Why are push ups so mentally hard?

parc · 09-09-2011 8:50pm #1

This may sound weird. I hate doing push ups. Whenever I force myself to do them, my brain is immediately saying "ugh, push ups...finish them". It's a mixture of boredom and just hating them

However, whenever I do a similar exercise on these types of machines

I have no problem. I actually love doing it and never need motivation

Hanley · 09-09-2011 8:53pm

One is hard, the other is easy.

Simples!

deadlybuzzman · 09-09-2011 9:00pm

What does your brain say when youre benching your bodyweight or squating over bodyweight?

CosyAcorn · 09-09-2011 9:04pm

I'm no fitness instructor or anything, but here is my understanding of it:

Those machines are designed to only target your chest muscles. They only allow a certain amount of freedom in the movement and you don't really have to stabilise yourself. With a push up you are engaging so many more muscles than just the ones in your chest. You have to support yourself and there is no machine to guide your movement which makes it more strenuous.

parc · 09-09-2011 9:05pm

Hanley wrote: »

One is hard, the other is easy.

Simples!

No, the machine is hard (after the right number of reps)

BlastedGlute · 09-09-2011 9:06pm

I love push ups

class for triceps and chest pump! Do 100 everyday no matter what else your training!

jugger0 · 09-09-2011 10:29pm

Same, i hate them with a passion, i have a habit of holding my breath when i do them too, one armed push ups are grand tho, a bit harder but you dont have to do as many!

Burkatron · 09-09-2011 10:47pm

parc wrote: »

This may sound weird. I hate doing push ups. Whenever I force myself to do them, my brain is immediately saying "ugh, push ups...finish them". It's a mixture of boredom and just hating them

However, whenever I do a similar exercise on these types of machines

I have no problem. I actually love doing it and never need motivation

Start doing burpees with proper technique, then go back to push ups & tell us how much you hate them!!

gymsoldier · 10-09-2011 9:59am

parc wrote: »

No, the machine is hard (after the right number of reps)

Anything is hard after 1000's of reps.

marathonic · 10-09-2011 12:22pm

gymsoldier wrote: »

Anything is hard after 1000's of reps.

Yeah, I done 1000's of reps of pint lifting last weekend..... was in pain for days!!! It seems to have targeted the stomach and brain muscles moreso than the biceps which is what I was actually training at the time!!!

Red_Wake · 10-09-2011 5:06pm

marathonic wrote: »

Yeah, I done 1000's of reps of pint lifting last weekend..... was in pain for days!!! It seems to have targeted the stomach and brain muscles moreso than the biceps which is what I was actually training at the time!!!

I know what you mean, did the same last weekend. Felt awful the next day, but I'm going to stick with it until I see an improvement.