If I due pushp ups and seat ups have i work out my whole body
Executive summary
Doing only push-ups and sit-ups will improve upper-body pushing strength, core endurance, and certain abdominal and hip-flexor muscles, and can be part of an efficient minimal routine, but it does not comprehensively train the entire body — notably the lower-body, posterior chain and movement patterns like pulling — and daily-only repetition without recovery can stall progress or cause overuse issues [1] [2] [3] [4].
1. What push-ups and sit-ups actually work
Push-ups primarily target the chest, shoulders and triceps while also recruiting the core to stabilize the torso, and sit-ups focus on the abdominal muscles, hip flexors and obliques; together these two movements create meaningful upper-body and core activation that can build strength, endurance and some calorie burn when performed properly [1] [2] [5].
2. Why “full body” is an optimistic label
Several sources that praise the pair as convenient — and even call the combo a “simple full-body workout” — are framing their utility rather than claiming biomechanical completeness, because push-ups and sit-ups miss major lower-body movers and the posterior chain (glutes, hamstrings, and lower back) as well as pulling muscles like lats and biceps that are best trained with rows or pull-ups [1] [3]. While some writers suggest adding squats alongside push-ups to deliver true upper-and-lower-body coverage, that recommendation implies push-ups + sit-ups alone are incomplete [3] [6].
3. Practical gaps: legs, posterior chain, and pulling movements
Calisthenic programs that are deliberately minimalist commonly include squats for exactly this reason: squats work the lower body and greatly increase the routine’s full-body effectiveness, which many how-to guides and programs explicitly recommend when aiming for comprehensive fitness [3] [6]. Military-style routines that focus heavily on push-ups and sit-ups still pair them with running, pull-ups or squats as conditioning and balance measures, indicating institutional recognition that push-ups and sit-ups are insufficient in isolation for overall fitness demands [7].
4. Progress, plateaus and recovery concerns
Repeatedly doing the same high-repetition calisthenics without planned recovery can produce early gains followed by stagnation or decreases in performance because these exercises constitute resistance training for the same muscle groups and require rest to adapt, a point emphasized by military fitness commentary warning against daily maximal volumes [4]. Conversely, more measured daily approaches — moderate volume, good form, progressive overload and rest days — can yield steady improvements in endurance and muscle tone as physical-therapy and fitness sites note [2] [5].
5. How to make the combo more truly “full body”
Authoritative and practical sources recommend one of two paths: either add lower-body and pulling exercises (for example, squats and rows/pull-ups) to create a balanced routine, or intentionally vary push-up and sit-up patterns to shift emphasis (different push-up variations can stress core and obliques more), but the simplest and most frequently cited fix is adding squats for lower-body coverage if equipment is unavailable [3] [6] [7].
6. Balanced takeaway and caveats about claims
It is defensible to use push-ups and sit-ups as core components of a minimal, convenient program that improves upper-body and core strength and cardiovascular conditioning at higher intensities, but credible sources and military-style training guides caution that the pair are not a comprehensive whole-body solution without additions for legs, posterior chain and pulling strength, and that daily, unvaried maximal repetitions risk overuse and plateaus [1] [3] [4] [7]. Sources used here are a mix of fitness blogs, physical-therapy commentary and military-fitness guidance; each brings a slightly different agenda — simplicity and accessibility, clinical rehabilitation benefits, or performance optimization — and that shapes their recommendations [1] [2] [4].