Push-ups are a compound exercise that primarily target the chest (pectoral) muscles, triceps, and front shoulders (anterior deltoids). When you perform push-ups, you’re essentially lifting a significant portion of your body weight using these muscles, which can certainly stimulate muscle growth.
Will doing 200 push-ups a day build muscle? The answer is both yes and no, and here’s why:
If you’re new to working out or haven’t done push-ups regularly, introducing a regimen of 200 push-ups daily can lead to muscle hypertrophy, especially in the initial phase. As you exert force against resistance (in this case, your body weight), microscopic tears occur in the muscle fibers. When the body repairs these tears, the muscle fibers grow thicker and stronger.
However, there are caveats.
Firstly, doing such a high volume every day can lead to overtraining if there’s not enough rest for the muscles to recover. Overtraining can lead to injuries, muscle loss, and a decrease in overall performance. Remember, muscles grow and recover during rest, not while you’re working them.
Secondly, as your body becomes accustomed to the workload, it will adapt. If you continuously do the same exercise without any variation in resistance or intensity, the muscle-building effects may plateau. In other words, after some time, 200 push-ups daily might maintain your muscle strength and endurance but might not provide the same growth stimulus as before.
Lastly, for visible six-pack abs, while push-ups can strengthen the core, they might not directly target the abdominal muscles as intensely as other exercises. Additionally, achieving a visible six-pack also requires reducing body fat, which is largely influenced by diet and overall caloric expenditure.
While 200 push-ups a day can indeed build muscle initially, it’s essential to vary your routine, incorporate other exercises, ensure adequate rest, and also pay attention to nutrition for sustained muscle growth and definition.