Why you need a good screwdriver...

[Trek420]

In my other sport, well, it's not a sport but anyway in Aikido push ups are often a part of warm ups. I used to rip off 20 and even the "fancy" ones, finger tip, on the fists, backwards, back of the wrist..

I still like putting one foot behind the other so more weight's on my arms. I can manage 10 now. Used to think that was just 'cause there's more of me to lift but, yeah, I'm out of shape.

[MomOnBike]

Pushups my left arm!

I keep reading the title of this thread and thinking "Yep, a screwdriver sounds pretty good. Where's the orange juice?"

But that's just me.

And speaking of movies, in the deservedly obscure Drumline, there is a pushup scene, where the girl out-pushups all the macho men. Not really worth renting the movie to watch, though.

[DirtDiva]

I keep reading the title of this thread and thinking "Yep, a screwdriver sounds pretty good. Where's the orange juice?"

I like the way you think.

[sydney_b]

Pushups my left arm!

I keep reading the title of this thread and thinking "Yep, a screwdriver sounds pretty good. Where's the orange juice?".

no doubt! altho push ups do also hit abs to a degree so if one is into some strength training, they're an efficient use of time ... at least thats what i tell my spouse.

[Lise]

I cannot...no, I do not do "boy" pushups. The "girl" pushups with bent knees are hard enough for me. Maybe by the end of the summer I'll be doing them with straight legs. Forget the fancy stuff though! And, sorry about the misleading header!

[KnottedYet]

I like doing "planks", because I like the ab control. (and I can only do girl push-ups, too.) Someday when my arms are strong enough for boy push-ups, my abs will be ready!

Prone planks are done in boy-push-up position, but instead of your weight being on your hands, it's on your elbows/forearms. You just hold yourself there for as long as you can without sagging. Then do it again twice more.

Side planks are awesome for giving me a WAIST cuz they really kick in my obliques. You lie on your side, with your weight on the outside of one foot and one forearm. Do 3 times on one side, 3 times on the other.

Yes, I admire my own belly in the bathroom mirror.... It's nice to actually like my stomach again!

[Lise]

Oh, yeah....I know what planks are. Whew. I'm impressed. But, if I want a stomach that I'll ever admire (seems unlikely, but who knew I'd become a triathlete?!), I'd better get on those planks. Seems they're more effective than crunches. They sure as heck are harder!

[KnottedYet]

Crunches are not "functional" (how often do we fold ourselves in half in the real world?) so they don't really train the core muscles much. Just rectus abdominus "six pack" muscle. Planks (and Pilates, and Yoga, and dance) are more functional, kick in your transversus abdominus, and get your lumbar and pelvic stabilizers and slow twitch postural muscles all warm and happy.

At least, that's how I rationalize my distaste for crunches!

When I want to really make myself tired I do bridges with my feet on a physioball. Straight leg, bent leg, and curling-toward-you. I can only do 5 or 10 of each. I aspire to 20 of each. My abs and hamstrings cry out for mercy.

And I aspire to the next step in the plank progression: side planks where you lift and lower the top leg. I can't do that yet at all.