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Push-Up Variation: Add In a Superman

FitSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:30:01 -0700

Push-ups strengthen your upper body, and here's a variation that will also work the muscles in your back - just add in another no equipment necessary move, the superman.

Music: "Two of Us" by Aimee Mann and Michael Penn

To learn how to do this exercise, read more.

Begin on your belly in the superman, or X position, with your arms and legs out wide.
Inhale and lift your head, arms, chest, and legs off the floor, like Superman.
Then as you exhale, lower your body and plant your palms and feet on the floor. Inhale to straighten your arms and lift into plank position (top of a push-up). Hold here briefly, then exhale and bend your elbows behind you as you lower down.
This counts as one repetition. Complete 20, or as many as you can in one minute.

12 Ways to Push Your Push-Ups

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:50:47 -0700

If you're looking to tone your upper body for the Summer, you must make friends with the push-up. There are so many variations to isolate certain muscle groups to make your push-ups more exciting and challenging. So here are 12 push-ups to strengthen and tone your upper body while giving you a whole-body workout.

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7 Tips For Perfecting Your Push-Ups

FitSugar — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 05:50:00 -0700

When it comes to push-ups, I'm a total fanatic. You can do them anywhere and they work so many parts of your body at once. The only gripe I have with one of my favorite exercises is that it's easy to get it wrong if nobody is watching your form. That can lead to lower back strain or shoulder injuries, and it pains me when I notice people doing push-ups incorrectly at the gym. Here are the tips I'd give most often if I didn't have restraint.

Angle your elbows toward your waist. Your elbows should be on a diagonal toward your waist to avoid shoulder strain. Do your push-ups facing or parallel to a mirror so you're able to see the angle of your arms.
Pull in your abs. Engage your abs and tuck your hips forward to protect your lower back. Turn horizontally to the mirror - if your abs are sagging, there will be a sway in your lower back. You want to avoid that.
Lift your chin: Whether you're doing push-ups on your toes or on your knees, there should be a straight line from the top of your head through your lower back. Achieve the straightness by lifting your chin away from your chest and looking slightly forward.

To see four more tips, read more.

Grip your glutes. Engaging your glutes will help to stabilize your mid-section and will enable you to put more power into your push-ups.
Exhale on your way up. Don't hold your breath! You'll maximize every rep by exhaling as you push yourself up.
Turn your fingertips in just a bit. Place your hands with your fingertips facing forward, and then turn your hands toward each other just slightly. This minimizes wrist strain and is the optimal placement for being able to angle your elbows toward your waist.
Go the full range. Don't cheat yourself by using only a half-range of motion. Your chest should nearly touch the floor at your lowest point; it's much more effective and you'll get stronger more quickly when you push yourself to the fullest.

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Push-Up Variation: Elevated Push-Up

FitSugar — Thu, 14 May 2009 13:00:00 -0700

If you're looking to tone up your upper body for the Summer, you've got to become friends with the push-up. There are so many variations to isolate certain muscle groups, and make your push-ups more exciting and challenging. Here's another variation to try. You'll need one block or dumbbell for this one.

"Beautiful Dawn" by The Wailin' Jennys

Come onto your hands and knees so your hands are shoulder-width distance apart. Elevate your right hand so it is four or six inches off the ground. I like to use a block, but you can also use the edge of a dumbbell.
Straighten your legs out behind you so your torso is in one straight line. If it's difficult for you to do classical push-ups like this, then rest your knees on the floor.
Inhale as you bend your elbows out to the sides and lower your chest toward the floor. As you exhale, straighten your arms. If this is too difficult, rest one or both knees on the floor.
Complete 10 push-ups (or as many as you can) with the right side elevated, then switch sides.

Push-Up Variation: Grasshopper Push-Up

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:30:00 -0700

To tone up your upper body for strapless dress and tank top season, push-ups are my favorite. I love that you don't need any equipment to do them, and they're so effective that it only takes a few reps before you start feeling it. Here's a challenging variation that will also increase flexibility in your lower back.

Music: "Every Ghetto, Every City" by Lauryn Hill

To learn how to do this exercise, read more.

Come into plank position (top of a push-up), with your hands under your shoulders, and your body in one straight line.
As you bend your elbows out to the side and lower your torso toward the floor, step your right leg through the space between your left hand and foot, and cross it all the way over to the left side, resting on the outer edge of your foot. Keep your leg straight if you can.
As you straighten your arms, step your right foot back so you're in plank position once again. Now lower your body and cross your left leg over to the right side. Straighten your arms and come back to plank position. This counts as one rep.
Complete as many reps as you can. Don't be discouraged if you can't do too many, since this is a really challenging exercise.

