can I do as many as I can?

[gekko]

I have made up a workout routine for myself and I was wondering instead of doing a certian amout of reps, can I just do as many as I can for each excersize? like as many push-up and sit-ups as I can and so on and so on?????

Edit:
Or, if It is maybe a better idea, how many reps should I do? should i do the same amnount of reps for each one or a diffirent amount for each excersize?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Trevor M.]

Sure, no one going to stop you from wasting your time.

Anyway, what benefit do you expect to see from doing push ups and sit ups to failure?

 

[gekko]

what do you mean by that last question?

Anyway, what benefit do you expect to see from doing push ups and sit ups to failure?

 

[Trevor M.]

To failure = As many as you can do until you can no longer do more.

What are you goals?

 

[Phate89]

Your not going to see any real results from just body weight exercises like presses and sit ups.

 

[gekko]

Your not going to see any real results from just body weight exercises like presses and sit ups.

Well, then what do you suggest?


And trevor, I expect to build muscle by doing this.

BTW, this is my sort-of routine:

Deltoids (Delts) - Point of each shoulder - Decline Push-ups and Semi One-arm Push-ups


Pectorals (Pecs) - Upper front of rib cage - Wide Decline Push-ups and Indian Push-ups.


Brachialis (Brachy) - Side of upper arm - Semi One-arm Push-ups and Wide Decline Push-ups.


Triceps (Tri's) - Back of upper arm - Wide Decline Push-ups, Tricep Dips and Hip Raiser.


Biceps (Bi's) - Front of upper arm - Indian Push-ups.


Trapezius (Traps) - Upper back - Inverse Push-ups and Hip Raiser.


Latissimus Dorsi (Lats) - Back muscles that give one a V-shaped appearance –
Inverse Push-ups.


Rectus Abdominis (Abs) - Front abdomen - Crunches and Twists.


External/Internal Obliques (Obliques) - Sides of waist- Side Bends and Twists.


Gluteus Maximus (Glutes) - Buttocks - Hip Raiser and Indian Squats (Baitak).


Quadriceps (Quads) - Front of thigh - Indian Squats (Baitak) and Sideways Lunge.


Hamstrings (Hams) - Rear of thigh - Indian Squats (Baitak) and Sideways Lunge.


Soleus and Gastrocnemius (Calves) - Calves - Calf Raises and Indian Squats (Baitak).

Just that I dont know how many to do.

 

[Trevor M.]

You won't develop much muscle mass from body weight movements. Its not enough external force to encourage growth.

If you want to get serious about gaining "muscle". Than you need to get your diet together and get on a weight training program.

I could go into why its not physiologically possible to gain much mass from body weight only. However, I'm tired so you'll just have to take my word for it.

Check the stickies, than come back with some more "specific" questions.

 

[bipennate]

Your not going to see any real results from just body weight exercises like presses and sit ups.

You won't develop much muscle mass from body weight movements. Its not enough external force to encourage growth.

I disagree: necessary overloading is relative to the individual. If a person's bodyweight represents ~80-90% of ther 1RM in a given exercise, then they absolutely can gain muscle and strength from the exercise. External loading (weighted vests, bands, etc) or changes in the techniques (bilateral to unilateral, TUT, acceleration, etc, etc) will also increase the force requirements for a given exercise and result in improvements.

There's a lot more to bodyweight exercise than just pushups and crunches...

 

[Trevor M.]

I disagree: necessary overloading is relative to the individual. If a person's bodyweight represents ~80-90% of ther 1RM in a given exercise, then they absolutely can gain muscle and strength from the exercise. External loading (weighted vests, bands, etc) or changes in the techniques (bilateral to unilateral, TUT, acceleration, etc, etc) will also increase the force requirements for a given exercise and result in improvements.

There's a lot more to bodyweight exercise than just pushups and crunches...

Your right, however, that is to a point and to a limit. With no possibility to increase load with bodyweight only exercises. Progress may soon be stunted or never really begin at all. For some people many body weight exercises are never enough load to begin with.

Lets say, for example he can complete 30-40 push ups nonstop already. Would you suggest to him to keep at that to increase his pectorals in size? Of course not.

If ones goal is to gain size. There is no point to sticking with bodyweight only if weights are available.

In a situation where a person couldn't even complete a single push up. Than yes, this would be a situation where size might develop beyond a negligible extent. However, I would assume the neurological aspect of resistance training would be the primary cause of this "weakness". In which that would be corrected in a manner of weeks.
Meaning, the muscle fibers them selfs were always able to handle the load. The neuromuscular inefficiency is what lead to the poor performance. So, there is never enough load to begin with to encourage growth in the average person. When the body is used as the only resistance.
Of course, thats just my thoughts on it...

 

[tonymcclellan]

I disagree: necessary overloading is relative to the individual. If a person's bodyweight represents ~80-90% of ther 1RM in a given exercise, then they absolutely can gain muscle and strength from the exercise. External loading (weighted vests, bands, etc) or changes in the techniques (bilateral to unilateral, TUT, acceleration, etc, etc) will also increase the force requirements for a given exercise and result in improvements.

