Sit-ups and Push-ups

Afro · #1 (**permalink**) 03-15-2007, 11:45 PM

How many Sit-ups and Push-ups would be a good amount to do per day or every other day?

What kind of Sit-ups and Push-ups are the most effective?

Rufio · #2 (**permalink**) 03-15-2007, 11:59 PM

I only do pushups when I can't get to the gym. As for sit ups, according to a Jeff Monson-sized personal trainer I've talked to, 30-something situps is good. Stay away from resistance ab machines since you don't want your abs BIG -- just defined. It's best to do your situps slowly and concentrate on using all the muscles.

Afro · #3 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 12:01 AM

just 30 regular situps?

Rufio · #4 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 12:16 AM

Actually, I usually do 35 straight up crunches, slowly and making sure my abs bend at both points (people usually just use their top abs when doing fast situps), then I do 35 going to my left and 35 going to my right. My abs are sore as hell after that. Sometimes I use one of the decline benches at the gym for a better range.

Just raising my knees up high in jogging works for my lower abs.

KENO5366 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 01:04 AM

You dont want to over do it with the push ups. You can do a good amount though and be alright. I wouldn't do push ups every day, I just mix them in with my benchpressing. Sit ups I like to think army, lots of reps. I use the ab-roller, and do cruches and leglifts.

Rufio · #6 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 01:43 AM

I tend to do abs on the same day as legs. When I do my upper body, I try to get it all done fast, as I've heard that after an hour, your body's cortisol level has risen and it's much harder to get gains from the additional work you do. At least according to some people, over an hour is overtraining.

Clint · #7 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 10:32 AM

It depends on what you are doing them for:

Pushups are great for endurance training but suck for strength gains (since your not increasing the resistance), so for endurance do as many of them as you can in circuit fashion: Pushups, Situps, Rows, Shadowbox, repeat or something of that fashion

Situps are again good for enurance but do heavier things if you are looking to strengthen your core.

Rufio · #8 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 06:50 PM

Strength gains aside, do you know how much pushups help with regards to adding definition to your muscles?

Clint · #9 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 07:53 PM

Definition is more related to having a lower bodyfat percentage. So they will help but more as a side effect of the endurance work.

Rufio · #10 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 08:21 PM

I know lack of body fat is the main thing, but I thought that some excercises "shape" your muscles more than others.