The Official Happiness Thread

[Kirk]

You don't know my workout regime.

First of all, unless i'm seriously mistaken (I am not a personal trainer) say that doing 70 pushups is bad for you when you could only do 30 before.

Second of all, I am not a body builder. I don't really care about the size of my muscles, mainly strength and endurance.

Third, as I said in the beginning, you don't know how I do my workouts. I don't do the same exercise over and over again. I did in the beginning, roughly half a year ago with pushups, and I know that was wrong, but I don't do that anymore. I don't do it with pull ups either. I only actually do pull-ups maybe once a week, twice if I feel like it. I do basically the same workout 3 times a week in addition to the odd pullup or situp and bench presses, but it changes every week to avoid repetition as you said.

You are absolutely right in everything you said though, and I'm not saying you're wrong, it's just I sort of worded my original post wrong. I never meant it to mean that he should only do pushups, I just meant it to be a motivation to push yourself harder than you have before, otherwise you wont be benefiting yourself as much as you could be, only and only when you do that exercise, be it once a week or every few days. (ugh, run-on sentence, too lazy to fix)

You're also right about the added resistance/weight part, and it's also something that I'm glad you mentioned because I've been needing to do it and I've forgotten.

[noscottno]

I can now bench my more than my bodyweight. I'm 165 pounds, and can bench 170.

[GametagAeonFlux]

First of all, unless i'm seriously mistaken (I am not a personal trainer) say that doing 70 pushups is bad for you when you could only do 30 before.

Well of course there's nothing wrong with being able to, but actually doing it however, is called overtraining, which can cause negative effects on your body such as decreased muscle size and strength. Think of it this way, if you could bench 200 pounds 10 times, the following month, would you set your goal at 220 pounds 10 times or 200 pounds 20 times?

Point is, 70 reps of anything is overkill, even if you spread them out through one workout. But yes, motivation and shit.

[Veegie]

Like GTAF said, you would only worry about your rep count if you're toning, but you draw the line regardless at one point.
When you get the point where you're doing that many reps you really start losing benefits.

[Aumaan Anubis]

So... just as a reference, one would suggest that I stop push ups at 70 or around there, and start doing something more difficult, such as benching more weight as opposed to just doing normal pushups?

[Veegie]

So... just as a reference, one would suggest that I stop push ups at 70 or around there, and start doing something more difficult, such as benching more weight as opposed to just doing normal pushups?

I'd honestly suggest you stop at 20.
I couldn't imagine repping anything anymore.

[noscottno]

Push-ups are just a good as benching, I think.

[JK-47]

If you're trying to build muscle, squats speed the process up really fast. They suck ass, I know, but it works effectively. But don't go do them every day. Try to spread your workouts out evenly. One day do arms and chest, the other do legs and back.
As it was stated before, don't overkill it. It's better to do maybe 5 really good reps as apposed to 70 easy, crappy reps.

I think I need to start going back to the gym. I lost practically all my muscle :\ I maxed out at 200 on the bench (with the help of my dad :p). I'm lucky, though. I have a really great frame for body building; I just need the motivation and I'll be set :p

For happiness, the snow is melting. As much as I love the winter, I'm glad it's over so I can start on my spring/summer sports. I'm just hoping to get one more run on the slopes before the season ends.

[V0Lt4Ge]

I have an iPod nano.

It's pink. >_>

[Kirk]

So... just as a reference, one would suggest that I stop push ups at 70 or around there, and start doing something more difficult, such as benching more weight as opposed to just doing normal pushups?

I'd honestly suggest you stop at 20.
I couldn't imagine repping anything anymore.

20 Pushups with no resistance?

Er, no. Maybe if you're weak, but 20 doesn't even do anything for anyone with some strength. EDIT: Unless you're doing them painfully slow.

[noscottno]

I have an iPod nano.

It's pink. >_>

Way to ruin the manly workout discussion.

[V0Lt4Ge]

Sorry. >_<

[GametagAeonFlux]

If you're trying to build muscle, squats speed the process up really fast.

I think I read somewhere that they've been proven to release growth hormone or some weird shit...but yes, squats are great. Any compound exercise is great for younger weight lifters really.

Er, no. Maybe if you're weak, but 20 doesn't even do anything for anyone with some strength. EDIT: Unless you're doing them painfully slow.

If you're doing them fast, you're doing them wrong. Go down and fully flex your muscles, then extend them on the way back up and you'll get a much more fulfilling workout even with drastically reduced reps/sets.

[Kirk]

Yeah I think I was doing them way too fast back then. I'll be sure to take that into account. 20 is still too little though, without resistance.

[Aumaan Anubis]

Well, in an attempt to include variety into a workout, I tried something and I'd like to know how effective it is...

I found a wall, and "laid" myself down on it, sort of becoming parallel(but sorta more diagonal) to it vertically, therefore placing all my body weight mostly on my hands holding my whole body up, except for my feet/legs which are resting high up on the wall.

Now, is this effective? It definitely put more amount of strain on my body in 5 seconds than doing pushups for 30 seconds.

[Kirk]

Vertical pushups are supposed to be very effective. I don't know about just doing a handstand with support, which seems to be what you're describing.

[GametagAeonFlux]

Different pushups work different muscle groups. Normal ones work your chest and a little bit of your triceps, diamond pushups work your triceps more than your chest, vertical ones work your shoulders almost entirely. I wouldn't recommend doing them though, just because there's much much much easier ways to work out your shoulders without the physical strain those cause (blood rushing to your head).

[jim20af]

it all depends what you want your workout for too. and 20 pushups, yea that's not many at all. just b/c you do alot of certain exercises doesn't mean it will decrease muscle size- that's speaking for pushups or something like that though, now something like bench, yes that is bad. but really alot depends what you need your workout for. i don't lift much but i do do alot of situps, pushups, pullups, etc. b/c that's what i need.

[Senor_Grunt]

Criminal Minds re-run is on. I'm watching it.
This made me laugh:

"Ahh, I don't believe in guns!!"

"Trust me they are very real!"
*hands her the gun*

[JK-47]

No matter the workout, quality>quantity. Overworking it sucks. I remember I was doing curls and I over-did it.. I couldn't extend my arms out all the way for a week or so without it hurting like a bitch.