Hitting a problem with my pushups?

[Reagan]

For the past several weeks ever since I decided I want to enlist, at the very least 4 times a day I've been going downstairs to do alternating sets of crunches and pushups, only stopping when I'm physically incapable of doing anymore. I'm noticing my crunches are improving constantly (I'm no Abdominal Snowman yet, but I am able to get at least 60 in 2 minutes, when I was barely able to do 30 a few weeks ago and have been working a sit-down job for years), yet for some reason I'm having trouble getting out more than 20 pushups out in a single set, yet I've been doing them even more than I do crunches which are improving at a faster rate. I can do multiple sets if I get a few seconds or a minute to rest in between them, yet I seem stuck around the 20 pushup range, where my muscles just can't push anymore until I give them a few seconds to rest.

Normally for my pushup form I keep my back totally straight and rigid, fingers spread on the floor, then I go down until my chin touches the floor, then push back up while exhaling. I also stretch beforehand too. I'm 23, fairly slim - 6'2, 179 lbs or so. Kind of a Charlton Heston build with a decent chest and back, but always had thin arms, if that helps identify anything.

Is it normal for your pushup limit to take longer to progress than, say, crunches? Or could I be doing something wrong form-wise? Hopefully I'm just being impatient about getting stronger, but if I'm doing something wrong I want to fix it.

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

Take a day off once in a while. Your body needs time to heal, that's when you're going to get stronger.

[crazymjb]

Well you should be taking rests, ie 48 hours between workouts, when doing the same muscle group. For example, I do 200 pushups every other day. Going to raise that number as soon as I get the number of sets down. Your muscles need time to recover. (edit: submitted before Echo Four Bravo's update)

After you give yourself a break with the pushups for a bit I would recommend "stew smith's" pushup program. It helped me get my sets down, and more than anything helped with wide grip pullups.

Mike

[Hologram]

Well you should be taking rests, ie 48 hours between workouts, when doing the same muscle group. For example, I do 200 pushups every other day. Going to raise that number as soon as I get the number of sets down. Your muscles need time to recover. (edit: submitted before Echo Four Bravo's update)

After you give yourself a break with the pushups for a bit I would recommend "stew smith's" pushup program. It helped me get my sets down, and more than anything helped with wide grip pullups.

Mike

Stew Smith's pushup program? I'm kinda having the same problem so where could I find this program?

[crazymjb]

http://www.*************/Opinions/0,...082405,00.html

Apparently I can't link to Military . com, but just google it. "stew smith pushup program"

Mike

[JoeInVille]

I do 150-200 every single day. I never really found it necessary to rest except from doing pull ups and other sorts of muscle building activities. I dont really think you truly need to rest from push ups.

[Bullpup]

Anytime you work a muscle to the point that it is sore or you can't work it anymore then it needs rest. Pushups are not an exception. If you excersise correctly then you are actually physically micro-tearing your muscle. The time off allows the muscle to heal. The only thing that you can really do everyday is crunches/situps (without extra weight) because it is difficult to push your abs to an unhealthy limit but rests are still recommended.

[JoeInVille]

ohh ok, ty, I will start to rest my arms some. I never new I had to do that really.

[Hologram]

Anytime you work a muscle to the point that it is sore or you can't work it anymore then it needs rest. Pushups are not an exception. If you excersise correctly then you are actually physically micro-tearing your muscle. The time off allows the muscle to heal. The only thing that you can really do everyday is crunches/situps (without extra weight) because it is difficult to push your abs to an unhealthy limit but rests are still recommended.

Yeah, a lot of times I'll get on a second or third set of pushups and I can actually feel the twinges from my muscles tearing every time I go up.

[BadJustice]

http://www.*************/Opinions/0,...082405,00.html

Apparently I can't link to Military . com, but just google it. "stew smith pushup program"

Mike

Thanks for that link. I can do about 60 in a set right now, but there is no hurt in getting that number up.

[Reagan]

Hmm. Seems that the general consensus is that I should do pushups for a day, rest a day, do pushups the next day, and so on. I'll give that a try then. Thanks everyone!

[da Tiffinator]

well i hold the push up and sit up record at my school. i can do 172 crunches and 130 push ups in 2 minutes. but keep working at it you will get there trust me!! it also helps to do your push ups where your arms are elevated higher than your feet.

[Newski45]

Yesterday was my first Marine Corps poolee family day, n' they had 2 drill instructors from MCRD SD, nothing I did so far really helped me with what they put us through yesterday, we must have did over 200 push ups within only like 10 mins, with jumping jacks, n' crunches stuck in there too, but it was hard doing that many push ups, ur arms get tired faster than you think, but when you have a D.I. in your face screaming at you, you somehow find enough energy to hit another 50. Man it was an experience though, can't wait till bootcamp though!

[Nez46]

Yes it is very important to rest. And if you feel a twinge in your muscles dont keep going like fool BE SMART!!! You could be hurting your self or daminging valuable muscles not work out hard yes, But be smart about it too.

[Bacon0249]

Buy a Bonzu half ball (google it) and with your feet elevated on a bench or something the same height assume the pushup position with your hands gripping the sides and do this every set to failure. Do this 3 times a week for 3 weeks. If you can do 20 like this it will equate to about 60-80 regular pushups. If you really want to push the limit on your last two sets have someone place a 25 pound plate on your back, between your shoulder blades, and rep to failure and while maintaining the pushup position on the ball have them remove the plate and begin again till failure. I would only recomend adding weight after doing this for two weeks.

Incase you are wondering I started doing this some time ago and currently I can easily do over a 100 pushup in one sitting. It is one of "staple" exercises in the gym. I also have a bad a** program for pullups incase anyone is interested.