Press-ups/getting fitter

HaX · 8 Feb 2007 at 23:16

I've steadily been getting less and less fit over the past couple of years so I've decided to do something about it.

I'm currently a little heavier than I'd like to be, however I've managed to lose half a stone since early Jan, by cutting down on unhealthy food.

I've been doing press-ups for the last 10 days, and I'm feeling much healthier and stronger already. Don't know if this is psychosematic, but nevertheless I'm feeling much better.

This may sound really lame, but I've been doing situps in sets of four reps, with a minutes break between each set. When I first started I could only manage three sets to point of failure, now I can manage seven. I do these exercises every other day.

I've noticed that the veins on my lower arms have started to stick out very prominently, and in the last day or two this has also begun to happen on my upper arms. Is this a good sign.

I do my pressups just before I get into the shower before bed time. Shaving is very difficult after I've done my pressups, as my arms are all shaky and stiff for quite some time afterwards.

Is it likely that I will see any noticable muscle gain or weight loss through doing pressups, bearing in mind that I am pretty much untoned at the moment?

I've also been thinking of maybe doing some running on the nights I'm not doing pressups, to further increase my weightloss, though I'm not sure that I'll be able to keep up enough stamina for the exercise to become cardio vascular. Would this be a good idea, or could it potentially reduce my muscle development in my arms?

Gilly · 8 Feb 2007 at 23:19

HaX said:
Is it likely that I will see any noticable muscle gain or weight loss through doing pressups

Not really, no. You'd be better off with freeweights and cardio IMO.

Morba · 8 Feb 2007 at 23:19

if you want muscle mass, get some weights and work your whole body.

HaX · 8 Feb 2007 at 23:22

Gilly said:
Not really, no. You'd be better off with freeweights and cardio IMO.

So what benefits will I reap from press ups? Just strength, and a little bit of toning?

Morba · 8 Feb 2007 at 23:28

HaX said:
So what benefits will I reap from press ups? Just strength, and a little bit of toning?

body weight only?
you will learn to do pressups with your bodyweight, you might make some gains in your shoulders and arms and maybe your chest, but then you will get nothing as you are not constantly testing the body.

there is no such thing as toning.

HaX · 8 Feb 2007 at 23:32

Morba said:
body weight only?

I was thinking of just doing body weight only, until I'm able to do a decent number of reps, and then maybe adding additional weight, such as a rucksack with some weights or water bottles in it. Does this sound feasible?

Morba · 9 Feb 2007 at 00:35

still pointless imo. it will teach you to do..... pressups.

if you want to start using weights (be it a rucksack on your back or in a gym) you need to do all body parts.

Lead_Head · 9 Feb 2007 at 08:35

I think it's a good start and you may become motivated by doing these press ups and sit ups and move on to more free weighted activities.

I'd carry on with your programme but keep testing yourself and try to beat your current rep / sets every week.

Importantly make sure you've got the form right to get the best benefits from the exercise.

Errol · 9 Feb 2007 at 11:13

Get a pull-up bar and do pullups.

That will add serious muscle if you do them correctly.

Morba · 9 Feb 2007 at 18:34

Errol said:
Get a pull-up bar and do pullups.

That will add serious muscle if you do them correctly.

No, it wont, doing an exercise will not put on 'serious muscle'.

dunker · 9 Feb 2007 at 19:23

keep doing your press-ups, do as many as you can each day and just when you think you can't do any more take a little 5 second rest and do 5 more and repeat until you start shaking and gasping for air. this time last year i could do about 25 now i'm doing 50 every day without a rest and with a little rest i'm doing 60-65. triceps will get bigger, chest will get more defined, back muscles will start to get that triangular look, at least thats how it is for me, everyones different.

for stomach try crunches and for cardio get a mountain bike and have fun

wear a helmet.

Wullie · 9 Feb 2007 at 21:18

HaX, what is your goal?

Do you want a better looking body?

And less luggage hanging around?

The only way to add muscle mass is by working your muscles to failure. Best way is with high weight and low reps( 6-10) they need to tear in order to repair and get bigger, you need good quality protein and plenty of sleep/rest inbetween working each muscle group.

To loose weight you want to increase your cardio and make sure you are not taking in as much food as you are working to put out. Using light weights with high reps help you loose weight aswell and it compliments the cardio.

Unfortunately, loosing excess fat and bulking up on muscle mass at the same time is a no go. As in order to bulk up you need to eat over your normal daily calorific values. For each Lb of lean muscle you gain you also gan approx 1/2 Lb of fat and 1/2Lb of water. Thats why bodybuilders look like big beefcakes when they are out of season but then ''cut'' to get the muscless looking their best.

An excellent tool to buy is called a Kettlebell, 16Kg one is a good starting point for most workouts and also if you take a look at a type of training known as crossfit. One of my friends has recently been over to USA to do his instructors course. Its quite different to commercial gyms. www.crossfitclinic.com is his site. If you want ask him some questions about getting yourself more fit, the crossfit way is pretty good and is based on normal movements you body makes, not bicep curls etc