Burpees etc are easier/quicker if you are short?

[shaggedthruahedgebackwards]

Slightly light hearted but just returned from a PT session with a friend who is much shorter than me

AIBU to think that a lot of exercises which involve folding your body up and then stretching out to your full height must be easier if you're only small?

Limbs are travelling a shorter distance is my logic

.... or maybe my friend is just a lot fitter than me

I'm with you, people with shorter limbs don't have as far to get down to the ground :-)

Shorter people have shorter muscles though

You're not wrong, I fly through burpees (5ft 4) my partner just cannot keep pace (6ft 4 and very fit)....I like to think I'm fitter, in reality the excersise is suited to munchkins.

YANBU

I might be quicker at doing burpees but swear my taller friends are quicker runners as they have longer legs!

I never thought of this, I’m 5’3” and never found burpees the nightmare most people say they are

No. I'm short and I hate them. Cannot do them.

You're friend is fitter than you are. Sorry.

I'm really unfit but also really short and don't struggle with burpees really.

Running mind you, I have always and probably will always be rubbish at. I just don't have the legs for it. Dp is only 5'6 and I take two steps to his one walking normally. His brisk walk is my jog etc.

Burpees are far easier if your not over weight and don't have a dodgy knee

Yep I think this is true. Seem big tall fit blokes really struggle while shorter more rotund ladies seem to fly through them. You need good muscles though.

Yes completely true. It is also the reason why I can't touch my toes is because I am too tall

Yes you are correct. Squats, burpees are both easier for shorties

Yay!!!!! I knew there was a scientific reason, I'm not just shit!!

Oh yes squats too. I'm v short but I am good at squats.

YABU for saying this is a lighthearted thread. Burpees are the devil's work for long legged lard arses like myself.

I think it does make a difference. I have a very long body and find plank, push ups etc really hard despite having quite strong arms. On the other hand I can touch my toes and further no problem.

I'm a good all rounder but always struggled with sodding burpees.
My fast twitch muscles are going (45yrs) so I've accepted that it's better to do them steadily with good form than throw myself into them.

I'm 5ft 1" and I fucking HATE them - yabu!

yep, I noticed this at zumba years ago - much harder to clap your hands above your head in rhythm when you have long arms and have to move them much faster than people with shorter arms

Thanks for the replies

I only got 3 YABUs which is a pretty good result for the risky business that is starting a thread in AIBU!

I remember watching Michael Mosley's 'Truth about exercise' programme a couple of months ago and one of the supposed tests of fitness involved how many times you can go from sitting to standing in a minute. Same (short) friend told me that her and her DH had a go and she completed a lot more than him and I did wonder if him being a foot taller was a slight disadvantage!

I had never thought about this but perhaps you are right! I am 5’ 4” and don’t really mind them. However, I can only do them for 40 seconds straight, not the 60 seconds that Tracey on Wednesdays has decided we must do.