No, 10 pushups is generally not bad and can be a good starting point, especially for beginners.
Whether 10 pushups is a "bad" amount depends heavily on your current fitness level and goals. For someone who is new to exercise or push-ups, 10 reps can be a perfectly acceptable and even beneficial starting point. However, for a seasoned athlete, 10 pushups might be considered a very light warm-up.
Here's a breakdown of why 10 pushups might be good, or not so good:
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Good For:
- Beginners: If you are just starting to build upper body strength, 10 pushups can be a challenging but achievable goal. It's better to start with proper form and fewer reps than to struggle through more with poor technique. The reference suggests starting with even five to ten reps if you are new to push-ups.
- Warm-up: For individuals with some fitness experience, 10 pushups can serve as an effective warm-up for a more intense workout.
- Maintaining Strength: On days when you're short on time or energy, 10 pushups can help you maintain some level of strength.
- Rehabilitation: After an injury, 10 pushups might be a reasonable starting point for rebuilding strength and range of motion.
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Not So Good For:
- Experienced Individuals: If you're already able to perform a significant number of pushups with good form, 10 reps alone likely won't provide a significant training stimulus. In this case, you should aim for more reps, sets, or more challenging variations.
- Significant Strength Gains: If your goal is to build significant strength, doing only 10 pushups may not be sufficient to stimulate muscle growth and strength development over time. You'll need to gradually increase the number of reps, sets, or difficulty of the exercise.
Recommendations:
If you're aiming to improve, consider the following:
- Start with Proper Form: Focus on maintaining good form throughout each repetition.
- Progressive Overload: Gradually increase the number of pushups you do over time, or try more challenging variations.
- Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to any pain or discomfort and adjust your workout accordingly.
In conclusion, 10 pushups can be a beneficial starting point, especially for beginners. However, your fitness level and goals ultimately determine whether it's an adequate amount. If you are able to do 10 push-ups, consider doing two to three sets of 10 with a short rest period between each set.
