Let's Talk About Pushups!

Just me and my pushups/planks buddy

Last week on Thursday at the start of my express sculpt class, I informed my participants that we were starting our strength work with pushups for the night.  After a few groans and probably an eye roll or two, a lady near me asked me if I "got my arms" from pushups.

Yep.  Sure did.  "And you can, too" I told her.

Prior to getting pregnant with my son, I had started to get into strength training, but never really followed a program or had any goals.  After having James, I started Insanity, which does all strength training with body weight.  I couldn't even do a pushup on my knees!  Fast forward about a year later (yes, a year, it took that long...or short, however you consider that amount of time), and I could rock those pushups not from my knees (the alleged "girl pushup"), but from my toes!

And you know?  I own that.  I am strong, much stronger than I have ever been, and I embrace it.

Pushups are pretty awesome because they work just about everything if you're using proper form - biceps, triceps, shoulders, upper back, chest, core muscles.... that's a long list for one exercise move!

If you were in my class, here's how I would cue you - whether you're doing pushups on your knees or your toes... hands out wider than your shoulders, belly button pulled in, butt DOWN (biggest mistake, don't let that booty rise!!), hips up, straight line from the top of your head down to your rear (or your toes, if that's your position)... now, when you are lowing, you lead with your chest, NOT your head, and you're aiming to lower that chest to your elbow line.  As you lower, imagine pulling your shoulder blades together.  Then, as you push up, imagine squeezing your chest closed.... sound too hard?  Lower as deep as you can with PERFECT form.  That's your base.  Trust me, after a while, you WILL get stronger.  You will.  I did, and so can you.

That's my $.02 for the day.  Do your pushups!

So tell me, what's your favorite workout move? - the one that you KNOW you rock and you look forward to doing?  The one you love and your friends think you're sick for it?  I can't wait to hear!

Hope you're having a great week!