Lifting your body weight

Why is it that certain exercises can be quite challenging even though you’re not holding any weights or using a machine. In these cases, you’re not lifting zero weight; you’re lifting your body weight. With a number of exercises, moving your own body weight offers plenty of resistance, especially for beginners. The effectiveness of an exercise without equipment depends on how much of your weight you actually have to move and how hard you have to work to overcome the force of gravity. In the military version of the push-up, you have to push your entire body upward, directly against the force of gravity. The modified push-up, where you’re balanced on your knees rather than your toes, factors out the weight of your legs so the exercise is easier. Neither exercise requires you to hold a weight, but both versions can be tough.