Why is are my chest muscles getting bigger, but my pushup max is decreasing?

[Anonymous]

Before I started lifting weights about 9 months ago I could do 30 pushups, but now my chest is much bigger but I can only fo 26 pushups

(Btw im talking about pushups with a 4 second hold at the bottom)

[Suefit1]

My boyfriend complained about the same thing. He was bench pressing 300 then he took a break. Said he could do 40 proper push ups when he rarely did them. After the break he wanted to increase his bench again. He went from 235 to 285 and found his push ups dropped to 24 or 25. He would run out of gas. Guess he needs to build up stamina again. I am much weaker in the upper body and I can do 25 so push ups are a total different challenge.

[Xfitchick]

There is a difference between strength and endurance. Lifting a heavy weight once requires another energy system and other muscle fibers than doing a lot of push-ups. For push-ups you must train for endurance so you don't get sore that quickly.

[Xfitchick]

hope you understand and it helps

[Fearless_banana]

I need pictures to tell you. Your chest insertions may be shit. I don't have the best insertions on my chest either although at low bodyfat I do get the squared off look. You aren't going to be gaining any sort of mass doing pushups though. Fuck push ups.. hit the bench press. Hit all your pressing movements and prioritize them over flyes. Presses will get you that mass and thickness. Flyes are more focused for isolation and striations.

[Dim_121]

The reason for that is your not constantly using those presise muscles when you lift. Or if you are you are teaching them to put more strain on them to push a few times and rest. With pushups you need to be constantly using those muscles without letting them rest.
In other words you need to practice using less weight and do more reps. Instead of lifting a lot of wieght for less reps.

[dogbert444]

My guess is that, even if you're the same weight overall, the extra muscle in you chest makes your chest weigh more. That's most of what you're lifting in pushups.

[dogbert444]

Thanks for MHG!

[Curlybeauty17]

You're gaining weight in terms of muscle.

[dudeman]

maybe you're not resting enough between workouts.