With all the information out there on fitness and health nowadays as well as the huge amount of supplements, equipment, and different approaches to getting in shape that are available to the public, it can be hard to determine what is truly effective and what is a flash in the pan. With all of this information, some of the tried and true methods of getting in shape get lost in the shuffle despite having a proven track record of success. One exercise that doesn’t get the attention it once did is the classic push-up and that is a definite mistake. One of the main benefits of push-ups is the increased metabolic rate that we experience when doing them. When you do a push-up you are using several different muscles in your body including your legs and core. There is a lot of muscular activity going on which means that your heart must work extra hard to pump blood into all the muscles that are being worked. This causes an increased breathing rate as well. All of this increases your metabolic rate not only while doing the push-ups but afterwards as well and this increase can heavily contribute to weight loss. Another great thing about push-ups is the number of muscles they work. Many people think pus-ups and they automatically think chest which is the main muscle worked but push-ups also work your back, triceps, core, shoulders, and to a lesser degree your legs. Not many, if any, exercises hit this many major muscles. Push-ups also aren’t limited to just one position. All you need to do is alter the position of your hands and you’re working an entirely different part of the chest. Keep your hands further apart and you’re working the outer chest. If you bring your hands closer together you’ll be working the inner chest as well as blasting your triceps. If you want to take this type of push-up even farther you can make a diamond with your hands. This will give you some serious burn and really work the triceps. You can do them on your knuckles. The possibilities are endless when it comes to push-ups. If you’re not in the best shape or have just started working again then push-ups aren’t going to be easy. You’re not going to be able to bang out sets of 100 if you’ve been sedentary for the past two years. When you’re first getting back into the swing of things, do as many normal push-ups as you can. When you can’t go anymore, stand up and do standing push-ups against the wall to complete the set. These aren’t as effective but you will get some burn and it will get you into the routine. The benefits of push-ups are incredible and will give you that lean and ripped look we all want. As you get better at them you’ll be able to do a significant amount. The more you’re able to do, the more effective they’ll be and you’ll be on your way to being in great shape. Another great thing about the push-up is that it requires no equipment at all. Trust me when I say that push-ups should be a part of every person’s workout regimen.
Article By: Jon DaBove
