.

    This is true. If you're a hard gainer, then push-ups are not a good choice. However, I think push ups are a little bit more versatile then you're giving them credit for. You can still do a lot with push-ups even after you've initially mastered them. For example:
    -the "perfect push up" handles can be used to make pushups more difficult
    -you can do elevated pushups which are more difficult (and great combined w/ perfect pushup handles)
    -there are plenty of other pushup variations as well
    -you can use a weight vest

    So while pushups are definitely no replacement for bench press, they are still great exercise for most people. The combination of core strength plus chest/tri's is excellent. And I've also found that they are especially good for circuit training regimens (or MRT as people seem to want to call it these days).
  • ChaosMoosie
    ChaosMoosie Posts: 77 Member
    I'm in.
  • AlsDonkBoxSquat
    AlsDonkBoxSquat Posts: 6,128 Member
    I think that push-ups are a great upper body exercise that can be varied to hit a load of different muscle groups and modified to get harder and harder. when I want to hit shoulders I move my hand positioning up, chest in the middle, tris down with my elbows tucked. Too easy? add a triangle, some one arm work, medicine ball work, or hand stands to the mix. Maybe elevate the feet? You could always break out the bosu ball or blast straps and work some balance with those push ups having the bosu at the hands or feet or both. Not enough options? add some hand weights and lift one and then the other. The push up is a great exercise with some amazing modification possibilities!

    That being said, I don't see much point in doing 100 of them. If you can get through 15 - 20 of them in a row, and your goal is strength and not endurance, you're using too easy an option, imho.
  • Ruger2506
    Ruger2506 Posts: 309 Member

    That being said, I don't see much point in doing 100 of them. If you can get through 15 - 20 of them in a row, and your goal is strength and not endurance, you're using too easy an option, imho.

    Well considering a lot of people cannot do many push ups if any at all (myself included as i can do 10 proper push ups max). I think i will worry about that when i get to doing 20-25 easily.
  • firedragon064
    firedragon064 Posts: 1,082 Member
    I did not know there are so many types of push up you can do until I do Insanity-regular push up, V push up, push up with squat,
    walking push up..
    Push ups are awsome. My upper body is way stronger and i don't need any equipment.
  • kokaneesailor
    kokaneesailor Posts: 337 Member
    Stuey 39 and me are currently in week five of the 100 pushup training program. It starts outs easy then around the end of week 5 it gets pretty tough ( for us anyway). I was a pearshaped when I began this program, I'm not now. I'm not a MFP fitness scientist so I can't comment on the physics of how push ups build muscles. I'll post this article from Men's Health.:smile:

    Remember when you were in gym class and the coach made you drop and give him twenty pushups? He was probably a sadistic, power-hungry tyrant, and you swore that you'd never do another pushup once you were out of his jurisdiction. But think again. Pushups are about the most convenient way there is to build up your chest, not to mention your shoulders, arms and upper back. Here are five pushup variations that you can do anywhere, anytime. Besides, you may run into your old gym teacher one of these days. Do you want him laughing at your feeble physique?

    Your goal: 10-15 repetitions of each. Focus on proper technique: Straight back, tight stomach and butt, continuous movement and full extension of the arms.
    Standard Pushups: Lie face down on the floor with your palms at shoulder level, fingers pointing forward. Push yourself up until your body weight rests only on your palms and toes. Lower yourself and repeat. To accent the chest, place your hands wider than shoulder-width; to target the back and triceps, bring your hands close together with thumbs and index fingers touching.

    Incline Pushups: Stand facing a wall, about 2-3 feet away, arms straight out in front of you. Touch the wall with palms flat and support your weight. Slowly lower your chest to the wall., keeping your knees and back straight. Push back out and repeat.

    Decline Pushups: Support your body weight on your arms and elevate both feet behind you on an exercise bench or a chair. Keep your knees locked and your back straight as you lower your chest to the floor and push back up. Repeat.

    Chair Dips: Place two benches or chairs of equal seat height shoulder-width apart. Kneel behind them, place one hand flat on each seat, and extend your legs behind you so your weight is evenly supported by your arms and feet. Lower your upper body just below the level of the seats, or as low as you can without pain. Hold for a second, then raise yourself back to the starting position. Repeat.

    Bent-knee Pushups:(This is a tough one. Warm up your muscles first and concentrate on your technique.) Keeping your back straight, support yourself on your knees and palms. Your arms should be straight and shoulder-width apart. Slowly lower your upper body to the floor, keeping your trunk straight. Rise back to the starting position and repeat.


    Read more at Men's Health: http://www.menshealth.com/fitness/pushups-muscle-building#ixzz1tS79PT89

    Anyway, hope this put's a different light on the "lowly" push up. Try the 100 program pushups with a buddy, the moral support helps when there is two of you in pain.
    :wink:
  • stuey39
    stuey39 Posts: 159
    Yes...moral support helps if two of you are doing it but I think it wouild be much more fun to support from the sidelines!!!

    Check out my shirt in the pic to see my new thought on the humble push-up!!

    LMAO
  • Awkward30
    Awkward30 Posts: 1,927 Member
    The only problem I see with push-ups are that once you can do 20+, they are more of an endurance training exercise, not strength training. For you to work your muscles to make them stronger (best way to make them stronger) is heavy weights and 3-6 reps. To Gain muscle size the best range is 6-12 reps, and once you get to 15+ you are basically doing endurance training.

    So until you can do a lot of push-ups they are great and they do work a lot of different muscle groups, but you outgrow the biggest benefits rather quickly, unless you do weighted push-ups to keep the number of reps lower.

    I agree! I think pushups are great as long as you progress. Working towards handstand pushups now. It's fun!

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