Push ups?

mike314 · 04-Jul-05, 09:54 AM

Got a question, recently started working out to tone and define my body. So I started on the freeweights, but obivously stated low on the bench press (just the bar, 45lbs). My question is since I started benching the bar alone, when ever I try to do a pushup I can barely do 5 (hit muscle fatigue after about 5). Before I started bench pressing I could do maybe 10 solid. Is this because since my body is now used to the bar, I can't do as many push ups. Should I have been doing pushups to the point where I could do about 100 solid then move on to bench my body weight???? I guess because I'm not benching my body weight anymore right?

Also, what is the name of the bench press that has you on a downward angle, like you have the standard bench press followed by the one where your legs are in the air and your head is towards the floor. Whats the name of that bench press if it has one.

Thanks

Gearloose · 04-Jul-05, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike314

Got a question, recently started working out to tone and define my body. So I started on the freeweights, but obivously stated low on the bench press (just the bar, 45lbs). My question is since I started benching the bar alone, when ever I try to do a pushup I can barely do 5 (hit muscle fatigue after about 5). Before I started bench pressing I could do maybe 10 solid. Is this because since my body is now used to the bar, I can't do as many push ups. Should I have been doing pushups to the point where I could do about 100 solid then move on to bench my body weight???? I guess because I'm not benching my body weight anymore right?

Also, what is the name of the bench press that has you on a downward angle, like you have the standard bench press followed by the one where your legs are in the air and your head is towards the floor. Whats the name of that bench press if it has one.

Thanks

Are you trying to do pushups right after you do bench presses? Most likely, your muscles are too fatigued from the bench press to do the same number of pushups as you did before. If you do a good well balanced weight routine, the pushups are not really necessary.

The bench press you describe is a decline bench press.
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...enchPress.html

The one with your upper body elevated is an incline bench press
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...enchPress.html

Gearloose

**threenorns** · 04-Jul-05, 10:19 AM

if you're benching AND doing pushups in the same session, then no, you're not going to get as many pushups as you did when you only did them alone.

also, make sure you're allowing yourself a long enough rest period between sets.

Justice · 04-Jul-05, 10:48 AM

just curious, how much time should be taken between sets, usually i have about 20-30 second break, is that long enough or to long??

**threenorns** · 04-Jul-05, 11:12 AM

gear, you're too quick on the Enter key!

as for resting, 20-30 seconds is nowhere near long enough for muscle-building. that's the kind of rest you take if you're doing some kind of cardio exercise. i rest a minimum of 2 minutes, but if it's a very heavy exercise (ie, squats) i'll rest up to five - however long it takes to get my body back to "normal".

Gearloose · 04-Jul-05, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by threenorns

gear, you're too quick on the Enter key!

aww, I was only 5 minutes ahead of you on the reply.

(You are talking about my posting a reply first, right?)

Gearloose

**threenorns** · 04-Jul-05, 11:32 AM

.....oops.... you're right: i took a phone call while in the middle of replying, LOL!

mike314 · 04-Jul-05, 02:47 PM

I do the push ups after my workout, maybe about a day later, after my muscles have rested. Example, workout on Monday, pushups on tuesday.

thanks

mrzool · 04-Jul-05, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by threenorns

.....oops.... you're right: i took a phone call while in the middle of replying, LOL!

thank you for sharing that with us

: so very helpful

Cort · 04-Jul-05, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justice

just curious, how much time should be taken between sets, usually i have about 20-30 second break, is that long enough or to long??

It is pretty short. I actually go for about 3-5 minutes.

Justice · 05-Jul-05, 03:15 AM

ahhhhh ok then, so the best thing to do would to say for eg, bench, then go onto my back and then the arms then come back to the bench....?

Cort · 05-Jul-05, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justice

ahhhhh ok then, so the best thing to do would to say for eg, bench, then go onto my back and then the arms then come back to the bench....?

Not sure what you mean here.

Elaborate? I'm not sure what you mean. If you are talking about supersetting, then that is one way of doing things. I just don't consider 30 seconds long enough to recover from a heavy set.

Justice · 05-Jul-05, 05:49 AM

supersetting hmmmm.....yes... :confused: ...... like one big loop...im guessing thats what super setting means, so yes...