Pushups for beginners is a must to learn! Even if you can’t do a single pushup on the floor, you can still make pushups a valuable part of your weight loss routine!
By using an elevated surface, you can progress lower until you will be able to do them flat on the floor!
To learn how to do pushups, lean against
a countertop, a sturdy table or chair, or anything that will support you…by
elevating your upper body, you will be making the pushup easier – and you are
still using the same muscles as if you were on the ground!
With practice, and as you get stronger,
you will be able to progress lower and lower until before you know it, you will
be able to do them on the floor!
When you can do a couple of pushups or even a
partial one, try this…
Do what you can on the floor, then - while your muscles are still burning - immediately move to something elevated like
a chair, bench, or arm of a couch and do as many as you can at that
height. This will still be using the
same muscles, but at an easier angle.
Another “trick” for pushups for beginners ...
is to do what’s called “negatives”…start from the up position and slowly
lower yourself down as far as you can using correct form. After you reach the floor, go to your knees
or whatever you have to do to get back to the up position and slowly lower
yourself again.
Lowering yourself (the
negative part of the pushup) is actually harder than the pushing part
(concentric part of the pushup).
Two Common mistakes when doing pushups…
Butt
up in the air and sagging back: Both of
these are caused by weak core muscles.
If your core (abs, lower back, etc.) are not strong enough to keep your
body straight, you will compensate for it by sticking your butt up in the air
or letting your back sag. How can you
fix it?
Practice doing planks…
these
are a great exercise for the core! They
will tighten your abs and strengthen your back. Simply get on your elbows,tighten up and straighten out your body and lift off the floor. Stay in this static position. Keep your abs tight and do not let your back sag!
Practice holding it for 15 seconds, then longer until you can hold it for a minute or more at a time. This will really help you do pushups as a beginner!
You may also feel a lot of tension in your legs
while doing pushups...
This is because your leg muscles – especially the front of
your thighs (your quadriceps) – have to contract to keep your legs
straight. If this is a weak point for
you, how do you fix it?
Doing squats –
especially front squats with your feet directly below your hips and toes
pointing straight ahead focuses strengthening your quadriceps. Making these stronger will help you perform
pushups the correct way by!
No matter what your fitness level, if you are trying to lose weight, you need to be doing pushups!
If you can not do pushups on the floor, be patient. Keep doing them on an elevated surface and before you know it, you will be able to do them on the floor!
And don't worry - even if you can't do them on the floor, learning how to do pushups on a counter or bench will STILL be helping you lose weight! Don't give up...YOU CAN DO IT!
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