How to do more pushups

[honeybunch]

FROM THE FITNESS MESSAGE BOARD AT MENSHEALTH.COM

Q: I started doing pushups about 3 weeks ago. I want to improve, but I'm not sure how to progress for the best results. Any advice?

A: Try this drill college football players use to improve their combine score in the 225-pound bench press: Time how long it takes you to do as many pushups as you can. Then, rest for the same time period, and repeat the process until you can only do one pushup. You'll do less pushups each set, but rest for less time between each set as well. Do this once every 4 days, and you'll improve your upper body endurance quickly.

 

[Connie1]

Ooh, this sounds simple!

 

[Francine]

more pushups

Thanks for sharing ! Neat technique! I'd like to throw in 2 more suggestions that also help gain more upper body strength--if you want to increase your pushup reps you have to keep at it. I would suggest finding your maximum amound of reps by simply doing pushups until you can't do any more. Once you find this number you can either keep that number or round down to the nearest 10. Do this amount of pushups every day, several times per day (5-7 sets is a good middle point). If you keep doing this you should be able to increase your maximum amount of pushups 10-15, even 20 per week. Stopping this process will of course decrease your maximum amount or regular amount!
Everybody has something different that works for them. Another technique that works is which is totaly different from the one I just mentioned is to alternate maximum effort days with rest days. Do one set of pushups until failure and then skip a day. Then maybe do 2 or 3 sets to failure and skip a day of 2. No set routine just listen to your body and go for maximums but not everyday. Just some suggestions to add variety! Of course what works for one don't work for others--so experiment on your strengths and find what works for you!

 

[honeybunch]

RE: more pushups

Next month on Nov. 11, I'll do my pushups marathon for birthday #53. I hope to do 76, and stop my last marathon count.

Not bad for an old chick.

I personally got my numbers up by doing sets that added up to 100, like 40, and 25 and 25, and whatever else brought it up to 100. I guess that would be 10, right?

 

[briee]

RE: more pushups

Honeybunch, that's exactly what I do. I would do 120 per day and start out with 40-50 and go from there until I reached 120. Sometimes I could do 3 sets of 40. Sometimes, I would reach 50 first time and 40 second time and 30 for the third set.

BUT, I love your system that you listed at the top, I'm going to try this tomorrow and go from there. I'm determined to love pushups one day and I'm getting closer each day!!!! I want a report on your 53 birthday!!!! I am soooo impressed!!!! Ladies like you keep me motivated to keep exercising. Thanks!!!!

Briee