100 push-ups question

I am the exact opposite. I can do more bench presses then push ups. Ha-ha.

It could have something to do with the how the weight is being distributed and gravity is probably playing a bigger factor then one might imagine.

not sure but hey dude....you are smoking on the # of push ups.....I am at about 30 max..up from about 5 when I started two weeks ago.....do you do any dips? I just started those and cannot do but 2 and wonder how I can build up to do more...

I haven't ever thought about it before, but just trying to make an educated guess. When you are doing push-ups you incorporate more core muscles to assist, also probably more shoulder muscles for stabilization which lightens the load on your chest muscles allowing you to do more reps.

When doing bench with the dumbbells, you taking some of those muscles out of the equation focusing more on the chest. The reason you can do fewer reps.

Similar if you use a straight bar for doing curls, you can usually do more weight than if you use dumbbells. Again, this is because you are incorporating more muscles when you use the straight bar curling both arms at the same time, you again recruit more core muscles, shoulder muscles to assist in this lift compared to one arm dumbbell curls allowing you to do more weight.

Hope that makes sense...again just an educated guess.

Also, when you put your hands on the scale your body weight is distributed between basically 2 points your hands which are close together and your feet. Once you spread your hands out, now the weight is distributed between 3 points, it is possible that some extra weight is getting transfered to your feet which would lighten the load slightly on your arms (I think this is less likely, but maybe you could check this out with your scale as well).

I find, at least with myself, that if I get joint pain from something like dips it is because my form is wrong. Maybe my arms are crooked, too wide, too narrow, something like that. You can try them on a kitchen counter where the strain may be just enough to feel it, but not enough to injure yourself. If you are interested.

Yeah, the coffee maker was not what I had in mind, though I hear though are good!:laugh:

Calisthenics are whole body, or regional exercises and should be done, IMO, for a total body workout. You are right, pushups are a great core builder, and the bench press is not. Using weights is great because they isolate muscles, which is helpful to bulk up like a body builder, or just improve certain muscles while not touching others. A lot of times people tend to have unevenly developed muscle groups, so using certain exercises can remedy this.

Calisthenics and weight training are not mutually exclusive, you can do both, and if you want the best results that is exactly what you want to do.