Are you curious about the calorie-burning potential of the humble push-up? If you've ever wondered how many calories you can torch by performing 100 push-ups, you're in the right place.
In this comprehensive HB101 guide, we'll explore the science behind calorie burn during push-ups, the factors that influence it, and the benefits of incorporating push-ups into your fitness routine.
Let's delve into the world of push-ups and discover just how effective they are for calorie expenditure.
Push-ups are a fundamental bodyweight exercise that engages various muscle groups, primarily targeting the chest, shoulders, triceps, and core.
They can be modified to suit different fitness levels, making them suitable for beginners and advanced fitness enthusiasts alike.
The number of calories burned during push-ups depends on several factors, including your body weight, the intensity of the exercise, and the number of repetitions.
On average, a single push-up burns approximately 0.3 to 0.6 calories. While this may not seem like a lot, the cumulative effect can be significant.
If you're aiming to perform 100 push-ups in one session, you're in for a calorie-burning challenge. Let's break down the numbers:
While the calorie expenditure from 100 push-ups might not replace a high-intensity workout, it's a fantastic way to tighten your core muscles, work your upper body, and complement your fitness routine.
Several factors can affect the number of calories burned during a push-up session:
The more you weigh, the more calories your body burns during exercise. Additionally, the intensity of the push-ups plays a crucial role. Performing advanced push-up variations or incorporating explosive movements can increase the calorie burn.
Your fitness level also influences calorie expenditure. Beginners may burn fewer calories during a push-up session compared to advanced fitness enthusiasts with more muscle mass and experience.
The number of repetitions directly impacts calorie burn. A higher number of push-ups results in greater calorie expenditure.
Push-up variations, such as modified or knee push-ups, can affect the intensity and calorie burn. The more challenging the variation, the more calories you may burn.
Besides their calorie-burning potential, push-ups offer numerous benefits that make them an excellent addition to your fitness routine:
Push-ups primarily target the chest, shoulders, and triceps, helping you build upper body strength and muscle definition.
Maintaining proper form during push-ups engages your core muscles, leading to improved core strength and stability.
Push-ups can be modified to suit your fitness level and goals, making them a versatile exercise for individuals of all backgrounds.
You don't need any equipment to perform push-ups, making them a convenient and accessible exercise you can do anywhere.
Incorporating push-ups into your daily workout routine can contribute to a total calorie burn and help you create a calorie deficit, essential for weight loss.
Push-ups can help you tone your upper body and tighten your chest and triceps. They also promote lean muscle development.
While the focus is on the upper body, push-ups engage other muscle groups like the lower back, making them a full body exercise.
If you want to estimate how many calories you burn by performing 100 push-ups, you can use a simple formula:
Total Calories Burned = (Amount of Calories Burned per Push-Up) x (Number of Push-Ups)
Substitute the average calories per push-up (0.3 to 0.6 calories) and your target number of push-ups (100) into the formula to calculate your estimated calorie burn.
Push-ups alone may not burn a significant number of calories, but they can be a valuable part of your weight loss journey.
When combined with a healthy diet and other forms of exercise, push-ups contribute to your overall calorie expenditure.
They also help build muscle, which can increase your resting metabolic rate (basal metabolic rate - BMR) and further support weight loss.
Another factor that can influence calorie burn during and after exercise is Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption (EPOC), commonly known as the afterburn effect.
EPOC refers to the additional calories your body burns in the post-exercise period to restore oxygen levels and recover from the workout.
While the afterburn effect is more pronounced in high-intensity exercises like running or high-intensity interval training (HIIT), it still applies to strength exercises like push-ups. The cumulative effect of EPOC can increase overall calorie usage.
Remember that the effectiveness of push-ups in your fitness routine depends on several factors, so adapt your workout according to your goals and fitness level.
Author
Mehmet Eren Aksu, MD.
Mehmet Eren Aksu is a medical doctor at Ege University in Turkey. He has graduated from the Faculty Of Medicine at Ege University. His purpose in establishing the Healthy Bodies 101 blog and starting to write here is to inform the public about health and medicine from the right source and to convey his expertise to everyday people.
Subscribe now.
Sign up for our newsletter to get the most interesting stories of the day straight to your inbox before everyone else
QUICK LINKS
ABOUT
Join us as we explore the path to well-being, one step at a time. Your journey to a healthier body starts here."