Weighted Push-Ups

How to do Weighted Push-Ups

As mentioned above, there are two ways you can perform weighted push-ups: weighted vest push-ups, or weighted pushups (with a weight plate on your back).  Both will have the same movement path and have the same benefits, however, one is more accessible than the other. This article will cover both methods. 

In terms of accessibility, the weighted push-up will be more cost-effective and a convenient option than the weighted vest. The weighted vest can cost between $40-$300, which is an unnecessary expense that can be substituted with a backpack loaded with heavy items. Moreover, if you have access to gyms then you can use the limitless supply of weight plates and load them onto your upper back. I have written an article: The Best Weight Vests For Your Home Workouts (2022) which covers a buyer's guide and my top 5 picks on the market!

Weighted Vest Pushups

1. Put a weighted vest on and strap it securely. 
2. Get into a plank position where your arms are shoulder-width apart with your shoulders stacked directly on top of your wrists. Engage your core, glutes, and quadriceps to ensure your body is rigid and in a straight line. This is your starting position. 
3. Inhale as you lower your body down towards the ground by bending both elbows, tucking them close to your torso rather than flaring out. Lower until your triceps are parallel to the ground. Keep your core tight. 
4. Exhale as you gradually push up and return to the starting position. Lock your arms out fully to ensure a full range of motion. 
5. Repeat this movement between 4-12 reps for 4 sets, 2 times a week.

Weighted Push-Ups Benefits

Increase Strength and Muscle Mass

The weighted push-up will increase the load on the working muscles, this means your chest, triceps, and core muscles will be put to work with greater stress. This damages your muscle fibers, which stimulate repairs. Therefore, causing your muscles to increase in strength and density. In fact, Men's Health suggests that the push-up is good for increasing general physical preparedness and helps to build a stronger foundation.

You will not only look stronger but will also feel stronger, and be more confident with your body. You can superset weighted push-ups with bodyweight push-ups to spice things ups.

Develop Core Strength 

Weighted push-ups will challenge your core stability to a greater extent. You will need to engage your core muscles to maintain good posture and keep your back straight and rigid, rather than arching your back. A stronger core will improve your balance and stability. Muscle and Fitness emphasized that push-ups require core stability and it will develop more anterior core stability as you 'prevent' your hips from sagging.

Positive Carryover Effects

Training weighted push-ups will have positive carryover effects on calisthenics exercises such as tricep dips, weighted dips, and other push elements. This is because your pushing power would be enhanced which creates more explosiveness for when you perform power moves such as the muscle-up, or handstand push-ups. Therefore, enabling you to further progress in these other areas of calisthenics.

Weighted Push-Ups Variations

Weighted Incline Push-Ups

Incline push-ups target your chest muscles, especially your lower chest. This variation requires you to place your hands on an elevated surface whilst keeping the body in a straight line. It is the easiest weighted push-up variation as the upward slop will take load away from your upper body. To perform this, you will:

1. Put a weighted vest on, or load a weight plate on your upper back securely.
2. Place your hands on the elevated surface where your arms are shoulder-width apart. Engage your core, glutes, and quadriceps to ensure your body is rigid and in a straight line. This is your starting position. 
3. Inhale as you lower your body down by bending both elbows, tucking them close to your torso rather than flaring out. Lower until your chest is close to the surface. Keep your core tight. 
4. Exhale as you gradually push up and return to the starting position. Lock your arms out fully to ensure a full range of motion.
5. Repeat this movement between 4-12 reps for 4 sets, 2 times a week. As you get stronger, you can lower the height of the elevated surface to increase the load on the working muscles.

Weighted Wide Push-Ups

Wide push-ups also target your triceps and chest, especially in the outer-upper chest area. You will place your hands wider than shoulder-width. This variation will be easier than traditional shoulder-width push-ups because you have a wider grip base, and a less range of motion. To perform this, you will:

1. Put a weighted vest on, or load a weight plate on your upper back securely.
2. Get into a plank position where your arms are wider shoulder-width apart. Engage your core, glutes, and quadriceps to ensure your body is rigid and in a straight line. This is your starting position. 
3. Inhale as you lower your body down towards the ground by bending both elbows. Lower until your triceps are parallel to the ground. Keep your core tight. 
4. Exhale as you gradually push up and return to the starting position. Lock your arms out fully to ensure a full range of motion.
5. Repeat this movement between 4-12 reps for 4 sets, 2 times a week.

Weighted Diamond Push-Ups

Diamond push-ups put more emphasis on your triceps due to a smaller grip base that will be located at the center of your chest. This variation limits the involvement of your chest and front shoulders. You will have to contract your core muscles to a greater extent because of the smaller grip base. To perform this, you will:

1. Put a weighted vest on, or load a weight plate on your upper back securely.
2. Get into a plank position and form a triangle shape with your hands by connecting the index fingers and thumbs together, locate this at the center of your chest. Engage your core, glutes, and quadriceps to ensure your body is rigid and in a straight line. This is your starting position. 
3. Inhale as you lower your body down towards the ground by bending both elbows, keeping them close to your torso rather than flaring out. Lower until your triceps are parallel to the ground. Keep your core tight. 
4. Exhale as you gradually push up and return to the starting position. Lock your arms out fully to ensure a full range of motion. 
5. Repeat this movement between 4-12 reps for 4 sets, 2 times a week.

Weighted Deficit Push-Ups

Deficit push-ups are a great variation for increasing upper body hypertrophy. You will have a greater range of motion as you will place your hands on two stable surfaces, and lower down further than you would in traditional push-ups. To perform this you will:

1. Put a weighted vest on, or load a weight plate on your upper back securely.
2. Place your hands on two stable elevated surfaces with a gap in between your chest. Engage your core, glutes, and quadriceps to ensure your body is rigid and in a straight line. This is your starting position. 
3. Inhale as you lower your body down towards the ground by bending both elbows, keeping them close to your torso rather than flaring out. Lower as far as you can possibly can whilst maintaining good form. Keep your core tight. 
4. Exhale as you gradually push up and return to the starting position. Lock your arms out fully to ensure a full range of motion. 
5. Repeat this movement between 4-12 reps for 4 sets, 2 times a week.

The Takeaways: Weighted Pushups

Weighted push-ups are a powerful exercise for developing upper body strength and increasing muscle growth. Adding weight to bodyweight pull-ups by wearing a weighted vest helps to grow your chest, triceps, shoulders, and core. If you train anywhere other than the gym, weighted push-ups have all the potential to help you achieve your fitness goals without having the use gym-grade equipment. If you don't have a weighted vest with you on your next push workout, here are three other push-ups variations you can try:

• Archer Push-Ups Tutorial
• Superman Push-Ups Tutorial
• Decline Push-Ups Tutorial

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Other Pushing Exercises