There's a lot more to bodyweight exercise than just pushups and crunches...

Word....:canadaf:

 

[gekko]

thanks, everyone for your responses. I was going to get a bench thing with like weights and stuff but, I have no where to put it so I want to be able to workout inside just with the floor and my body-nothing else. I will have a look at the stickies and some other sites and then I will decide. I think for now, I will just do what I am doing. And I already have been on a healthy diet for my whole life, so there's nothing to change there. I'm not fat I'm actually sort of skinny. And, would inclined push-ups add more weight?

 

[Big_Idiot]

Incline pushups will jus do more of the top of your chest and shoulders.

Id still try get some weights man, or join a gym. I just cant see you getting optimal improvement by just using body weight.

 

[Chillen]

I have made up a workout routine for myself and I was wondering instead of doing a certian amout of reps, can I just do as many as I can for each excersize? like as many push-up and sit-ups as I can and so on and so on?????

Edit:
Or, if It is maybe a better idea, how many reps should I do? should i do the same amnount of reps for each one or a diffirent amount for each excersize?

Thanks in advance!!

No one has asked this important question:

Do YOU have weights available to you (gym or school--I see you dont have room at home) or are you forced to develop a program surrounded with what you have available (ie, body weight and items around the house)?

I think the most important thing for you to do is to optimize your program with what you have available to use, and as time passes and finances get better (or weights become available, etc) you can progress your program then.

If you dont have access to weights, then take a form of body weight exercises (and its various forms of uses) and ROCK ON WITH THEM. Be sure you are progressive, and you perform sets and reps that are appropriate (as much as they can be in your circumstance)

Use what you have available and get "something" started that is as optimized as much as possible given your circumstance

In addition, I believe it also important for you to start educating yourself on diet, weight training, and other types of fitness.

 

[bipennate]

Your right, however, that is to a point and to a limit. With no possibility to increase load with bodyweight only exercises. Progress may soon be stunted or never really begin at all. For some people many body weight exercises are never enough load to begin with.

I'd say that these guys did pretty well strength/size-wise by using body weight exercises:

Lets say, for example he can complete 30-40 push ups nonstop already. Would you suggest to him to keep at that to increase his pectorals in size? Of course not.

Try to perform even 5 one-armed pushups, and then we'll go from there. I can probably come up with at least 10 pushup progressions off of the top of my head if you needed them.

If ones goal is to gain size. There is no point to sticking with bodyweight only if weights are available.

Improved co-contractions and joint stabilization, increased synergies and neural patterns, decreased cost and space demands, certain functional demands, rehab/prehab, just to name a few. This isn't an argument about "weights vs. body weight," but just to point out that bodyweight exercises not only can have a place in a routine, but often times they should. Will it be optimal to have a routine 100% bodyweight if you're looking to gain strength/size for a relatively advanced lifter? Probably not...but it doesn't mean that it can't be done...you just have to be more creative.

In a situation where a person couldn't even complete a single push up. Than yes, this would be a situation where size might develop beyond a negligible extent. However, I would assume the neurological aspect of resistance training would be the primary cause of this "weakness". In which that would be corrected in a manner of weeks.

Neuromuscular and physiological contributions to strength go hand-in-hand. You can discuss one vs the other in conversation, but that doesn't really happen functionally in the body, so regardless of what the initial "cause" of the weakness, the body will produce adaptations in both areas. At times, one area is more responsible than the other in producing strength increases, but both work together and are the stimulus for improvement in the other, so again it doesn't really work the way in which you describe.

Meaning, the muscle fibers them selfs were always able to handle the load. The neuromuscular inefficiency is what lead to the poor performance. So, there is never enough load to begin with to encourage growth in the average person. When the body is used as the only resistance.
Of course, thats just my thoughts on it...

You're describing cortical adaptations in a raw beginner, and a raw beginner doesn't go from the inability to be able to perform even one pushup to 15+ in a matter of weeks. The adaptation curve just isn't that steep.

 

[Big_Idiot]

I'd say that these guys did pretty well strength/size-wise by using body weight exercises

You sure they only used body weight exercises? im a bit optimistic about that. The first gymnast looks as tho hes dont more than just body weight training.

 

[Trevor M.]

I'd say that these guys did pretty well strength/size-wise by using body weight exercises:

On dial up so I didn't load the links. I'll take your word for them being well built. I'm not sure what your trying to prove, though.

Try to perform even 5 one-armed pushups, and then we'll go from there. I can probably come up with at least 10 pushup progressions off of the top of my head if you needed them.

Are you asking me specifically?
Anyway, My favorite "push up progression" has to be HSPU's.

Improved co-contractions and joint stabilization, increased synergies and neural patterns, decreased cost and space demands, certain functional demands, rehab/prehab, just to name a few. This isn't an argument about "weights vs. body weight," but just to point out that bodyweight exercises not only can have a place in a routine, but often times they should. Will it be optimal to have a routine 100% bodyweight if you're looking to gain strength/size for a relatively advanced lifter? Probably not...but it doesn't mean that it can't be done...you just have to be more creative.

