Group: Beginners to Exercise

Created: 2012/01/01, Members: 970, Messages: 18927

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Push ups not working

Tasman
Tasman
Posts: 2
Joined: 2004/05/11
Australia
2004/05/12, 12:01 AM
Over the last four months I've been doing a range of exercises at home, just to build up a little more bulk (mostly resistance exercises as I can't afford to join a gym). Although I have seen a growth in most of the muscle areas that I have been targeting, my chest has not seemed to have developed much at all. I have been doing three sets of 15 push-ups every second day over the four month period and whilst my triceps have developed and my front deltoids have gone beserk, my chest has only toned a little. What am I doing wrong??
DanielJLove
DanielJLove
Posts: 320
Joined: 2004/03/30
United States
2004/05/12, 01:46 AM
You might be keeping your hands to narrow. Try widening your hand placement.
DanielJLove
DanielJLove
Posts: 320
Joined: 2004/03/30
United States
2004/05/12, 01:53 AM
You might be keeping your hands to narrow. Try widening your hand placement.
dahayz
dahayz
Posts: 794
Joined: 2002/05/08
United States
2004/05/12, 07:24 AM
Genetics, and the fact that you have been doing the same # of sets and reps for the past 4 months.
Tasman
Tasman
Posts: 2
Joined: 2004/05/11
Australia
2004/05/12, 11:26 PM
Thanks for the replies guys. :) I should have added that they are not regular push ups, my feet are elevated on a chair and I did start at two sets of 12 and then progressed early on to 3 sets of 15. I recently started to do 4 sets but I have read that more sets only increases endurance not bulk? I'll try moving my hands wider, but what other exercises (or variations on the push up) can I do at home to target my pecs? It's frustrating to see my shoulders respond but not my chest :(
CDarwin68
CDarwin68
Posts: 17
Joined: 2004/05/04
Canada
2004/05/14, 08:24 PM
Dips? (someone more experienced than me can reflect on this, but I do it for an office workout) Take two chairs and place them with their seats (about ass + 3 inches) apart, and seats facing "in". Put your hands on the seats like you were going to do pushups, and walk your feet way out front until your weight is off them (mostly). Slowly (and I mean slow) lower yourself down until your butt almost hits the floor. Slowly push yourself back up. Try to keep your stomach tight and focus the energy to your chest. (after a few, you should feel a burn) Look it up.

Good luck
D
vivavegas02
vivavegas02
Posts: 96
Joined: 2004/03/18
United States
2004/05/16, 08:30 PM
Hi, If you cannot afford the gym, I would invest in some weights and a bench if you have the room. Look in the paper, a lot of people sell gym equipment cheap or hit some yardsales. But if you want, you can buy some dumbbells. And so, you can bring both weights up from your shoulders and above your pecs. Touch each ends of the dumbells. Not the front ends. But you are going to touch the outside ends to the inside. I hope this makes sense. My bro-in-law showed me that one and you can really feel the burn. If you have further questions, you can email me.
The_Tic
The_Tic
Posts: 55
Joined: 2002/06/08
United States
2004/05/17, 12:39 AM
viva this is the second post that you beat me to a workout idea for someone :big_smile:

Anyway, another thing to do with dumbells is simply press them like a bench press, or you can fly them as well. Both of these would require at most a small bench to lie on so you can stretch the chest a little.

Good luck