Pushup Pains: Why More Isn't Always Better

Ever crushed a set of 50 pushups and felt like a superhero, only to hit 100+ and feel... meh? You're not alone! This phenomenon, where the satisfaction from a massive pushup milestone doesn't quite match the euphoria of hitting a slightly smaller, yet still impressive, target, is surprisingly common. Let's dive into the fascinating psychology and physiology behind why your pushup gains might not be translating into the same level of awesome feeling as you push past those initial benchmarks.

The Psychology of Perceived Achievement

When you aim for a pushup goal, especially one that feels challenging but attainable, like 50 or 75 reps, the psychological payoff is immense. This is because you've likely set a specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goal. The journey to reaching that goal involves overcoming obstacles, pushing through discomfort, and finally achieving that predefined success point. The feeling of accomplishment stems from conquering a challenge you've actively worked towards. It's the 'Aha!' moment of mastery. As you approach your target, your brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. This creates a potent sense of satisfaction and pride. Now, consider aiming for 100+ pushups. While it's a fantastic physical feat, the psychological impact can diminish if the goal becomes less defined or if the effort required feels disproportionately taxing. The initial thrill of hitting 50 might be a celebration of newfound strength and endurance. Hitting 100, however, might feel more like a grueling endurance test than a celebratory achievement, especially if the incremental gains in perceived effort start to outweigh the incremental gains in perceived success. The diminishing marginal utility of effort plays a significant role here. Each pushup after the initial ones requires more energy and focus, and the reward per rep can feel less significant. You're not just getting stronger; you're also fighting fatigue, which can dampen the celebratory mood. It's like eating your favorite dessert – the first few bites are heavenly, but by the tenth, you might be feeling rather full and less enthused. The same principle applies to pushup performance; the joy isn't always linear. Furthermore, our brains are wired to seek novelty and significant leaps. A jump from, say, 20 pushups to 50 is a substantial improvement, marked by visible progress and increased capability. Moving from 75 to 100, while still an achievement, might feel like an incremental step rather than a breakthrough, especially if the training regimen remains the same. The psychological satisfaction is often tied to the perceived magnitude of the leap, and as you reach higher numbers, the percentage of improvement might feel smaller relative to the total effort expended. So, while 100 pushups is objectively impressive, the internal reward system might not be as amped up as it was for those earlier milestones.

The Physiology of Fatigue and Diminishing Returns

When you perform pushups, your muscles work hard. Initially, your body efficiently uses glycogen stores and oxygen to fuel these contractions. As you progress through your sets, especially when aiming for higher rep counts like 100+, physiological changes start to occur that impact your perceived feeling of accomplishment. Muscle fatigue sets in. This isn't just a feeling; it's a physiological reality. Your muscles begin to accumulate metabolic byproducts, like lactic acid, and their ability to contract forcefully diminishes. This means that each subsequent pushup requires significantly more effort than the one before it. The neurological signaling also changes; your brain has to work harder to recruit muscle fibers and maintain proper form. This increased effort can lead to a more pronounced sense of exhaustion, which can overshadow the positive feelings of achievement. Think about it: pushing out that 50th rep might have been challenging but achievable with good form. Pushing out the 90th or 100th rep might involve a struggle, form breakdown, and a desperate push to just get the movement done. The quality of the effort changes, and this affects how we interpret the outcome. Furthermore, your energy systems become depleted. While a moderate set of pushups might not drain your immediate energy reserves, pushing for very high numbers engages both aerobic and anaerobic systems to their limits. This can lead to a general feeling of depletion, making it harder to feel exuberant and more likely to feel simply tired. The body prioritizes recovery over celebration. Diminishing returns also apply physiologically. The initial strength gains from training are often rapid. As you become fitter and stronger, the physiological adaptations become more subtle. The same training stimulus that produced significant gains earlier might yield smaller improvements at higher fitness levels. Therefore, the physical reward (i.e., how much stronger you feel per unit of effort) might decrease as you approach elite levels of muscular endurance. So, while your muscles are undoubtedly getting stronger and more resilient with every pushup, the perceived physical benefit and the resulting positive neurochemical response might not scale linearly with the total number of repetitions. The sheer physical demand of performing a very high volume of pushups can shift the focus from pride in achievement to relief that it's over, or even just plain exhaustion. The feeling is less about triumph and more about survival.

Setting Realistic and Rewarding Goals

Understanding why hitting 100+ pushups might not feel as amazing as hitting 50 or 75 is crucial for maintaining motivation and enjoying your fitness journey. Instead of focusing solely on arbitrary high numbers, consider setting more nuanced and rewarding goals. For instance, instead of just