No Equipment Necessary: Spiderman Push-Up

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Push-ups have got to be my all-time favorite upper-body exercise since they are so effective at targeting your chest and shoulders. There are so many variations to this basic exercise, so here's another one to add to your routine.

"Missing You" by Red Raven Blue

For details on how to do a Spiderman Push-Up read more.

Come into plank position (top of a push-up), with your hands under your shoulders, and your body in one straight line. If you can't do a push-up this way, just lower your knees to the floor (as shown in the second half of the video).
As you bend your elbows out to the side and lower your torso toward the floor, bend your left knee and touch it to your left elbow.
As you straighten your arms, come back to plank position with your left foot next to your right. Now lower your torso down and touch your right knee to your right elbow. Then return back to plank position.
This counts as one repetition. Complete as many as you can, then stretch out your lower back and shoulders in Child's Pose for five breaths and then stretch out your pecs by doing Seated Heart Opener for five breaths.

Pain From Push-Ups? Try This

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:00:00 -0800

I rave about the benefits of push-ups all the time. This challenging exercise is great for strengthening your upper body, back, and abs. The problem is our wrists weren't designed to bear weight and putting all your weight onto a flattened palm compresses the carpel tunnel nerve. Pain caused by this compression can not only interfere with your push-up practice, but can leave your wrists aching long after you performed your last push-up.

Don't give up on push-ups before trying this: When your hands are on the floor, maintain a space the size of a marble underneath each palm, and firmly press your outstretched fingertips into the floor. This will take the pressure off your wrists and move the weight to your curved fingers, so the only pain you'll feel is the burn in your muscles.

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Work It at Home: Just You and a Deck of Cards

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:30:00 -0800

Mixing up your fitness routine keeps boredom at bay, and I have a total body workout that is all about variety. This at-home workout will have you sweating in no time and it's always challenging. All you need to get started is a deck of cards, so dig yours out of the junk drawer and get your move on.

The workout involves circuits of push-ups, sit-ups, and squat jumps, and the deck of cards keeps you guessing at the number of repetitions. Here's the gist: Flip over the first card. Let's say it's a 10. Your first circuit will be 10 push-ups, 10 sit-ups, and 10 squat jumps. Flip over the next card, and repeat the circuit but change the reps according to the number on the card.

To find out ways to make this workout more interesting and challenging, read more.

There's not much you can do to change the squat jumps, but there are endless possibilities when it comes to sit-ups and push-ups. Consider doing some push-ups more slowly, try the one elbow in, one elbow out variation, and maybe include the triple clap push-ups you've been working on. As for the sit-ups segment, any challenging abdominal exercise would be a great substitution for the traditional sit-up.

Don't feel like you need to tear through an entire deck of cards on your first try; in fact, half the deck is pretty intense. You may initially get through a fraction of the cards, but challenge yourself by adding another card or two each time you take on this workout.

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Try It: Triple Clap Push-Up

FitSugar — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 03:30:00 -0800

Push-ups are the one exercise I always try to do when strength training. How about you? You only need to do a few and already you start to feel it in your upper arms and back. There are some great variations such as the T Push-Up, One Elbow In, One Elbow Out, and Chair Push-Ups. Tired of those and looking to try something new? Then give this Triple Clap Push-Up a whirl.

Yeah, OK, maybe your upper body isn't quite there yet, so get a little help from an exercise ball. Lie on your belly on top of the ball and roll forward so your hands are under your shoulders. As you push off the ground and lift your hands up, you'll rock back slightly and be able to clap three times before landing on the ground again. It's a fun exercise that works your upper body a little differently than regular push-ups.

Fit Tip: Feeling Chilly? Do Some Push-Ups

FitSugar — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 02:57:12 -0800

I know for some of you the weather outside is snowy and cold, so your homes and offices may be on the chilly side. Instead of turning up the heat on your thermostat, warm up your body from the inside out. My favorite way is to get on the floor and do 20 push-ups, but you can choose any strength training move: squats, tricep dips, crunches, or lunges. Do enough to start feeling that lovely warm feeling. Not only will it warm you up, but it'll save you some money on your heat and give your brain a boost of energy as well.

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