The power of a pushup
Pushups are a great strength-building exercise. They use muscles in the arms and shoulders and also engage muscles in your core and legs. So ultimately, they are beneficial for your entire body.
They are said to be one of the most effective exercises to “increase your strength and build up your upper body muscles like the chest, shoulders and triceps.
If you know me and follow me. You know that I do 10 to 15 pushups every morning. I rarely skip and if I do there was a darn good reason for it.
Research shows that 7 pushups are now considered the optimal number to complete for each set. I only do one set so 10 to 15 seems fair. It is stated that the act of doing a pushup should bring mild strain but not too much and the goal would be to complete 5 sets of 7 pushups three times per week.
This is all great stuff to know and why I am sharing it but none of that is actually why I do pushups. I find a real ‘power’ in my pushups. What I mean by that is I take the 10 pushups every morning and turn them into a reason.
There is something about getting up and doing pushups on a dock at the lake while waiting for not only the sun but everything around you to wake.
A reason to get up in the morning, a reason to get down on the floor, a reason to push my body just a little bit. A reason to show myself, I still can. I still can do a pushup. I am using that time to also focus on goals. Sometimes I set a goal for every pushup or sometimes I give thanks for something for every pushup.
I switch up what kinds of pushups I do to keep it interesting and challenging. Wide hands, narrow hands, staggered, wide feet, elevated feet. Slow or fast. And even more, challenging, in and outs, jump jacks, what are called Water Bugs. All fun to do once you build up your strength and super hard so easy to keep it to just 10.
Pushups give me a sense of accomplishment and I honestly do feel powerful afterwards. They get the blood flowing, my mind moving and I end those 10 knowing Im ready to own my day.
I know it isn’t a lot, but I also know being consistent with them and doing them daily or from tops of mountains or randomly whenever I feel the need to pick myself up and feel accomplished I am building strength. Mentally and physically.
This picture shows you what 10 pushups a day can do.
Can you say definition?
They said arms, shoulders and what else? (Wink)
It adds up to my feeling awesome and looking strong!
So yes, there is a power in a pushup and for me it’s far more than just the physical aspect, however, that is a huge bonus as we can see. But the mental exercise of being committed, determined and consistent is the most powerful. Stay accountable, do the little things over and over again daily as part of your routine and see big results.
