Never retire the push-up

Like a classic suit, a silk scarf and a good bottle of wine, a push-up is one exercise that should never go out of style. No matter your age.

Fitness experts and the American College of Sports Medicine have recommended we don't forget upper-body fitness in our cardio-crazed world. The ability to knock off a bunch of push-ups in good form is compromised further by our steady rise in obesity rates. Kids are even failing push-up tests -- a 2001 study of students aged 10 to 13 revealed nearly half the boys and three-quarters of the girls did not pass.

We lose significant muscle mass as we age, but if you keep up those push-ups and other strength exercises you bulk up what muscle you do have and slow the loss of strength. Do not let your first Social Security check or Medicare payment put a stop to a regular push-up routine. Aging biomechanics researchers say push-ups will help your wrists and upper body break a fall without breaking your head in the process.

If you need a goal to shoot for, take a look at the national averages -- a 40-year-old woman should nail 16 push-ups and a 40-year-old man should do 27. Sixty year olds are averaging six push-ups for women and 17 for men -- no kidding strength declines as you age. Read more in this NY Times article on push-ups. Right after I read it I dropped to the floor like G.I. Jane and completed 21 traditional push-ups. Those planks I've been doing are paying off. This 40-year-old's new goal is 40. Set a realistic goal for yourself. Do push-ups every day. You will see real progress.