WASHINGTON – Remember when Ellen DeGeneres challenged the first lady to a push-up contest?
Michelle Obama, known for her toned arms, easily won, proving what personal trainer Fairfax Hackley says: the humble push-up should be part of any exercise routine.
“The benefits are immeasurable,” he says.
A push-up does more than just work your arms.
“[It] also really helps you stabilize your body all the way down to your feet.”
There are different forms of push-ups, but the benefit lies in the full range of motion: all the way up and all the way down.
“You don’t want to use momentum,” he says.
The record for men is over 10,000 straight non-stop push-ups, according to Hackley.
Check out the first lady’s performance:
WTOP’s Paula Wolfson contributed to this report.
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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
