In today’s Log, Old Man Conjugate: Pushups are Better Than the Bench Press, I’ll stir up some shit I bet. But, that isn’t the reason I’m writing it. I’m writing it because a foundation of Old Man Conjugate is to Find Something You Can Do Today.
As the legend Bill Starr in the old muscle rag article style, let me digress to a story of how this came to be.
I was talking to my “friend” Rob, who sends me pictures like this
at 2:00 am all time.
Anyway, Rob is pretty banged up, like me from training and general hard living (hockey, physical job, being an idiot) and was going through the same thing I wrote about in my log a while back.
Rob sounded just like I did, so I suggested he do what I did.
- Sled Drags
- Body weight exercises
- Abs
And that he do them for a month or so. He agreed and we parted ways.
About a week ago I got a text that said:
“Weighted pus ups are better than the bench press. That’s the title for your next log.”
And he is and was right.
Pushups are Better Than the Bench Press
Depending on what your goals are. And how your body feels.
Anytime I bench, my hip acts up over 225 pounds. Yet I still fought it. And did them.
Since I stopped, my hip does not hurt nearly as much and the PT is having a greater effect.
This goes back to an issue Rob had that I was having. We both felt guilty about not “training”.
I had to change my mindset on “training” and remind myself that I was indeed training for the last 5 or 6 weeks, just not as a Powerlifter. I was training for health and longevity. To be harder to kill.
I think this got through to Rob too.
So, getting back to the statement Pushups are Better Than the Bench Press, If they suit your goal.
Pushups are a terrible substitute for a Bench Press is you have a meet coming up.
But, they are a tremendous exercise, especially weighted, if you are training for health, fitness and around injuries.
Let’s expand this to a broader concept.
We need to choose exercises that do not cause pain, make injury worse and get us further towards our goals. Across the board.
Do squats hurt?
Stop.
Do something else.
Overhead press hurts?
Stop.
Do something else.
Find what you can do today that gets you further towards your goal. Use Old Man Conjugate.
So, in closing, for my current goals, Pushups are Better Than the Bench Press.
Evaluate your goals and apply this rule objectively to your training.
Did you miss last week’s log?
Read it here.
SHARE THIS!
#bostonsstrongest
Vincere vel mori
C.J. Murphy
August 31, 2022
