Push ups, Time to add weight?

[Davek]

Hello all, Yesterdays workout with very good form was 15, 12, 11. Do I start adding weight & reducing to 3X5? If So, Does anyone have any creative ways to add weight or where can I buy a Rucksack?

Thanks as always, Dave

[guru]

Time to add weight, but if you have trouble doing that, you can elevate your feet to make them harder as a temporary solution.

[ricepower]

You could try dands - indian pushups, more of a full body & breathing workout:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcW61Bb8uOo[/youtube]

[guru]

Fixed the video, ricepower.



Yeah, I'm Hindu, & we used to do these as kids...lots of them. Alternatively you can try divebomber ones - they are harder than the Hindu ones. I'm too lazy now to search for it, but youtube has a few videos on them.

[lovestolift]

You can also try diamond pushups, they'll work your triceps more. Just place your hands close together so the index fingers and thumbs form a diamond shape.Or try explosive pushups, where you push so hard your body raises off the ground, then you can add a clap if you get high enough. Just make sure you get your hands back down to catch yourself. There are also pushups with feet elevated on a swissball. They work your abs more and your balance. Or just make the switch to parallel bar dips if you have access to the bars.

[americanadian]

Get a buddy to place a plate on your back or go with what lovestolift said: explosive puch-ups. Try clapping your hands at the top of the rep. Isometrics is a good idea for power and explosiveness anyways.

[stallion87]

Well done on reaching 15 reps mate.

As all have said really, explosive pull ups or raised feet, I would probably go with raised feet push ups but making sure it was a good incline and not just a foot off the floor! Maybe you could try raised feet push ups for 4 weeks and move on (below)

Adding weight, do you have access to just an average rucksack? Fasten it tight up your back so the weight is near your shoulder blades and then just do normal push ups. Adding 2.5kg every workout as normal for 3 sets of 5.

I did some push ups but managed 12 on my first workout and felt they were quite easy so moved onto dips immediately. If you have access to bars I would definitely do these as they are a lot harder IMO.

[rere]

Hello all, Yesterdays workout with very good form was 15, 12, 11. Do I start adding weight & reducing to 3X5? If So, Does anyone have any creative ways to add weight or where can I buy a Rucksack?

Thanks as always, Dave

You could try Dips as well. Maybe just slowly introduce them to begin with, see if your shoulders can take it. There will come a time where having alot of weight in a rucksack will just be impractical and hard to stay on your back while doing push ups. I think IMHO Dips are the way to go if you want to add weight on the BW pushing scene. Still no machine out there or device which can safely have you doing pushups with heavy weight..........the future is bright though, sure someone can come up with some device.

[Davek]

Thank you Everyone! Yes I have a rucksack & the gym I go to has bars for doing dips. I also like the idea of "raised feet"..Wow, just so impressed with this program & forum. Thanks again, Davek

[silentbob]

I do my push-ups with a 65cm ball under my feet. This way it gives your core a good workout as well, as you're constantly having to keep yourself stable.

[nycant]

Wait a minute... I've been on the 5x5 program for about 4 months now... I am doing pushups of 30-20-15 (sometimes 25-20-18ish)... I keep going more and more but here i'm reading that OP should add weight since he's doing "already" doing 15. Am I supposed to change my pushup workout because i'm doing "too many" ?

[guru]

Nycant, the program is a strength training program. Too many reps are good for endurance - for strength you should do higher weights & low reps. That's why you add weights each workout & do only 3x5.

Alternately you can switch to dips (like I did).

[herf]

I just put my son on my back. He weighs 42lbs and is perfect for push ups. Went from 31 my first set to 5! Its amazing how much harder an extra 42lbs sitting on your shoulder blades is for your pushup. I need to start putting that back in my log or something. Gets your kids involved in trying to exercise also.

[eloony]

I guess I've been holding myself back by not adding weight then? Because right now I'm doing [3 sets of 30 push-ups] or [5 sets of 20 push-ups]. >_<

How much weight should I add in the beginning?

[guru]

Start with 2.5 kg - 3x5. Add 2.5 kg each workout, just like the main lifts. At first it will feel easy. Soon the weight will get heavy.