Back in March the number one emailed article about fitness was The New York Times’ “The Art of the Pushup.” I have to say I was roped in after spotting the picture of Jack Lalanne, 93, in a red spandex one-sy doing push-ups on his fingertips. Can you blame me?
The article talked about how the simple little push-up is an ultimate measure of your body’s fitness.It states that that a 40 year old woman should be able to do 16 push-ups and a 40 year old man should be able to pump out 27. Where do you stand on this scale?
- Yes, that’s me in the tiny little shorts. Don’t get used to it.
I personally love the push-up for the same reason the NY Times’s sources are touting it as one of the best a total body exercises. With one simple move you are required to push the weight of your entire body up and down with your chest, shoulders and arms while keeping your core tight and legs stiff. Love em, cant get enough of them even in my own workouts.
If you can do about 20 regular old-school push-ups in about a minute, then I think you are ready to go to the next level. Here are some fun ways to “kick it up a notch” (a la Emeril.)
Put both feet on a physio ball, both hands on the floor and push-up (see above pic.) or Try both feet on a bench with hands on the floor (decline push-up.) or Try one hand on a medicine ball the other on the floor, feet on the floor (stability push-up). And the ultimate demonstration of super human strength, drum roll please… put each hand on it’s own large physio ball and feet on the floor. Dang.
If you can do 5 or more push-ups in this position, call me at (646)454-0777. I will train you for free for a week. Actually, you can train me at that point b/c you are more then likely in better shape than I am.
So in conclusion, your gym teacher (and Jack Lalanne) had it right all of this time. Sticking with the basics really can yield the greatest results. Well, that and a great diet, dedication and tons of water. You didn’t think I would let you off that easy, did you?
PS- Have all of those fancy workout fads let you down? How many more years are you going to run on that same treadmill and lift those same boring weights (and not see results ??) It’s probably time you checked out my boot camps in NYC and Long Island if you are looking to kick it up a notch this season!
YOUR Body Transformation Expert,
Laura Miranda MsPT, CSCS
www.StrongHealthyWoman.com
www.GayMensBootCamp.com
646.454.0777
February 2nd, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Pushups on BOSU are awesome too, burns my core and entire body everytime (no pain no gain right?!! ). Use four BOSU, place hand and foot on each (doesn’t matter if upside down or round side up) and do pushup. If you get bored with these (which I highly doubt), you can vary it by doing one pushup as mentioned, then move your right hand and right foot over to the left side, do pushup, then move right hand and foot back to normal position, do one pushup, then move left hand and left foot over to right side, do pushup. By moving back and forth, this is a great way to get your heart rate up. Also, instead of placing feet on BOSU, you can use a physio ball.
I like the pushups that Laura mentions above as well. I have yet to try the super human strength pushup. But will definitely give it a try.
Pushups definitely rocks!!