Pushup Question

[Brat]

Okay...just did my two-minute test to see where I'm at, and basically I need to get my ass in gear...So, I have a few questions for y'all...

1) Is it bad to do pushups every day??

2) When I bench, should I work on reps or weight?? My old boss, a former MFT (Master Fitness Trainer) says to do reps, whereas my recruiters say to be able to do 75% of my weight for like, 10-12 reps...well, at least work up to that...Should I do both??

3) Should I be doing one max set of my pushups when I practice or work on just doing x reps for x sets??

Any other help y'all might have would be great...I'm stressed about this...

 

[GymLift]

What are your goals? What is this 2 minute test all about? Do you need to pass some kind of test?

 

[Brat]

What are your goals? What is this 2 minute test all about? Do you need to pass some kind of test?

Military...hence the screenname and stuff...My goal is 42-46 P/U in two minutes...

 

[shaved_head_in_NC]

wannabe...
when you bench, go heavy, but as soon as your done doing your set, drop down and knock out as many pushups as you can. Also you can try elevating your feet on the bench and doing elevated push ups. Try different hand placements, have your hands just a little wider than shoulder width, move your hands a little less than shoulder width, and the diamond push up, where your thumb and fore finger are touching.
Also experiment to see where you are stronger. I found that I was stronger with a narrower hand placement using more triceps, and less chest.
For training, yes pushups everyday isn't good, but believe me in boot camp, you'll be doing them everyday.
Good Luck

 

[jes131]

You really don't need to be stressing over this, almost everyone else you'll be in boot camp with will be out of shape and unable to do anything. Being a super-stud only draws attention to yourself and the best way to make it through any military school is to be invisible. Do NOT try to impress your drill instructors. With that caveat:

As the soon-to-be retiree has pointed out, you need to experiment. Find the hand positions that work best for you and remember that you can change them as you go. For instance, I start with my hands low and my elbows tucked in rather than flared out - almost identical to my bench press position. As I go, I can move them farther apart if my tri's are getting tired or farther in if my shoulders are getting tired (pecs never get tired before the others). Also experiment with pacing. Some try to do all the push-ups in one go, what I do is a set of 20, another 20, 10, 10, 5, 5 - until I hit 80 or whatever the max is (just recently went up for me since I hit the older age group). Between each set I bend my knees a little arch my back upward and take a couple deep breaths.

As far as your workout: I have a day where I do chest and another where I do shoulders and tri's - I do pushups and dips on both of these days after I've lifted (not in between sets), and I lift heavy. I've already gone off way too long here so I'll give you more in another post or pm or whatever if you still have questions.

 

[shaved_head_in_NC]

You really don't need to be stressing over this, almost everyone else you'll be in boot camp with will be out of shape and unable to do anything. Being a super-stud only draws attention to yourself and the best way to make it through any military school is to be invisible. Do NOT try to impress your drill instructors. With that caveat:

As the soon-to-be retiree has pointed out, you need to experiment. Find the hand positions that work best for you and remember that you can change them as you go. For instance, I start with my hands low and my elbows tucked in rather than flared out - almost identical to my bench press position. As I go, I can move them farther apart if my tri's are getting tired or farther in if my shoulders are getting tired (pecs never get tired before the others). Also experiment with pacing. Some try to do all the push-ups in one go, what I do is a set of 20, another 20, 10, 10, 5, 5 - until I hit 80 or whatever the max is (just recently went up for me since I hit the older age group). Between each set I bend my knees a little arch my back upward and take a couple deep breaths.

As far as your workout: I have a day where I do chest and another where I do shoulders and tri's - I do pushups and dips on both of these days after I've lifted (not in between sets), and I lift heavy. I've already gone off way too long here so I'll give you more in another post or pm or whatever if you still have questions.

That is some also some great advice, although I disagree with the first paragraph. Make yourself be seen, it will get you promoted faster out of boot camp!! The PT studs and guys/gals that shoot well will get promoted out of boot.

 

[jes131]

That is some also some great advice, although I disagree with the first paragraph. Make yourself be seen, it will get you promoted faster out of boot camp!! The PT studs and guys/gals that shoot well will get promoted out of boot.

Oh, I'm not saying to slack off or not do your best. It's your first duty station that will promote you - I didn't see anyone get promoted while in or directly after basic. My attitude has always been to be the "grey man." No need to talk much or draw attention to yourself - just do the job and let your results speak for themselves. I knew some guys that were physical studs and certainly competent but still got peered out.

Permit me to share a story from basic: when we were qualifying my rifle wouldn't extract the used brass so I kept getting double feeds. I went up to my drill sergeant and told him my weapon wasn't working. He said, "Have you told your drill sergeant?" I replied, "You are my drill sergeant, drill sergeant." Needless to say: I was never singled out for any type of punishment or harassment - you know how each drill has some favorites he likes to pick on.

 

[Brat]

Permit me to share a story from basic: when we were qualifying my rifle wouldn't extract the used brass so I kept getting double feeds. I went up to my drill sergeant and told him my weapon wasn't working. He said, "Have you told your drill sergeant?" I replied, "You are my drill sergeant, drill sergeant." Needless to say: I was never singled out for any type of punishment or harassment - you know how each drill has some favorites he likes to pick on.

For a split second, I was trying to understand the moral of that story...then it clicked...I was hoping my drills would never know my name, but my recruiter was like, "uh, you're going in as an E-4, you're sure to be singled out"...damn degree...useless piece of paper in the long run...

 

[crushershockey]

you should be bale to do atleast 42-46 pushups in a minute... not that hard if you train...

 

[Brat]

you should be bale to do atleast 42-46 pushups in a minute... not that hard if you train...

Yeah...right...considering most girls can't even do 20 in a minute, I dunno how I'm going to be able to do 40 in a minute...maybe some day...right now, I'll stick with the two-minute time limit...

 

[crushershockey]

true enough, i'm sure you'll be able to do it no problem tho! good luck!

 

[Brat]

true enough, i'm sure you'll be able to do it no problem tho! good luck!

Thanks for the vote of confidence...mos def needed right now

 

[Brat]

Percentage of body weight...

How much of your body weight would y'all say you are lifting when you do a pushup?? I've read between 60-75% - would y'all agree?? I know it depends on your body structure and how/where you carry your weight, as well...