Bench Press sub for push ups in P90X Chest?

[penl]

I just completed Chest & Back for the first time. I can not do toe pushups but I want to work on it. Taking advise that I read here (thanks Kathryn) I did some so that my hands were higher than my feet. But I still felt like my chest was not getting worked enough because of a general upper body weakness. So here is the question, has anyone done bench press instead of some of the pushups? Do you think that is a good idea? All opions appreciated. Thanks.

[bzar]

bench press is a good idea. that's one thing i miss from the P90x series! (enter cathe).

another idea is to do them using a stability ball - put your legs on the ball, and hands on the floor. adjust hands so that you feel the contraction in the chest.

edited to add: as your core gets stronger, you'll be able to do more toe pushups. for a long time, i did knee push-ups, and toward the end of my rotation, i could do a whole set of toe push-ups. push-ups is a sneaky core move.

good luck and enjoy your P90x rotation!

[Kathryn]

After a few weeks of P90X, I was missing bench presses (especially inclines, which I like, as they seem to give me a bit of 'cleavage'), so I would substitute one or two of the chest segments with those, but I recommend trying to do as many push-ups as you can. They will increase your upper body strength in general, in a way that bench presses won't. Just do whatever you can, and you'll keep improving!

Maybe do presses for the first chest set (if you know you can hit the chest muscle well with them--so kind of 'waking up' those muscles), and most of the rest as the push-ups (of course, you could also use this as an excuse to avoid the tougher push-up variations---there are a couple of nasty ones in there. I found the 'diamond' push-ups especially tough, and always had to do them on my knees).

[penl]

Thanks. The repies make me feel better. I will make note of the suggestions!

[pattyd0319]

Penl, congrats on staring the rotation. On my first week, I did the pushups on my knees but by the second week, I managed to do some on my toes and noticed big strides in upper body strength. I think the yoga helps with pushups too (all those downward facing dogs!!). By the second week, I did as many pushups as I could on my toes and then flipped over and finished with bench presses.

I completed about 5 weeks and then decided to mix it up but now I find I can do pushups on my toes with my other workouts. Good luck!

[Kathryn]

Originally Posted by pattyd0319

I think the yoga helps with pushups too (all those downward facing dogs!!).

All those Chaturangas really do help with push-ups.

[Debbie S.]

I personally have subbed dumbbell chest presses for push ups many times. I mainly do this if I'm using P90X in a rotations that consists of a lot of push ups in another workout the same week.

This is what I have done for chest and back.
1st set push ups
flat bench dumbbell bench presses
incline dumbbell presses
decline presses

When I do sub, I do go as heavy as possible though, keeping my reps between 6-8 reps, maybe 8-10.

[mspina]

I would stick with the push-ups to get better at doing push-ups (which really are an incredible all around UB exercise). Do as many as you can on your toes, then move to the mods suggested her previously. Each week, try to best your "toe number" by one. Before you know it, you'll be pumping out a full set on your toes!

[Sandi M]

Until P90X, I thought pushups were something I could blow off as long as I did bench presses. NOT. Sticking with toe pushups has strengthened and reshaped my entire upper body unlike anything in the past, including my core. Keep starting each set with toe pushups, even if you have to drop to your knees every time. It's worth it.

Sandi M

[Kyra]

Originally Posted by mspina

I would stick with the push-ups to get better at doing push-ups (which really are an incredible all around UB exercise). Do as many as you can on your toes, then move to the mods suggested her previously. Each week, try to best your "toe number" by one. Before you know it, you'll be pumping out a full set on your toes!

ITA. I think the best way to get better at pushups is to do pushups!