This is from the weightlifting sticky;

"Intensity, as defined by most strength coaches as simply the percentage of maximal strength. Take the squat for example. If you're maximum effort allows you to squat 100 lbs, training with loads in the 80-95% range of your max effort is more than likely going to be a stimulating or maintaining load. Anything below that is more than likely under this threshold and while it can burn calories and prompt some adaptations in the metabolic/oxidative qualities of the muscle, it's not going to provide you with that overload you're seeking. So intensity of 70-80% and below is really going to be insufficient in terms of building or keeping muscle and this is why the whole "pump and tone" mentality is something I've spoken out against in many instances around here."

Ok, so I'm curious about something. Let's say I can do 20 push-ups in a row. So a push-up is definitely not in the 80-95% range of my max effort. But let's say I do push-ups every day and eventually I'm able to do 50 or 100 in a row. Is that just adaptation? I haven't built more muscle or gotten stronger?

Steve is probably the person who should answer this - I have a fraction of his knowledge in this area.

My understanding is that a pushup isn't really a strength building exercise once you've gotten past the ability to do a dozen or so. At that point a straight pushup becomes an endurance exercise unless you do soemthing like wear a vest or put a weight on your back (which I've seen people do - pushups with plates on their backs to increase intensity).

So at the point that you can do 50 of them or whatever, you're no longer building strength, but you are building endurance and muscle memory.

That makes sense. But it also seems kind of counterintuitive. It seems like someone who could do 100 push-ups is stronger than the person who can do 20.

Huh. Interesting, because I don't think of it that way.

I actually don't think of a pushup as a strength thing past the idea of being able to push my own bodyweight. I think of being able to do a LOT of anything as endurance.

(As an aside, do you know that Herschel Walker does 2500 situps and 1500 pushups every day. Holy *&^#%! )

I remember reading that about Herschel Walker back in the 80's. That's pretty crazy. It's kind of hard to believe.

Wow, I have to try hard to get 50 situps and 20 pushups..

That guy is ridiculous, in a good way of course.

There are many different facets of strength.

You're specifically talking about strength endurance. Training with very high reps will cause adaptations to occur. However, they'll be specific to endurance and not absolute strength and/or hypertrophy.

Make sense?

Thank you for the tip!

Hello,

I have a question for you all, my boyfriend has a mans boobs and I was wondering if we could have him go to surgery? Will this help him?

thank you!

Does he exercise? Has he lost weight?

Personally I'd choose surgery as a last option after I'd tried everything else. Have him read the various exercise threads here on the board.