My girlfriend started pushing my car after she saw how much bigger and stronger my legs got from pushing trucks. After a few workouts she was hooked. Nothing has ever worked better for reducing body fat in her legs and hips. These are troublesome areas for women. I do not think that it is site specific fat reduction. I think it is a combination of overall reduction in body fatness with a slight increase in lean mass in the legs, thus creating the illusion of localized fat loss.

I would start with a small car with a gross vehicle weight (GVR) of under 3000 pounds. You can find this right on the inside of the driver's door. As you open it up look on the frame and you should see a sticker with the GVR. Mark off about 70-100 feet and just push the car that distance.

Do not push for speed, at first you want to work on body positioning. Ideally you would form a 45 degree angle between your feet and hands. Since this varies due to a variety of factors, suffice it to say that you want to push with arms straight on the bumper or trunk, head up.

Start by pushing off of both legs, then move one leg on front of the other. You will need someone to steer the car. Just keep the car moving by walking forward until you cover the target distance. Then, walk to the front of the car and lean against it, pushing the car the same distance backwards.

Your partner is allowed to scream motivational words to you.

Rest 2-3 minutes and repeat 2-3 more times. You will want to keep track of your time for the distance. You increase your training by trying to move the car faster. Each time your goal will be to beat your previous best performance.

Do not do cardio or other sprint work on this day. Do this twice per week and weight train, nothing else. After a few weeks you can work up to 3 times per week, but I have found that 2 times is usually enough. You will be amazed at how much leaner you get with much less time spent on exercise. You can work up to heavier vehicles. I pushed a 10 ton truck 70 feet in about 17 seconds. When I started I was only able to push a 1.5 ton car the same distance in about 20 seconds. Tom

---

For those of you that recognize my name, you know that I don't post often (bad case of written shyness and time crunch). However, I just had to report in my first successful attempt at vehicle pushing. When I first read Tom's post I was very excited. I thought to myself now this is an aerobic workout that I can get behind. (Pun intended).

Tom wrote: "I like strongman type movements because I can use them for conditioning and get in better shape cardio wise, without doing cardio. AND when I am done (with the training cycle), I am much stronger which cardio workouts can never do, unless they have some type of resistance component."

As I have posted on this forum before, unlike at lot of women on this list. I hate cardio... but add a big measure of resistance to it and it and now it sounds like fun!

My first attempt was not without obstacles. The first and most difficult was to convince my husband to help me out. He was sure he would be humiliated by folks stopping to help us thinking why was this dude making his 50 yr old wife (not to imply that I look my age) push the car while he just sat there and yelled at her to push harder.

Still he succumbed to my pleas and finally this afternoon we drove to the nearest large parking lot to do the deed. Finding a fairly level area was another problem, so I ended pushing over some level parts and then pushing up a slight incline for as long as I could keep the car going. On the incline I found I could keep going longer if I pushed with my backside to the bumper. ( major burn on quads). We have a Honda Accord so that is what I pushed. We did this for about 12 minutes back and forth. I'd rest for a short while to catch my breath between pushes. I must say I loved it!!!!!! :-)

We had people stop to ask if I need help twice. I appreciate that it was very kind of them. When I thanked them but told them yes the car worked but that I was doing this for exercise it just didn't compute! They stared for a moment and said "no really can I help?" I again told them I was doing this on purpose and they just left looking very confused, poor souls. I have got to find a more private place because I am going to continue this. Susan

----

Susan!!! You go girl! This is too funny. Did he eventually get into it a little? As in, was he really yelling at you to push harder? (Or staring straight ahead, not looking to the left or right in case his eyes might meet those of the people stopping to help?) I think we should meet somewhere and try to do this together because Dave's willing to help, but I must say for the same reasons, he's not exactly eager. Laree

---

On a similiar note, I just ordered a duffle bag to fill with sand, for sandbag carrying. This will be done in the parking garage underneath the animation sudio I work for. My co-worker, Robbie, has offered to spot me, but mostly as the floor below us is filled with 'yupies'. He thinks it will 'add to the Facilities Mystique' for them to see the tattoed bald guys from upstairs play with the sandbag. Craig