Yes, I'm not arguing they can't be beneficial. As I think I made clear. I'm not arguing anything other than if weights are available. Use weights.
Your right, it can be done. Again though, if weights are available it is likely a "better" option. I don't think you disagree. If you do I would have to ask why you use external weights for your clients and yourself.

Neuromuscular and physiological contributions to strength go hand-in-hand. You can discuss one vs the other in conversation, but that doesn't really happen functionally in the body, so regardless of what the initial "cause" of the weakness, the body will produce adaptations in both areas. At times, one area is more responsible than the other in producing strength increases, but both work together and are the stimulus for improvement in the other, so again it doesn't really work the way in which you describe.

I'm not sure what your trying to say here. I said the exact same thing you said (in bold). Not sure where I said physiological changes wouldn't occur at the same time?

You're describing cortical adaptations in a raw beginner, and a raw beginner doesn't go from the inability to be able to perform even one pushup to 15+ in a matter of weeks. The adaptation curve just isn't that steep.

I'm just giving an arbitrary time line. Regardless, I didn't say anything about "15+" push ups? Not sure where that came from.

 

[gekko]

Thanks, guys, you've been a real big help!! Yes, I could go to a gym or school gym but I do not like working out in front of other people when I am not that big of a guy to begin with so would rather just do it at home. I could probably get some hand weights for weight lifting but that's about it.

Also, I have one more question- How old should you be before weight lifting and working out? Cuz my brother was wanting to start to but I heard that you shouldn't start until you're like over 16 or something?? Also, If you shouldn't lift weights till you're over 16 can you still just do workouts with your body weight from any age without damaging yourself? (I heard weight lifting before you're full grom stunts your growth?)

Thanks alot guys, hope you can help.

 

[Trevor M.]

I heard weight lifting before you're full grom stunts your growth?)

Use the search feature for a more detailed reasoning. I along with others wrote several in the past. To quickly summarize though. No it won't.

but I heard that you shouldn't start until you're like over 16 or something??

Its fine. Ensure proper form is in use and you are using weight you can handle. This applys to all people of all ages.

Thanks, guys, you've been a real big help!! Yes, I could go to a gym or school gym but I do not like working out in front of other people when I am not that big of a guy to begin with so would rather just do it at home. I could probably get some hand weights for weight lifting but that's about it.

Any one who is at a gym is trying to improve them selfs in some way. You are doing the exact same thing as the 300pounds meat headed monster is doing in the gym. Trying to improve something you feel needs improving. There is no shame in not being born "HUGE".

If you still feel you can't lift weights in front of others. Hand weights can be very beneficial. Try to get dumbbells that you can adjust the weight on them manually, if you get them that is.

 

[Wrangell]

Try to perform even 5 one-armed pushups, and then we'll go from there. I can probably come up with at least 10 pushup progressions off of the top of my head if you needed them.

Would changing ' tempo ' ( I'm thinking going from a lot of ' fast reps ' to fewer but more controlled reps ) be included as a way of making push-ups more difficult ?

Improved co-contractions and joint stabilization, increased synergies and neural patterns, decreased cost and space demands, certain functional demands, rehab/prehab, just to name a few. This isn't an argument about "weights vs. body weight," but just to point out that bodyweight exercises not only can have a place in a routine, but often times they should. Will it be optimal to have a routine 100% bodyweight if you're looking to gain strength/size for a relatively advanced lifter? Probably not...but it doesn't mean that it can't be done...you just have to be more creative.

So, in other words, the basic principle(s) of how one goes about building muscle in an optimal manner doesn't change - i.e adaptation to ' progressive overload ', rep form in accordance with lines of force, leverage and planes of motion, optimal rep / set protocols etc. etc.

So, as long as you adhere to basic principles, it doesn't matter if the ' overload ' comes from barbells, dumbbells, cables, resistance straps or bodyweight exercises - you can still achieve your goals.

Makes sense.

 

[gekko]

Use the search feature for a more detailed reasoning. I along with others wrote several in the past. To quickly summarize though. No it won't.


Its fine. Ensure proper form is in use and you are using weight you can handle. This applys to all people of all ages.


Any one who is at a gym is trying to improve them selfs in some way. You are doing the exact same thing as the 300pounds meat headed monster is doing in the gym. Trying to improve something you feel needs improving. There is no shame in not being born "HUGE".

If you still feel you can't lift weights in front of others. Hand weights can be very beneficial. Try to get dumbbells that you can adjust the weight on them manually, if you get them that is.

O, thanks alot man. Now I can tell him that it's all right and he might even get me o go with him to the gym since that's what he's planning on doing. aND i THINK I will get some hand weights. Thanks!

And just to let everyone know, I am not poor. It just seems like you guys are talking to me like I'm poor. I'm not rich or anything, but I just don't have money to spend on thing's for my personal use really you know. So, sorry, but I just wanted to get that clear you know. Like don't feel sorry for mee or anything.

But thanks again for all your help!!