I used to do it, but the fact that you have to have a high-protein diet in order to see results was a huge turn-off for me, as I'm too lazy too cook and would rather eat based on convenience, instead of based on protein targets that make me waste my time in the kitchen.
with that said, though, when it comes to recommendations, I'm a fan of the Kettlebell Swing. I still think it is one of the best exercises on Earth.
this movement is highly technical and the person needs to know what they are doing.
the guy on the gif is
not using his shoulders or arms to lift the weight. instead, it's the firing of the glutes and hamstrings together that push the weight up. his abs also contract at the end of the movement.
it's a posterior chain exercise. in a society in which we do so many things in front of us (computer, phone, study, work), the posterior chain often gets neglected, and some exercises (like push ups and bench press) can even make our posture worse. the Swing, on the other hand, tends to improve people's posture drastically. it's also about conditioning, there's a cardio aspect to it. the way we breath while we're doing it is very important. being good at the swing and doing it often can "transfer" and improve one's performance in other unrelated activities, like soccer, cycling and even sex.
to do the swing, usually people use a kettlebell of a weigth between 18 and 35kg, but I've seen people doing it with a 100kg (220 pound) kettlebell.
it's a great exercise.
if I'd recommend anything, would be the Kettlebell Swing, the Turkish Get Up (TGU), Deadlifts, Goblet Squats, Nordic Curls, Bulgarian Split Squats, Glute Bridges, Pull Ups and some form of Rowing with barbells or Face Pulls with bands.
I also don't see any reason to do more than 30 push ups. if you can do that much, it's because the variation you're using is not challenge enough for you. switching to a harder variation or adding a weight vest can be more effetive than increasing the number of repetitions. hypertrophy exercises are usually done in a rep range between 4 and 30. if you done more than 30 reps and you still haven't reached failure, the weight is too light or the exercise is too easy. not to mention that the training itself actually damages the muscle (temporarily), and we grow while we rest, not while we're doing it.
take a look at the Minimalist's strength workout in this link:
Five exercises that will guarantee you have the strength to adventure all weekend, well into your eighties
thegrowtheq.com
you can also find this workout's translation to portuguese
by clicking here.
I also recommend Greg Brookes'
free book,
youtube channel and
free Android app (if you have a kettlebell, obviously).
the kettlebell swing:
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