Fitness question re: pushups

Nocturnal

Lifer
Jan 8, 2002
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I just started training mixed martial arts and our warmups consist of pushups, jumping jacks, etc etc.

I can only do about ten full pushups and then I proceed to almost die as I try to come up.

For the past couple of days since Thursday my arms have felt sore as if the muscle was ripped and it was repairing itself.

What I want to know is since I ripped my muscle and it repaired, will I be able to go up to fifteen pushups today? If not, how long does it usually take to be able to move up and move up? Also regarding stamina, how long does it take to be fully conditioned so that I won't have to rest so often while training?
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
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Wow, that's pretty bad, no offense :p
If you are in THAT bad shape, you should build pretty quickly. But to expect a 50% increase every time is ludicrous.

For big muscle groups, such as legs or chest, expect 48 hours between workouts.
 

zCypher

Diamond Member
Aug 18, 2002
6,115
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You're going to increase very quickly right now - but then you'll increase more and more slowly as you get into better shape.
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
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Originally posted by: zCypher
Being sore is good.. :D

yea, if you aren't in shape and you aren't getting sore, you probably aren't working hard enough.
 

Nocturnal

Lifer
Jan 8, 2002
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I just tried to do some pushups by myself in my kiosk and I noticed I could go down with ease as opposed to struggling like hell the last time.

And yes, I am out of shape, completely. But hence why I'm training.
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
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Question for you, are you doing *real* pushups?

Go down all the way. Keep your back straight and don't stick your ass in the air. Your chest/face should be all pretty much on the floor at the bottom of your rep.
 

SyahM

Golden Member
Nov 6, 2001
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pushups is one of the best exercise, like others have said, you'll gain strength quickly. So, before you hit plateau make sure you varies your pushups, do one hand pushups etc .. there are many variations ...

it'll be fun when you can do 100 pushups with ease .. then drop another 10 one hand each hand .. Good Luck!
 

iamme

Lifer
Jul 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: geckojohn
I do about 20 pushups everyday.

aren't doing pushups like lifting weights, where you should allow 48 hours to maximize recovery and muscle buildup?
 

DJFuji

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 1999
3,643
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Try maximizing protein intake within an hour after you train-- your body should be in an anabolic state and will absorb nutrients better for rebuilding of muscle tissue. Some say that building muscle is 30% working out, 70% dietary discipline.
 

EvilYoda

Lifer
Apr 1, 2001
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While everyone's telling you what to do, I'd suggest a bit of caution when you try to remember not to stick you ass in the air...don't let it drop too far, as you'll hurt your back...better to stick it up a little rather than let it drop. Be careful, hurting your back sucks big time.
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
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Originally posted by: iamme
Originally posted by: geckojohn
I do about 20 pushups everyday.

aren't doing pushups like lifting weights, where you should allow 48 hours to maximize recovery and muscle buildup?

Perhaps if you're training hard and doing a ton of them... then MAYBE.

I walk every few minutes... don't mean jack cause I don't do it to build up leg... um... tone?
 

LS20

Banned
Jan 22, 2002
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its not that you arent strong enough to do the pushups..its that your muscles arent conditioned to do so

15 pushups is barely strenuous enough to need a 3 minute break between sets.. let alone a 48 hour "rest" --thats only if youre doing a real workout

just keep at it, and take in lots of protein.


i used to struggle terribly with pushups and pullups before i started working out... this was only a month ago.. now i pull them off like nothing
 

datalink7

Lifer
Jan 23, 2001
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Originally posted by: Deeko
Question for you, are you doing *real* pushups?

Go down all the way. Keep your back straight and don't stick your ass in the air. Your chest/face should be all pretty much on the floor at the bottom of your rep.

A real push up isn't "go all the way down." That is a "marine pushup."

A proper push up is just making sure your back is straight (if you try to look forward this helps to straighten your back), and go down so your arms make a 90 degree or greater angel.
 

datalink7

Lifer
Jan 23, 2001
16,765
6
81
Originally posted by: jooksing
do girl pushups (knees on the ground) :cool:

Actually, this is good advice... but only after you can no longer do proper pushups. Switch to your knees and then to those untill you can't do any more. Then you know you have done as much as you can :p
 

brxndxn

Diamond Member
Apr 3, 2001
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Screw pushups... Just get that thing on TV where you just lay there like a lazy bum while the machine shocks your muscles..

btw.. My track coach in high school (former Navy Seal) always used to poke fun of us when we struggled to do 20 or 30 pushups.. So we asked him what he could do. He said he could do 90 in a minute and we didn't believe him.

Well.. at the end of season party, we dared him and he actually did 88 pushups in one minute. It took him longer to go down than it did to go up. It was crazy to see.. I've never seen a person do pushups that fast before.
 

Alphazero

Golden Member
May 9, 2002
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It's important to warm up the muscles well before you start. For best results, warm up and stretch before and after training. You must be consistent and keep training on a regular basis.

I do three sets every second day to keep up my ability. I can do a maximum of around 80.