Crossword Genius

Exercise before feast including seconds (5-2)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

press-up

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'exercise' is the definition.
(I know that press-up is a type of arm exercise)

'before feast including seconds' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'before' could be 'e' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'e' is found in the answer.
'seconds' could be 'ss' (an abbreviation for seconds written twice) and 'ss' is located in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for press-up that I've seen before include "Face-to-the-floor exercise" , "Keep-fit exercise" , "Arm exercise while lying face down" , "Gymnastic floor exercise" , "Form of arm exercise" .)

I've seen this clue in The Everyman puzzle in The Observer.
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