Tell me more ×
Physical Fitness Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for physical fitness professionals, athletes, trainers, and those providing health-related needs. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 8 down vote favorite

I've never made real exercise. Recently i began doing push-ups starting with
1 a day and finally increasing it to 15 day. Sometimes doing it 3-4 times (45-60).

If i continue this routine, will it help to reduce my belly fat?

Thank you.

share|improve this question
Why not do sit ups and use those abs? – Ivo Flipse♦ Mar 1 '11 at 22:03
2  
Why not do pushups, situps and pullups and work out your entire upper body? – Chris Pietschmann Jul 29 '11 at 21:44

2 Answers

up vote 11 down vote accepted

Simply put; no.

Diet is 80% of the battle when it comes to weight loss. Focus on this before any other area.

Also, you cannot 'spot-reduce' fat.

Push-ups are a useful exercise but they should not be your only exercise. Too many push-ups (and little else) will lead to posture issues.

Consider adding squats, pull-ups, planks etc - these are compound exercises that'll hit more than one area.

share|improve this answer
Could you narrow those "posture issues" a little bit? What can happen to be exact. Thank you – Herr K Mar 1 '11 at 22:02
3  
If you only strengthen the muscles used in the push-up, you're upper body will be unbalanced. You need to work on the muscles in your back equally (generally done through pull ups etc). – Adam Nuttall Mar 1 '11 at 22:19
@adamnuttall Could you provide a source for your posture comment? – Chris Pietschmann Jul 29 '11 at 21:43
up vote 10 down vote

Any time you exercise to the point of increasing your daily caloric burn higher than your caloric intake, you will burn fat. The body alone will decide where to take that fat from. Adding to or toning muscle in an area is not equivalent to losing fat in that same area.

share|improve this answer
..and remmeber that it's also possible and likely to burn muscle. The amount which will depend on the intesity and type of exercise performed. Hence the general recommendation to excercise in the ~65% of max HR to maximise fat loss. Different levels of exercise will hit different energy sources first. – Rob Gray Dec 1 '11 at 3:09

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.