Is 20 pushups max potential for some guys?

[BananaBandit]

A few years back, I decided to start doing pushups.  At that time, I was quite emaciated, under 16 BMI (no illness or substance abuse). The best I could do was 3 sets of 4 pushups (proper form). 

 

I soon achieved a more stable living situation, a woman to cook for me, etc. My weight shot up about 15 kilos. Within a few months, I was doing as many as 17 pushups at once. For the first time ever, I could really feel my pecs.  And my biceps increased 2 inches    (before, I was able to wrap my thumb and middle finger around the lower part of my biceps).   

 

Now about two years since that initial burst of strength, there really hasn't been much trajectory.  (My definition is a bit better, but i suspect it's due to the addition of a jump rope.)  And the most pushups I can do is 20.  (I wish to emphasize that I do my best to use proper pushup technique - buttockses stuck together, back in a straight line, etc. - I'm sure I could do far more than 20 if I were to bounce my nutters off the ground or imitate some of the other wretched displays of technique I've witnessed. Don't want none of that.)   I might do 3 sets (initial set max of 20, then say 17, 15 give or take) about 2 times per week.  

 

I'm around 40 years old. No smokey, no drinky. I eat (healthy food with lots of animal protein) like a wild pig.  I probably should mention that, although I'm rather broad-shouldered and wide-waisted, I have a gangling body type with wrists like a woman - I reckon this ain't the optimal foundation to turn myself into Terrell Owens. 

 

I'm really not interested in going to a gym for free weights or what not.   I just like to roam about on my own and then knock out some pushups under the sun.  I don't want to count "macros" or worry about protein combinations. I have no huge desire to be big. I rather like being spidery with some little bumps of muscle.

 

But it just seems curious to me that a "full-grown" man's potential would max out at 20 pushups.  

[tonray]

8 minutes ago, BananaBandit said:

But it just seems curious to me that a "full-grown" man's potential would max out at 20 pushups.  

Nope...can do more at 62

[teacherclaire]

I'm around 40 years old. No smokey, no drinky. I eat (healthy food with lots of animal protein) like a wild pig.

 

That was easy to figure out. 

 

[Salerno]

 

https://www.topendsports.com/testing/tests/home-pushup.htm

[4MyEgo]

25 minutes ago, BananaBandit said:

The best I could do was 3 sets of 4 pushups (proper form). 

 

I suppose with everything, practice makes perfect.

 

If your not trying to build your biceps, shoulders and chest, forget push-ups.

 

For fitness, I prefer squats on the hour, every hour when sitting down doing my work, give me twenty proper squats and let me know how that compares with your 20 push ups.

 

Going back to push-ups, nothing wrong with them, but as I mentioned above, squats are the way to go, burn baby burn, core, hardcore.

 

[ezzra]

31 minutes ago, BananaBandit said:

I'm around 40 years old. No smokey, no drinky

I do hope you faky yes? otherwise what's the ponit of life?...

[sawademe]

get one of those pull up bars you can hang over your door to balance it all out

[FritsSikkink]

12 minutes ago, Salerno said:

 

https://www.topendsports.com/testing/tests/home-pushup.htm

What a load of BS, am 61 and still do ever 100.

[FritsSikkink]

2 times a week won't give you much progress, enhance to 4 times a week, later to 6 times a week.

[OneMoreFarang]

Up and down, lots of times. It obviously also depends on the girl below me. ???? 

[Salerno]

3 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

What a load of BS, am 61 and still do ever 100.

 

If you say so 

[BananaBandit]

2 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

2 times a week won't give you much progress, enhance to 4 times a week, later to 6 times a week.

I can't even sustain 3 times per week. I get too sore!

[1FinickyOne]

40 minutes ago, BananaBandit said:

But it just seems curious to me that a "full-grown" man's potential would max out at 20 pushups.  

over the course of how many days? 

[FritsSikkink]

7 minutes ago, BananaBandit said:

 I get too sore!

That is the meaning of it: no pain, no gain. Start counting when it is beginning to hurt.

[ChouDoufu]

 

45 minutes ago, BananaBandit said:

And the most pushups I can do is 20.

 

congrats!  you can pass the army physical, but only barely, as a senior citizen!

https://usarmybasic.com/army-physical-fitness/male-pushup-standards

 

45 minutes ago, BananaBandit said:

I might do 3 sets (initial set max of 20, then say 17, 15 give or take) about 2 times per week. 

absolutely pointless.

do 3 sets 3-4 times a day.

 

you, too, can be strong and hansum man!

 

[GarryP]

Four days a week. Start with 20 diamond (triangle) pushups, followed by 20 standard pushups and then 20 pushups using swivel pushup bars (locked in position).  The latter is for full movement of the shoulder to prevent impingement. Stopped doing wide hand pushups as they caused shoulder impingement which was agony. Since I stopped and started using the pushup bars, no more impingement pain.    

[4MyEgo]

43 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

What a load of BS, am 61 and still do ever 100.

