Overhead Press Issue

Krissy2prissy
Krissy2prissy Posts: 25 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I have been following Stronglifts and I have progressed with additional weight on everything except the overhead press. I have stalled at 55 pounds. I deloaded and worked back up but...again stopped at 55 pounds.

I saw an exercise called a push press where it appears you use your legs as you push the bar overhead. Would this be a suitable substitute or should I just keep at it with 55 pounds and hope eventually to progress?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Replies

  • babyblake11
    babyblake11 Posts: 1,107 Member
    do you do cleans? maybe focusing on.increasng that and your ohp should naturally follow..
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    'Thrusters' and overhead press are both useful tools. That being said, try not to go with the former just because it lets you put more weight overhead. First of all, unless you know what you're doing, it's a good way to get hurt. Second, women in general often have problems with the overhead press stalling for long periods of time. There's nothing you can do about it, except keep at it. Hell, I'm not even a woman, and my OHP PR has been stuck at 175 for months.
  • Krissy2prissy
    Krissy2prissy Posts: 25 Member
    I have never done cleans...googled them and holy cow I don't think I could do those.

    So I just keep at the 55 pounds and eventually I will be able to add weight? I was thinking that there was something wrong since I have added weight on everything else.

    I've been at that weight now for a couple of weeks. I will keep at it.
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    If you aren't 'NSFW' averse, give this a read. I found it to be very helpful with my OHP.

    http://chaosandpain.blogspot.com/2011/10/pimpin-aint-easy-but-overhead-pressing.html
  • RunDoozer
    RunDoozer Posts: 1,699 Member
    Overhead press is where almost everyone stalls first. The program suggests deloading 3 times and then going to something like a 3x5. You can also try upping the weight in smaller than 5 lb increments like 2.5 or lb if available. I would just keep at it. Its normal.
  • Krissy2prissy
    Krissy2prissy Posts: 25 Member
    If you aren't 'NSFW' averse, give this a read. I found it to be very helpful with my OHP.

    http://chaosandpain.blogspot.com/2011/10/pimpin-aint-easy-but-overhead-pressing.html



    Thanks for that link, it was a helpful article. Cool website, I have found a lot of things to read.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    i dont think push preses are suitable substitutes because the power you use to drive the bar overhead comes from your hips in those and not your upper body like it does when you do an OHP

    like the others have said, just keep at it. you might want to buy (if your gym doesnt have them) the 1.25 weight plates. sometimes going up by 2.5 pounds is easier than going up by 5 pounds.

    also even though you should be keeping your lower body stationary when you do OHP, maybe you can try focus on keeping your core tight and strong since that also can have an effect of the amount of weight you press
  • Docmahi
    Docmahi Posts: 1,603 Member
    If you get ahold of the wendler 531 PDF he gives some good tips for the press. I would avoid using a push press right now, you could always switch to dumbells for a few weeks then come back to barbell.

    if you cant find a copy of the wendler PDF drop me a message and I can email it
  • 2hobbit1
    2hobbit1 Posts: 820 Member
    look for fractional weights - they will let you nudge the weight up slowly - so you can work up to the full 5lb jump.

    http://www.amazon.com/CFF-Olympic-Fractional-Weight-Plates/dp/B005P7BPCA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360802963&sr=8-1&keywords=fractional+weight+plates
  • nz_deevaa
    nz_deevaa Posts: 12,209 Member
    When I stalled, I went to failure at a lower weight each session for say two or three weeks. Then tried a higher weight.
  • Krissy2prissy
    Krissy2prissy Posts: 25 Member
    i dont think push preses are suitable substitutes because the power you use to drive the bar overhead comes from your hips in those and not your upper body like it does when you do an OHP

    like the others have said, just keep at it. you might want to buy (if your gym doesnt have them) the 1.25 weight plates. sometimes going up by 2.5 pounds is easier than going up by 5 pounds.

    also even though you should be keeping your lower body stationary when you do OHP, maybe you can try focus on keeping your core tight and strong since that also can have an effect of the amount of weight you press

    I figured the push press wouldn't be suitable because of that...I guess my brain was thinking that it might, just might, help in some way to strengthen my arm\shoulders and make the overhead press easier.

    I going to try the concentrating on my core advice. I am really bad about not tightening my core.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    I agree on the fractional weights, very helpful. Also, think about going the 5x5 for women group. Tons of great advice floating around.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/4601-stronglifts-5x5-for-women
  • Krissy2prissy
    Krissy2prissy Posts: 25 Member
    look for fractional weights - they will let you nudge the weight up slowly - so you can work up to the full 5lb jump.

    http://www.amazon.com/CFF-Olympic-Fractional-Weight-Plates/dp/B005P7BPCA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360802963&sr=8-1&keywords=fractional+weight+plates

    Thanks for showing me those! I have some 2.5 plates and I thought that was the smallest weight increment made.
    I am ordering the fractional plates right now~
  • jimmie65
    jimmie65 Posts: 655 Member
    I agree on the fractional weights, very helpful. Also, think about going the 5x5 for women group. Tons of great advice floating around.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/4601-stronglifts-5x5-for-women

    Completely off-topic, but love the avatar.
  • Cait_Sidhe
    Cait_Sidhe Posts: 3,150 Member
    I feel your pain. After months and months of trying I finally built up to 55 lb. Then I got the flu and I'm back to trying to get 5 sets of 5 reps of 50 lb. Just keep trying.
  • Cait_Sidhe
    Cait_Sidhe Posts: 3,150 Member
    look for fractional weights - they will let you nudge the weight up slowly - so you can work up to the full 5lb jump.

    http://www.amazon.com/CFF-Olympic-Fractional-Weight-Plates/dp/B005P7BPCA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360802963&sr=8-1&keywords=fractional+weight+plates

    Thanks for showing me those! I have some 2.5 plates and I thought that was the smallest weight increment made.
    I am ordering the fractional plates right now~
    I found a cheaper option. I bought 1 lb ankle weights and use them as fractional plates. It helped a lot with my bench press. They fit perfectly on an olympic barbell.
    I think the ones I got were at Burlington Coat Factory for $6/pair.
  • heatheralia
    heatheralia Posts: 79 Member
    It's kind of creepy to find your topic. Just last night my husband was commenting on the fact that I am doing more of a push press than an overhead press. I am also working my way through Strong Lifts, and currently at 70 pounds. I told him that I would look on here before I try it again to see if others thought it was okay to substitute.
  • RunDoozer
    RunDoozer Posts: 1,699 Member
    It's kind of creepy to find your topic. Just last night my husband was commenting on the fact that I am doing more of a push press than an overhead press. I am also working my way through Strong Lifts, and currently at 70 pounds. I told him that I would look on here before I try it again to see if others thought it was okay to substitute.

    You're working different muscles by doing a push press than a OHP. From what I have seen on the stronglifts website mehdi the guy who runs it says push presses are not a suitable replacement. If you have to deload to do them properly then do it. You're just cheating yourself if you don't. More weight isn't always better.

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