Bench pressing your bodyweight is harder than doing a pushup.
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
refutedsupported
the weight of evidence
1 source for · 0 against
AS REPORTEDno primary record reached; this is what the reporting says
Retrieved online physics discussions confirm that bench pressing your bodyweight is harder than a standard push-up because a bench press requires lifting your entire body weight using only your arms, whereas a push-up distributes part of your body weight onto your feet.
# Why is bench pressing your bodyweight harder than doing a pushup?
Tags: newtonian-mechanics, forces, newtonian-gravity, everyday-life, free-body-diagram
- Score: 49
- Views: 30181
- Answers: 6
- Answered: yes
- Asked by: mochacat (545 rep)
- Asked: 2016-12-05
- Edited: 2016-12-06
- Site: physics
## Question
Why does bench pressing your own bodyweight feel so much harder than doing a push-up?
I have my own theories about the weight being distributed over multiple points (like in a push-up) but would just like to get a definite answer.
## Answers
### Answer by xCodeZone (score: 99 [ACCEPTED])
While doing push-ups, you don't push your whole body weight. You have your toes on the ground, so your body weight is distributed between your feet and your arms.
While benching, you have no support from feet. You hold the whole weight with your arms, so benching your body weight is always tougher.
### Answer by Frederick John (score: 8)
It's harder because you are benching more weight. Benching your bodyweight requires your upper body to complete 100% of the lift.
When your feet are on the ground and you are pushing yourself up you are only lifting approximately 1/3 of your bod