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Old 12-06-14, 09:12 AM  
bubbles76
 
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Question on PushUps

I am still trying to work my way up to doing 50 consecutive pushups. So far, I am a long way from that - I can only get out 20 at the most. However, I am working with a pushup app to help with that. I am up to doing 45 pushups (5 sets of 9 with a one minute rest in between) 3 times a week. This is in addition to my regular strength work, which does include chest and back work.

On the forum I often hear about overworking your chest muscles at the expense of the back, causing a hunched look in some people or shoulder pain. If I am doing pushups every week, should I follow up with pullups or pull downs? I also want to work on pullups, but I don't have a pull up bar. Fighting with Big Bubble on that one. I do have my bodylastics and a door anchor, so I could do pull downs.

Or am I overthinking?

Thanks for the advice!
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Old 12-06-14, 09:22 AM  
KarenP
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bubbles76 View Post
On the forum I often hear about overworking your chest muscles at the expense of my back, causing a hunched look in some people or shoulder pain. If I am doing pushups every week, should I follow up with pullups or pull downs?
And rows. You needn't follow it immediately. You could do it on a different day, if you wanted. You can keep things balanced by counting the sets of pushing vs the sets of pulling.

What's the Big Bubble?
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Old 12-06-14, 09:57 AM  
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Big Bubble is her DH!

Let us know when you reach your goal!!
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Old 12-06-14, 10:43 AM  
Sollamyn
 
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Just FYI, be sure to include stretching for the chest muscles. This will help to combat tightness in that area. I had been suffering shoulder pain for years (due to hunching over my desk at work, I guess), and just recently went through a couple of rounds of physical therapy. In addition to strengthening exercises for the shoulders, rotator cuff, and back, I was prescribed stretches for the chest. Within a couple of weeks, my pain improved by 80% or more (it's hard to quantify pain!). Anyway, I feel tons better than before the therapy!

Good luck with reaching your goal!

Donna
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Old 12-06-14, 02:40 PM  
Jane P.
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I once read that if you can do 2 sets of 16 push-ups, you will not gain any strength by increasing the number. You gain endurance, but no more muscle strength. You have to do something to make the push-ups harder, such as elevating your feet, slowing the pace etc.
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Old 12-07-14, 08:52 AM  
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Thanks for the responses everyone!

KarenP, so you're saying if I'm doing 5 sets of 9 pushups then I should do the same for pullups (pull downs) and rows? Seems reasonable. And yes, Big Bubble is my DH

Suzannaerin, I will definitely let you know! It's hard to get there, because I keep starting and stopping, due to soreness, overdoing it, laziness, etc. I will get there though!

Sollamyn you are right about stretching. I am usually stretching during the one minute rest in between, but sometimes I forget. I will be sure to look up some other chest stretches on youtube, as it seems that only two that I've tried seem to work.

JaneP thanks for the tip! I am trying to go for strength and endurance. Mostly, this started because I wanted to surpass what I was able to do while in the military, but there are so many interesting push up variations, I want to try them all. Currently, I can't even do 2 sets of 16 consecutive pushups, so I guess when I can it will be time to change things up. For some reason, slowing the pace makes it easier for me. Elevating one leg definitely makes it harder!
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Old 12-07-14, 10:29 AM  
KarenP
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KarenP, so you're saying if I'm doing 5 sets of 9 pushups then I should do the same for pullups (pull downs) and rows? Seems reasonable.
Something like that. You can actually work more pulling than pressing for healthy shoulders.
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