Fast is rarely the right way to do anything!

As JBob said, you're going to be panting after doing them quickly, but that may not be doing much for achieving your goals. Stability and holding form is a huge workout for a big chunk of your body, shoulders, chest, back, core, you're going to do a better overall workout with slower, controlled motions.

Matt,

I think a concern among some of our fair ladies is that they don't want to bulk up, so it is important to know if slow pushups will cause that as opposed to doing them more quickly.

I use a slow, controlled motion because, quite honestly, I get a good cardio workout from walking up 5 stairs. I was out of breath after doing 10 slow pushups. If it bulks me up, so be it.

My current training cycle uses a variety of push-ups;

Wednesday
20 handstand pushups
40 crocodile pushups
20 decline pushups
30 spiderman pushups
-----
110 pushups total

Thursday
40 handstand pushups
40 reverse pushups
----
80 pushups total

Friday was yoga day, so, no pushups.

JBob is right about building bulk; high weight, low reps, roughly 2+ minutes rest between sets, many many sets (say 10 to 20?) With pushups, 'high weight' could mean handstand pushups, it could mean 1 arm pushups (regular or dive-bomber).
It's about time under maximum tension.

Another way to achieve this is kind of fun, but not good for this thread, is to take a full minute to do 1 pushup; 30 seconds down, 30 seconds up. (you can build up to this, try 10 seconds down then up, then 15, 20, 25, 30)

::googles all these names for pushups::

I have no solid proof or research to back me up, but can only assume this would coincide with all other sorts of strength training. Endurance activities create long corded muscle (leaner/toned) while speed/explosiveness creates more short corded muscle (big and bulky).

I would compare this to endurance running versus sprinting. You typically will see an endurance runner is very lean while the sprinter is going to have much bulkier legs on them. Other more experienced athletes may provide better insight on this, but this jives with what I have learned and what seems to be logical to me.

Be careful, you might strain something just researching some of those!

"bulking up" is almost never accidental, it requires a particular approach to weight training, and a particular eating plan (we're talking eating 6 to 8 oz of protein every 3 hours) and frankly, it takes testosterone. Women can build tremendous strength and without an eating plan, they will tend to look 'sculpted' but not large. Think of Linda Hamilton in "Terminator".

One of the eating approaches that male athletes sometimes follow is called "GOMAD" for Gallon of Milk A Day. Every day.

Saturday (7th)
22 handstand pushups
48 crocodile pushups
36 decline pushups
48 spiderman pushups
-----
154 pushups total

Week 2, Day 1

Also?

Day 8

Y'all, we made it thru the first week! We rock!!!

Did some of you think, a week ago, that you would be able to do 7 (or 8 today) pushups? Be very proud of yourselves.

I am thrilled for all of us.

♥

Ow.

So, I maxed on Friday, mustered 16 for a max set. I did a few more, going to muscle failure each time, and decided to make Sunday a "rest" day, doing the 8 pushup minimum. After having done 37 and 43 the previous two days, the "8" looks funny on my log.

But, I think it was necessary to rest after pushing to muscle failure. I jumped into it this morning and managed sets of 12, 11, and 10 with plans on adding two more sets this evening. My goal of maxing again on Saturday with 30 is attainable, but only if I keep pushing myself.

I'm feeling pretty good, if not a bit tight in the arms, this morning.

Pup,
Try doing the push-ups with a "ladder" scheme.
For example:
1 pushup
get up, shake your arms out
2 pushups
get up shake your arms out
3 pushups
get up shake your arms out
4 pushups
get up shake your arms out
(If you've been keeping count, that's 10 pushups)
keep adding rungs until your form starts to suffer.
That was 1 ladder.
now rest 2 minutes
start another ladder
with 1 pushup
add rungs, etc.

NOT NORMAL!!!!!

Okay, you crazy gym-freaks!

For those of us who AREN'T hardbodies (yet), we are doing just fine with our <60 planks and sticking with the 9 pushups today.

You hardbodies can challenge each other, we'll stay here on the side and plug along.

I planked for like two hours last night. I must not be doing something right because I wasn't sore or sweating at all when I woke up, just a little drool on my pillow....

heehee

I have to confess the wall push ups got lost over the week-end, but I started back this morning - up to 23! Also, did a 2 mile walk over the week-end.

I know that's nothing for some of the hard-core here, but for us "ladies of a certain age", it's something!

You go, sewanee!!!

Well done.

Real muscular bulk also requires testosterone. From the ladies that I know, this is not an issue. Workout all you want ladies, you will not "go Arnold" on us, I promise!

I have tried and tried to convince a few girlfriends of this. They still dont believe me.

From my "before" pictures I want to ADD to my arms and legs. Not normal for most women.

That is a tough number! But its doable! If crazy people can run for 26 miles 385 yards, Surely we can nearly lay still for 6 minutes!

^^^Works HARD!
Still looks every bit a girl/woman! Its all good ladies! If any of you start looking like a man, I'll buy your razors!