---

Tom, interesting subject you brought up here. We discussed it briefly a few months back. My 17 year old has been trying to talk me into buying a pulling harness from Ironmind. He's fascinated with the idea. So, what value do you see in pushing or pulling vehicles? And do you see either pushing or pulling as being better? For either pushing or pulling how much would you do? Chuck

----

I would have your son push the car forwards and backwards. If he sticks with this then maybe get the harness. It's expensive to get if he won't use it. If you do not compete I see no reason to really get it. You can lean into the car as you push forward and face way and lean into the car to push backwards. Forward will work hamstrings, hips, glutes, and some quads. Backward is almost all quads.

I love this movement because I can really push hard and the forces on my joints are much less then when I jump (with or without loads). It has made my legs very, very strong. You can also get some sheet metal, maybe 3/8 to 1/4 inch thick and weld a chain attachment to it so that you can drag a weighted sled. This will crush your quads and make you superhumanly strong in a very short time. I like strongman type movements because I can use them for conditioning and get in better shape cardio wise, without doing cardio. AND when I am done (with the training cycle), I am much stronger which cardio workouts can never do, unless they have some type of resistance component. I think if you and your son tried it, it would be a lot of fun. Tom

-----

If you really want a great workout from pushing cars, try doing this: You don't need a steering partner, only yourself. Roll the driver's side window down, unlock the steering wheel (don't have the ignition in run position though), close the door and start pushing the car where the windshield post and front of the side window meet together. Steer the car with your right hand (left if you drive on the opposite side of the road from America). This gives an awesome workout to you.

How do I know? I'm a retired auto mechanic who's had to push many a cars in this fashion for years. Everything from little Geo Metros to big as a battleship '74 Cadillacs. My longest push was with a mid-sized car for 1/2 mile on flat ground (took car out for test drive, and it stalled) this way. Would be more impressive if it matched Henrick's truck pull... Good luck, have fun and be careful! Shawn

-----

Hey, I am going to try car pushing too ... I have considered it before when my sons high school wrestling team was doing it. I just never got around to it, then forgot. It's time!! Rick

----

I CAN SEE IT NOW.... If I close my eyes, I can just imagine all across America, a larger percentage of the populace than there was a week ago is out in the street huffing, quads straining, teeth gritted pushing their Fords in some response to some strange prescription for strength given to them by a man known to some as Professor and to others as "Michelin."

Chuck, is that you out there with your teenage boys pushing the SUBURBAN!?

Laree: "Hey Dave, snookums, come outside! I have another idea."

Rick's son: "Um, Dad? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

Some Guy slowing down waving a cell phone at Data: "Hey sir, ya need some help there with your car? Why are you standing there while your girfriend pushes that car?" Hmmm, I *do* have a young male cousin in town. I wonder how much my 4Runner weighs ........ Stella

-----

So remember guys when you pass a lady pushing her car be a gentleman and yell out to her "You can do it, lady, that's it, put your back into it now, that-a-girl— make those legs burn." Smile and wave as you speed up to drive on in the knowledge you've done your part to help her reach higher levels of strenth and fitness. Doc

----

Oooooh. Doesn't take much to get some of us inspired. We live on a hill, so I'll have to con Dave into taking me out for a drive — I mean, uh, push. Car pushing is on the agenda because it's just plain cool. Laree

----

Now I'm looking at cars in a different way, thinking ... wish I could try my hand at that one. Susan

----

You're killing me, Susan! I can see it now, six of us on Tuesdays and Saturdays getting together to push cars (the rest of the IOL chicks are getting jealous already!). The guys don't have to be embarrassed at sitting there in the driver's seat and with enough of us jumping up and down, yelling, the passers-by won't stop either! I'm writing to you off-list (because I think you're serious and I am also), but in the meantime while we're setting this up... Doc, could you design an official IOL Bag-Over-the-Head for our male car-push steering partners?

----

Laree, you know I would do just about anything for you, but please I think poor Dave will find trying to explain what he's doing to the cops just way too much fun as it is without pulling a brightly colored paper bag off his head and hearing the words "Say, you're Dave Draper aren't you??" Doc