Too many push-ups

nutmegoreo wrote: »

What if I start with classic and then drop to knees when I max at those? I haven't done pushups in a while, but that was one method of increasing them a bit more rapidly.

Exercises I will be referring to:

https://www.exercise.com/exercises/half-push-up
https://www.exercise.com/exercises/push-up

Suggested progression:
- 1/2 push up from knees
- standard push up from knees
- 1/2 push up from toes
- standard push up from toes

Ensure you can do 10 reps of one before attempting the next on the list. As you work down the list the strength requirement for chest and arms increases.

Best to progress slowly and ensure you have good technique than rush and risk injury.

To progress quickly you must had good form, be willing to work to (and through) muscle fatigue and most importantly REST DAYS (full days where you do no push ups - to allow the muscle to repair and build).

All the best for good (injury free) progress.

captainfantastic94 wrote: »

nutmegoreo wrote: »

What if I start with classic and then drop to knees when I max at those? I haven't done pushups in a while, but that was one method of increasing them a bit more rapidly.

When you drop, that's your max for that set, you can do a set of knee push-ups if you like and let us know how many you did! Rock it out!

Thanks. It will be a low starting number, but I find they do build quickly.

I love this challenge, guys

Curious for anyone's input - I see two common variants on the standard push-up: some people will have their arms a bit wider, and when they drop down let their elbows go more towards the outside. I've always found this really irritates one of my shoulders, so I focus on trying to keep my elbows in to my sides, pointed towards my heels.

Do any of you experience this shoulder pain? Any tips? I feel like the wider arm stance will recruit more of the chest muscles, which would be good for me in general, whereas the narrower arms lean a bit more towards triceps.

RedSquadronLeader wrote: »

I love this challenge, guys

Curious for anyone's input - I see two common variants on the standard push-up: some people will have their arms a bit wider, and when they drop down let their elbows go more towards the outside. I've always found this really irritates one of my shoulders, so I focus on trying to keep my elbows in to my sides, pointed towards my heels.

Do any of you experience this shoulder pain? Any tips? I feel like the wider arm stance will recruit more of the chest muscles, which would be good for me in general, whereas the narrower arms lean a bit more towards triceps.

I have experienced the shoulder irritation you mention. For me it is usually when I have not had enough recovery time. The muscle balance between the chest and the triceps is out of balance and the force irritates the joint (tries to pull it out of alignment). As this is a bad type of discomfort (pain), do not try push through it.

Usually a day or two of rest from push ups (work on core and/or legs instead) does the trick for me.

I find there are two types of discomfort (pain). Exhaustion/fatigue and injury. First is good and helps you get stronger quicker; but needs to be managed carefully. Second is bad and needs immediate attention.

Wider does recruit more (and sometimes different) muscles. It just physics (force, levers/moments and inertia). There are many different variations on the push-up (with various difficulties). Look up exercise.com or athlean.

Body weight strength training can be as effective as free-weight training. It just takes some knowledge of physics and imagination.

Classic Push-ups
Week 1 (1/2) - 9
Week 1 (2/2) - 14

I'm excited to be getting better at these!

Deadlifting_Away_Doritos wrote: »

I have been trying to do 100 push-ups in 1:30. Average just one in less than a second. First time I did it in 2:15 and next time went up to 2:45. This morning I cranked out a 100 in 1:56.

That's impressive! I've never been good at doing them fast.

Week 1 (1/2) - 33 standard push ups (22/Apr)
Week 1 (2/2) - 35 standard push ups (25/Apr)
Week 2 (1/2) - 36 standard push ups (30/Apr)

Still steady improvement (just).

Week 1 (1/2) - 33 standard push ups (22/Apr)
Week 1 (2/2) - 35 standard push ups (25/Apr)
Week 2 (1/2) - 36 standard push ups (30/Apr)
Week 2 (2/2) - 38 standard push ups (3/May)

(Have not been focusing on push ups in my normal strength workouts, more core, legs and walking).

Week 1 (1/2) - 33 standard push ups (22/Apr)
Week 1 (2/2) - 35 standard push ups (25/Apr)
Week 2 (1/2) - 36 standard push ups (30/Apr)
Week 2 (2/2) - 38 standard push ups (3/May)
Week 2 (3/1) - 38 standard push ups (7/May)

(No improvement, but no regression - still not focusing on push ups in my normal strength workouts)

SunflowerDaisey wrote: »

Week 3 - 0 my wrist is injured. Does anyone have tips to heal wrists? It is very stiff and painful. It just randomly started to hurt.

Best advice is to see a doctor or a physiotherapist. Get to the source of the pain. It could be nerves, not muscles or tendons.

Most injuries still respond to RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation).

Wrists, dependent on what makes it hurt, compression bandaging it for a few days often helps (limits flexing and stops it from taking strain under lateral pressure - allows you to still use the hand).

Take care of your body, you'll need it for quite a while. Spares are difficult to come by and expensive to install.

sgt1372 wrote: »

I'm not enrolled in the challenge but I routinely do 300 decline pushups a week; 5x20=100, 3 days a week, M/W/F.

I do them in combo w/50 pullups and 75 dips during each session. It's done great things for my arms, shoulders, pec and lats.

Great work. I can imagine that amount of work would be great for the physique.

Know any great exercises for biceps that do not require pull up bar or weights? (ie. can be done in the home with no equipment). Pushup work the tri's (and chest and core), but do little for the bi's.