Need advice re: push ups

[CelticSmackdown]

I'm going in for a physical test on 3/21. I have to do 18 push ups with no time limit. I'm able to do 12 before my arms give out. After two weeks, I'm only seeing minimal progress and I'm starting to get nervous about the test being 16 days away. The problem isn't my chest, but my triceps are giving out.

Any recommendations for endurance improvement?

[JDS]

Stop doing regular push ups and start doing bench dips, 3 sets a day.

http://www.shapefit.com/triceps-exer...ench-dips.html

I bet you will double your numbers in a week. Worked for me.

[Piggy]

JDS probably has better advice than I do. I just tried doing pushups throughout the day. Drop down 5-6 times a day and do as many as I could.

[CelticSmackdown]

Appreciate the replies. Thank you.

[Rhinod56]

you need to give you body (tri's and chest in this case) time to heal and grow as well. Work them everyother day at most. I typically work my chest on day 1, and hit my tris on day 3 of the week, so they have 1 day off inbetween to heal/grow. Also make sure your taking in plenty of protein which will speed the process of both growing and healing.
When you lift weights, you gain muscle by creating small tears in the fibers and when they heal, they are growing. Muscles are water and protein, so make sure to get as much of both as you can.
You can change up your routine from time as well. Your body needs to be challenged, and if your doing the same thing all the time even if your not doing well at it, it will adapt. Change the exercises you do, change the reps and sets, the amount of weight, etc.
Just a few ideas to keep in mind and try

[CelticSmackdown]

Rhino, it's interesting that you posted this today. I was supposed to test this am, but rescheduled it for April because I can't get my count above 12 or 13. I've been basically following the advice to do as many push ups as possible in a day. I also tried JDS' advice for bench dips, which did help some, but I wasn't make enough progress doing them alone. I've been drinking whey protein shakes twice a day, so I'm getting enough protein. I think what I wound up doing was panicking over the last 28 days and trying everything under the sun to get my chest in shape, and probably doing more damage than necessary.

So, I now have another 28 days to get ready. Is it possible to add at least another 10 reps to my count in that amount of time?

[JCP1976]

I started out at 8 push ups. I never worked out or had upper body strength. I started doing pushup regularly, and after 1 month I was able to get 25 when I took the test. So yes you can-just do at least 100 push ups a day. If that means you have to do 10 sets of 10 then do it. Ideally you want to get higher numbers and less reps. Like now I do 25x4 reps. I can do 30 now and it has been 6 weeks.

[Crimijuswoman]

So glad someone ask this question, was going to ask it myself. I find it difficult as well, not to mention sit ups, hate them both!:p I spend so much time lifting that I think my arms are too sore for the push ups and sit ups I just hate. I am having a hard time with both, I wish there was an easier way, just wishful thinking.

[Rhinod56]

absolutely. just get plenty of sleep, plenty of protein, work the area differently every other day at most, then allow 3-4days rest before your exam, and 8-12reps more should be no problem. always challenge your body and try for 1 more then the workout previously. There are always additional supplements you can look into as well that could greatly help you out, and are legal everywhere and can even be bought (cheap version) at a wal-mart.

[CelticSmackdown]

I wanted to update this for anyone who reads this for push up tips.

I consulted with a trainer and figured out that I was performing them incorrectly, meaning that my "grip" was entirely too narrow. I'm 6'2" with a 35 inch reach on both arms. I was positioning them just barely outside of my shoulders which was putting entirely too much of the workload on my arms. He suggested a wider grip, which shifted the workload to my chest and amazingly enough my number increased somewhat.

So, if you're as tall as I am with long arms, try a wider stance with your arms. I also recommend using a 25lb plate on your back. You'll be lucky to do six, but it's a great workout.

CS

[RemyG]

I wanted to update this for anyone who reads this for push up tips.

I consulted with a trainer and figured out that I was performing them incorrectly, meaning that my "grip" was entirely too narrow. I'm 6'2" with a 35 inch reach on both arms. I was positioning them just barely outside of my shoulders which was putting entirely too much of the workload on my arms. He suggested a wider grip, which shifted the workload to my chest and amazingly enough my number increased somewhat.

So, if you're as tall as I am with long arms, try a wider stance with your arms. I also recommend using a 25lb plate on your back. You'll be lucky to do six, but it's a great workout.

CS

Your trainer is right. I just saw this thread, and have the same problem as you are. I am 6'4" and have a 36/37" arm length (that's the length on dress shirts that I have been measured for). With that being said, push ups were always a problem for me, as I used a really narrow grip at first.

The easiest way to do more push ups is to widen your hand stance. It puts more work onto the chest, which is a bigger muscle than your tricep. If you want to work more triceps, move your hands closer to one another. You will get less reps completed, but it will work a bit of a different muscle group.

The best placement for push ups in large numbers in my opinion for a longer limbed individual is a bit wider than shoulder width.

Good luck, glad you found what worked!