Incorporating pushups into workout

[Scrumhalf]

Right now, my chest routine consists primarily of presses of various kinds. I am wondering if there is a way to incorporate pushups into my workout. Since I can benchpress much more than my body weight, I don't know if pushups are a 1 for 1 replacement for say a DB press exercise.

Is this a good idea? Is there a certain way to do pushups that would put additional stress on the muscles? Maybe someone sitting on my back? (I do this at home with my son but he only weighs 55 lbs).

I'm just trying to incorporate more "natural" movement exercises involving one's body weight into my routines. So, pushups, pullups, etc.

[redback]

If you can already bench more than your bodyweight i dont see how push ups could benefit you in any way. Maybe as a warm up to increase blood flow but they wouldnt have any anabolic use

[THE BOUNCER]

I don't think push ups would really be all that beneficial. You could through them in every once in awhile and just do as many as you can.

For the most part though, you would be better off changing around you routine a bit. Switch from dumbbell to barbell, from DB flys to cable fly's etc..

[Mr incredible]

perhaps do them at the end when you are fatigued using those floor handles, I've done that a few times and liked it

[Scrumhalf]

Originally Posted by Mr incredible

perhaps do them at the end when you are fatigued using those floor handles, I've done that a few times and liked it

Yeah, this is what I was thinking.... just as a finishing exercise. Cool.

[THE BOUNCER]

Originally Posted by Scrumhalf

Yeah, this is what I was thinking.... just as a finishing exercise. Cool.

to me, cable fly's are the best at finishing a chest workout.

[redback]

Originally Posted by THE BOUNCER

to me, cable fly's are the best at finishing a chest workout.

Thats the way i do it

[THE BOUNCER]

yea, cable fly's pull the blood into the muscle like nothing else.

[alwaysgrowing]

Originally Posted by THE BOUNCER

yea, cable fly's pull the blood into the muscle like nothing else.

i agree. i start with a flying movement, and finish with a cable movement.

[Nekrawulf]

Get a Swiss ball, 55 or 75, and push agains it for reps of 10, then roll our body against the ball until the ball supports your feet, reps of 10.

Back and forth until you cant do anymore.

[Scrumhalf]

Hey Nekrawulf, thanks for the suggestion! I'll try that out.

[Chadd77]

I have been finishing with cable flys and then super setting that with pushups. I like doing this. I don't do this for every chest workout but just recently threw it in the mix to change it up.

[Scrumhalf]

Originally Posted by Nekrawulf

Get a Swiss ball, 55 or 75, and push agains it for reps of 10, then roll our body against the ball until the ball supports your feet, reps of 10.

Back and forth until you cant do anymore.

Nekrawulf, I tried this on Friday and it was brutal! I managed about 2 times back and forth between the "hands on ball" and "feet on ball" phases before my arms gave out completely... lol... I never got to 10 reps on the "feet on ball" phase either.. maybe 6 or 7 max....

My chest routine:

0. Light warmup
1. 2 sets of DB flyes to pre-exhaust chest
2. 3 sets of flat DB presses (inverse pyramid, target about 8 reps per set)
3. 3 sets of incline DB presses (inverse pyramid as well)
4. Nekrawulf's swiss ball routine.

I will probably throw in some dips next time around as well - I have always liked the way dips hit my chest.

[WonderWoman]

Originally Posted by Chadd77

I have been finishing with cable flys and then super setting that with pushups. I like doing this. I don't do this for every chest workout but just recently threw it in the mix to change it up.

i have a friend at the gym, that does cable flyes and then he adjusts the unit and does pushups right off this machine. Strange , but looks tough as hell.. I am training chest with him tonight, lol. Maybe I will try these out.

[Nekrawulf]

Originally Posted by Scrumhalf

Nekrawulf, I tried this on Friday and it was brutal! I managed about 2 times back and forth between the "hands on ball" and "feet on ball" phases before my arms gave out completely... lol... I never got to 10 reps on the "feet on ball" phase either.. maybe 6 or 7 max....

My chest routine:

0. Light warmup
1. 2 sets of DB flyes to pre-exhaust chest
2. 3 sets of flat DB presses (inverse pyramid, target about 8 reps per set)
3. 3 sets of incline DB presses (inverse pyramid as well)
4. Nekrawulf's swiss ball routine.

I will probably throw in some dips next time around as well - I have always liked the way dips hit my chest.

glad to hear you enjoyed them. I love dips, they are my primary chest exercise.