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AR15.COM
11/13/2006 8:16:31 AM EDT
Help I am stuck at about 60 reps for APFT.

What can I do to get up to 80 reps or above in the 2 minutes?

I do pushups and bench.  
I do 3 sets of regular (3 by 30), 3 sets of diamond (3 by 15), and 3 sets of widearm (3 by 15).

Then 135lb bench 10-15 reps 3 times.
11/13/2006 8:32:08 AM EDT
[#1]
I stopped gaining at one time because I was doing way too many and was never getting muscle buildup, just teardown.

When I went to a school and had much less time for PT my PT scores started climbing. Imagine my surprise. I did more pushups, situps, and a faster run time on the test by doing less.
11/13/2006 1:25:34 PM EDT
[#2]
+1 my worst APFT scores were in basic training. You never got enough sleep or muscle recovery time. Go easy, I do a chest work out 1, maybe 2 times a week. No more. See if that helps


11/13/2006 1:44:08 PM EDT
[#3]
try benching at a lower rep and higher weight.  Do it once or twice a week.  this way you are building your chest, and increasing your performance.  It sounds like you may be over training.  

11/13/2006 1:46:16 PM EDT
[#4]
I tried to increase my pushups for many years by just doing pushups, and it just didn't work.  After I didn't do pushups for years because of a wrist injury that pushups would aggravate, I started bench pressing.  About 15 years later when I finally tried doing pushups again, I could do twice as many!  In other words, try a different exercise that works the same muscles differently and with more weight.  Since you can already do 60 pushups, doing more of the same won't really help.  Try increasing your bench press or military press to strengthen your triceps with much lower rep range.  Sometimes the opposing muscles are the limit.  You might want to try back exercises like rows or pulldowns to strengthen the opposing muscles.

135# bench press is much, much too light for you.  You're doing almost ten times the number of pushups I can do, but lifting only 60% of what I use when benching.  You need to stick to what you can lift 5-8 reps.z
11/13/2006 4:58:10 PM EDT
[#5]
I do pullups threes sets of 10, then 5 or 6, then 4 or 5.  I also do the hanging back straightner or whatever it is called when you have your feet fixed and raise and lower your torso.

Good idea about the opposing muscles.  I will try that with increasing the bench and slacking on some of the pushups and maybe try rotating my chest workout every few weeks.

Thanks for the ideas gentleman.
11/13/2006 6:21:39 PM EDT
[#6]

Quoted:
I do pullups threes sets of 10, then 5 or 6, then 4 or 5.  I also do the hanging back straightner or whatever it is called when you have your feet fixed and raise and lower your torso.

Good idea about the opposing muscles.  I will try that with increasing the bench and slacking on some of the pushups and maybe try rotating my chest workout every few weeks.

Thanks for the ideas gentleman.


Dips
11/13/2006 6:34:48 PM EDT
[#7]
Usually getting punished with pushups helps build your max reps.  I went to OCS being able to do about 110/2min.  Four weeks later I could 135/2min and ~180 given unlimited time.  
11/20/2006 6:08:48 AM EDT
[#8]
Work those triceps!
11/20/2006 7:06:09 AM EDT
[#9]
1.  lower weight more reps on bench (already said)
2.  back workout (already said)
3.  triceps workout (close grip bench, dips, skullcrushers)
4.  wierd as it sounds, more core workout (lower/mid back, abs, obliques)

the older I get, the more I think core strength effects the quality of every physical activity I do....
11/28/2006 9:02:50 PM EDT
[#10]
I do a routine of five different types of pushups, in a pyramid (2-4-6-4-2) and do them very slowly.  Twice a week roughly.  I also do dips, and pullups.  At my best I could do 85 in two minutes.  Don't forget aerobics to keep up your wind.