when you're doing pushups, what % of your body weight are you "benching"?

[iamme]

i've never really lifted weights seriously before. how can i tell how much weight i should start bench pressing?

i'm ~157lbs. i can do about 35 straight pushups before i get tired.

any tips?

btw, i got a bathroom scale and put my hands on it, as if i were doing a push up. it can out to ~115 (edit: actually closer to 100) lbs. is that accurate?

 

[kazamobah]

It probably depends on your body type.

Do a few on a scale to get an idea of how much weight you are lifting.

 

[v3rrv3]

Probably not too much. Like not even 50% Try putting your feet up on something high like a bed and it gets alot harder.

- Kevin

 

[Blieb]

put your hands on a scale, do a pushup.

 

[theNEOone]

it depends on the person. people carry weight differently - some pack it onto their midsection, others into their thighs and hips.......


=|

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: Blieb
put your hands on a scale, do a pushup.

I just did that and the scale read 140lbs at upright and 150-160 and down position. I weigh 210.

Edit: So around 70%.

 

[isaacmacdonald]

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: Blieb
put your hands on a scale, do a pushup.

I just did that and the scale read 140lbs at upright and 150-160 and down position. I weigh 210.

interesting.

 

[Regs]

Push Ups also affect more than just the upper body too. Specially if they are not done correctly, you could be putting strain on the mid to lower back and abdomen. This could ware you out fast.

Remember you are using all your other muscles trying to keep your body straight while taking the weight on your upper body.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: v3rrv3
Probably not too much. Like not even 50% Try putting your feet up on something high like a bed and it gets alot harder.

- Kevin

you must be one of those people who has huge giant legs and a tiny little body and no head if you think more than 50% of your body weight is held up by the feet when doing a pushup. think about it: hands have both your arms, your head and neck (which is at least 15 pounds for most people), your torso, and, because most people have longer legs than torso, a good portion of your legs as well. and because that portion of your legs is the fattest part, it's also the heavier part. your feet have your lower legs and the skinnier part of your upper legs and that's it.

 

[v3rrv3]

Hey,
Just talking out of what I have noticed. I used to weigh a good 180ish, could do a decent amount of push ups without pausing(good 30 ) but I could never bench worth sh1t. Maybe 80-90 pounds. 100 Max at the time.

- Kevin

 

[bleeb]

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: Blieb
put your hands on a scale, do a pushup.

I just did that and the scale read 140lbs at upright and 150-160 and down position. I weigh 210.

Edit: So around 70%.

 

[PunDogg]

when starting lifting don't go by push-ups, cuz they are totally differant than bench press, push ups u use chest, tris, shoulders, back, and bi's but in a bench press u use mainly chest and some tri's

I would go to the gym, or where ever you are lifting and put on a light weight like 25's or 35's, and start with that, cuz you need differant stabilazer muscles when bench pressing compared to doing push ups.

Dogg

 

[SagaLore]

It's not jsut the weight you have to consider - also the angle of the weight distribution. As you push up, more weight is being leveraged towards your feet.

And if you're female, you have your breasts to consider.

 

[v3rrv3]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

And if you're female, you have your breasts to consider.

Don't think it matters whether you're a female or not

- Kevin

 

[Kadarin]

<-- 5'7", 172lbs, and can do ~85 pushups without pausing.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: bleeb

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: Blieb
put your hands on a scale, do a pushup.

I just did that and the scale read 140lbs at upright and 150-160 and down position. I weigh 210.

Edit: So around 70%.

actually, you aren't lifting the weight of your arms so your scale wouldn't be entirely accurate.

 

[Apathetic]

That's why I like pull ups. The math is easier (100%).

Dave

 

[jjyiz28]

Originally posted by: Astaroth33
<-- 5'7", 172lbs, and can do ~85 pushups without pausing.

me too, arnt we special..

 

[Koing]

You will be lucky to do bench press your weight if you have not done this before.

You will lack the control for one and the strength in bench pressing.

I'd start on 60lbs or so and work up to a weight that feels good and you can do for about 10 reps as a "basic" rule or 12 reps. You can work on more stuff later.

Your number of push ups is no indicater of bench press weight. Push ups are mainly done for endurance. Bench pressing is never done for an endurance to even half of push ups. No one will bench press to even 20reps let alone 30reps.

You can pack on the weight easy in bench press. Just train it.

Koing

 

[0roo0roo]

if you want to ramp it up, elevate your feet on something while doing pushups. higher the harder. theres also the one with elbows touching sides of body.

 

[Aquaman]

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: Blieb
put your hands on a scale, do a pushup.

I just did that and the scale read 140lbs at upright and 150-160 and down position. I weigh 210.

Edit: So around 70%.

Try your scale test doing "girl Pushups" and pushups with your legs elevated.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Atlantean]

I think its about 70%... anyone should be able to lift 70% of their body weight if they can't then they need to get into shape or they are rediculously fat.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: Aquaman

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: Blieb
put your hands on a scale, do a pushup.

I just did that and the scale read 140lbs at upright and 150-160 and down position. I weigh 210.

Edit: So around 70%.

Try your scale test doing "girl Pushups" and pushups with your legs elevated.

Cheers,
Aquaman

Well before I extended both my legs and my right knee was down, I am pretty sure the scale read 120lbs or less.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: Aquaman

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: Blieb
put your hands on a scale, do a pushup.

I just did that and the scale read 140lbs at upright and 150-160 and down position. I weigh 210.

Edit: So around 70%.

Try your scale test doing "girl Pushups" and pushups with your legs elevated.

Cheers,
Aquaman

Well before I extended both my legs and my right knee was down, I am pretty sure the scale read 120lbs or less.

 

[Excelsior]

dp