The ARC-NRG PushUp Was a Hit With Both Trainers and Fitness Enthusiasts.

A special shout out to all who visited us at the recently held IDEA World Fitness Convention in Los Angeles. The show was a great opportunity for many fitness enthusiasts, personal trainers and other professionals associated with the fitness industry to experience the ARC-NRG PushUp first hand.

It was rewarding for us to get positive feedback from people along all parts of the spectrum; from the very petite young girl thrilled she was doing a “proper push up” [not off the knees] to the super buff, absolute hulk of a man who was impressed at the work out it gave him – thank you all. Special thanks to our great friend Skye MacFarlane who came all the way from Australia to show her support and work the stand with us – legend!

The Myth of The Fat Burning Zone

Once upon a time we believed in a ‘Fat Burning Zone’, which was based around exercise time and/or intensity level. Up to date science reveals how this was somewhat misleading, as your body is constantly burning a mix of carbs and fat for energy. Dependant on the specific activity, the ratio of fat to carbs will vary – but you’re always taking from both fuel sources.  We’ve previously covered why your choice, or mix of exercise (cardio v resistance training) is important, especially for retaining muscle in a calorie deficit, hormone balance etc, and once again;

The More Muscles You’re Working, The More Fat You’re Burning

This is the key statement we use in an attempt to get the message across (or at least promote some thought on the subject) when we compare the Push Up – a Compound Exercise Move, working multiple muscles in the one action, verses the Sit Up – an Isolated Exercise Move, working only one, small muscle group.

 You Can’t Target A Problem Area For Fat Loss

Once you understand that that you can’t target a problem area for fat loss, you can stop wasting your time on inefficient work outs and invest your time and effort into pursuits that will burn more calories from huffing and puffing or grunting and groaning. It’s said that it takes around 22,000 situps to burn just one pound of body fat! Again this is not coming exclusively from the fat around your mid-section, and this is because you’re only working a single, small muscle group. You’re abs might be fatigued after not too many sets, sure, but that does not correspond to very much energy spent. This figure of 22,000 sit ups will be in relation to how much energy is contained in a pound of fat (commonly accepted at 3500 calories) and how much energy you burn doing the exercise.

Now the push up is working your arms, shoulders, chest, back AND your Abs – all at once! Plus, your engaging the glutes, hamstrings and calves as you execute each rep, and that’s why we keep saying;

 The More Muscles You’re Working, The More Fat You’re Burning!

Utilize Resistance Training to Sculpt Your Desired Physique

Why do we do resistance training? Well, this type of exercise works our muscles. Why do we want to work our muscles? Any Resistance Exercise that causes the muscles to contract can produce results that include increases in strength, muscle tone, muscle size and/or endurance.

 And unlike fat that contributes to the shape of your body parts, which you have no control of, as it adds bulk and curves where it sees fit, muscle on the other hand, is something you do control. Want to change the shape or look of any body part? Adding muscle can do it.  So sculpting our desired physique is another reason we do resistance training.

Resistance Training Leads to an Increased Metabolism 

Now for the side effects of resistance training; this includes increasing your metabolism, where you will burn more calories thought out the day, even at rest, to sustain the additional muscle mass. This helps maintain a healthy weight now, and maintaining more muscle as you age will keep you younger for longer, with the added bonus of supporting bone strength. Other recent studies also point to improvements in blood pressure and stress levels.

The More Muscles You’re Working, The More Fat You’re Burning!

 That’s an overall, general summary of the benefits delivered from resistance training. A more immediate and positive side effect that can help you on a daily basis to this pursuit of building some muscle, is when you’re engaging in resistance training and working those muscles hard – the muscles start screaming out for energy for fuel so they can continue to contract under load and do their job. This ‘fuel’ will be in the form of Carbs and Fat. And the best way to capitalize on this calorie burning opportunity is to work more muscles at the same time, a.k.a. Compound Moves, like the push up! – The More Muscles You’re Working, The More Fat You’re Burning!