Do Push Ups Make Your Breasts Bigger?

Do Push Ups Make Your Breasts Bigger?
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Women have tried many different tactics -- from creams and pills to specific exercises -- to make their breasts bigger. But pushups or any other exercise can't actually increase your cup size, although there are things you can do to tone the muscles around your breasts and help keep them from sagging.

Breast Composition

Breasts are mostly made up of fat and connective tissue, not muscle. Therefore, strength exercises like pushups won't do anything to enhance that composition; in fact, a rigorous exercise regimen may actually reduce your breast size a bit, if you're burning enough calories to lose body fat. Women with more body fat tend to have bigger breasts. Heredity is also a factor; if your mother has large breasts, you're more likely to have them as well.

Spot Exercise Myth

The idea that you can tone or reduce fat on a specific area of the body by doing certain exercises has been largely debunked. Although different strength exercises do work different parts of the body, it takes an overall regimen of both cardiovascular and strength training to reduce excess body fat. Similarly, only concentrating on one part of the body during strength training won't do much to "pump up" that area.

Solutions

The only true way to increase breast size is to get implants, or perhaps by gaining a bit of body fat; many women also experience an increase in breast size during pregnancy and breastfeeding, although this change tends to be temporary. However, doing chest exercises can tone and firm the muscles underneath your breasts, making them look more "perky." Modified pushups and front lifts with light weights work these muscles.

Sports Bras

When you exercise, be sure to wear a sports bra. High-impact physical activities such as running or aerobics can cause your breasts to sag more quickly over time by stressing the connective tissues, or Cooper's ligaments. Wearing a sports bra can mitigate this effect, no matter what your size; however, smaller-chested women should wear the standard compression bra style, while those who are a C cup or larger should wear sports bras with cups that separate and support each breast.

References

Article reviewed by Jenna Marie Last updated on: Feb 23, 2011

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