On one hand, changing over when you reach 50 push-ups

 

[JHicks]

I can't see it being a hard limit, I'm sure it just means you need to change up your training if you want to do more than 20 reps. I would think the one handed pushup might be too hard at this point but there is a variant where you put one hand on something a few inches off the floor (like a basketball, or sometimes you can use the edge of the sofa). That might make it manageable. I don't really get the "how many reps..." thing anyway - it should be "how hard can you make it and still do 8 reps x 3".

 

 

[tonray]

I think the number of pushups you can attain is inversely proportional to the number of 16 ounce curls one does

[KannikaP]

37 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

What a load of BS, am 61 and still do ever 100.

And I am 73 and never done a pushup in my life! Or been to a gym. Or played golf!   LOL

And my fiddle is still fit!

[Mr Derek]

Started doing push-ups recently. First day, did one-and-a-half and my wrists nearly snapped. Three weeks later I am up to 20 (age: late 50s). I don't see why there should be any limit if you're doing it every day. The real limiting factor is boredom.

[Somtamnication]

My wife does 20 and I have yet to see any improvements to myself. 

[Dumbastheycome]

I just tried to  test myself.

I  got  to 5  and then asked myself  what the  hell for ?

And stopped.

[Bangyai]

I had a friend who claimed he could do 40 easily.

 

When he demonstrated his technique I noticed his naval barely left the ground and he was bent like a banana.

 

When I demonstrated the correct technique he was not too happy as he begrudged the extra effort.

 

I'm 63 and can manage between 25 and 30 depending on the severity of my hangover. But I only weigh 85 kilos so not much to lift.

[Bob12345]

3 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

What a load of BS, am 61 and still do ever 100.

Lol, i am 100 and still do over 61.

[kingstonkid]

4 hours ago, BananaBandit said:

I can't even sustain 3 times per week. I get too sore!

get one of the [ush up apps and use it every day or as manydays as you can.  You really can not bulid anything doing it 2 days a week.  

[Kerryd]

When I was young (early/mid 20s), dumb(er) and in the Army, push ups were like breathing. Couldn't live without them (or so it seemed). 
At one point I was doing 3 workouts a day. 
I wasn't a body builder but some of the guys were. Had a few steroid freaks as well and some who were just plain psycho. 

One thing I learned is that muscles build up a "memory" and that body builders change their routines and the amount of weight they use to "shock" the muscles and keep them from getting used to the idea that when they hit a certain point, that's it.
A buddy was having a similar problem. He would do push ups maybe 3 times a week at home and it was the same routine each time. 3 sets of 20. He found that when he tried to do more, it was very difficult.

What I suggested to him was that the next time he did push ups, instead of 3 x 20, do 1 set of as many as possible. Then take a short rest and try to do another set of as many as possible and that's it.
Then, the next time, he should try doing 5 sets of 10 push ups. Next time, 3 sets of 20. Next time do as many as he was able to when he pushed it to the max, followed by a couple sets of 10 in quick succession. 
The idea being, the muscles don't know what to expect so they don't develop that "memory". Changing up the number of reps and number of sets keeps the muscles from getting used to a certain routine.

I told him to keep switching it up for a couple weeks, then to add a couple reps to each set. Not a crazy amount, maybe try doing 22 instead of 20, or 5 sets of 12 (ect ect). And change the order he was doing them in.

I do the same thing now when I work out, For example, I'll do a chest routine of 3 different exercises. One day it'll be about the max weight I can handle (fewer reps, longer break between sets). The next time I'll use lighter weights, more reps and less rest between sets.
I'll switch the exercises around so I don't do the same ones in the same order every time as well.

A couple years ago, I was doing sit ups on my inclined bench. When I first started I was lucky to squeeze out 2 sets of 10. Eventually I worked my way up to doing 5 sets of 60 (and giving myself an abdominal separation in the process). 

I dread trying to get to that level again (I stopped after I had a small accident on the motorcycle and just never started up again). If I do start again, I will go slow. If I can do 2 sets of 8, that's great. 
I'll do that a couple times a week until I don't feel like I'm going to die doing them, then I'll start doing 3 sets of 8. Or 2 sets of 10. Then alternating them. Every 2 weeks or so, I'll try to add a couple reps to the series.
It won't happen overnight obviously, but I'll get there again. Eventually.

(It's a bit unnerving though when I see the bulge caused by the abdominal separation. Seems that sh** doesn't heal itself. Ever. Going to have to wear a belt to keep my innards from becoming my "outtards" I guess.)

[FritsSikkink]

2 hours ago, Bob12345 said:

Lol, i am 100 and still do over 61.

probably 69

[Asquith Production]

I walk my dogs in the morning in a vehicle free area for over an hour. Whilst on this brisk walk this I do various numbers of pushups around every 10 or 15 minutes . I might start with 10 , 15 or 20 or even start on 30 to avoid muscle memory. Plenty about it in the net. I was 70 this year. I social drink but do not smoke.

[DrPhibes]

OK,

 

I took this as a personal challenge.  Could do 32 with 0 Lg Chang.  Drank 2 Lg Chang, waited 20 min until the burbing stopped.  Then did 42, yes regular style pushups.  Drank 2 more Lg Chang and waited another 20 min.  Then got to 44 and thought what the hell am I wasting my buzz for?  Stopped.  Drank 2 more over 20 minutes and now could care less about pushups, watching Spaceballs The Movie.