Ask the Personal Trainer

Joni Hyde is a Certified Personal Trainer and owner of WorkoutsForWomen.com

Q. Do I gain the same benefits from woman’s push-up as I would if I did men’s straight leg push-ups?

A. Many women simply never get to the point where their upper body is strong enough to do a guys pushup (straight-legged).

Fortunately, a woman’s style push-up (knees bent) is very effective at strengthening and toning the chest, triceps and shoulders.

But if you’re determined to get to the point where you can do a guy’s pushup, more power to you. Guy’s pushups do firm you up slightly faster, but only if you don’t compromise form.

To make the transition to a guys pushup do one straight legged pushup, then two bent-knee pushups alternating back and forth for a total of 15 – 18 total pushups. Then next time, go for two straight-legged to every one bent-knee. Eventually, you will be able to do all straight-legged pushups.

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WorkoutsForWomen.com provides home exercise programs for today's busy women, under the guidance of a certified personal trainer.