Does losing weight make push ups easier?

xxzenabxx

I’m terrible at push ups! Being a female, my lower body power is much higher than my ‘weaker’ upper body. So frustrating because I just can’t seem to do full pushups, so I’m stuck at knee push ups. I’m currently 154lbs and 5’ 4” and did wonder though, will losing 10-15 lbs make a difference to my push ups by making them easier due to ‘less weight’? Has anyone personally experienced this?

sijomial

Yes - just like a lighter weight on the bar would make chest press / bench press easier.
You should be able to progress your strength a lot faster than you lose weight.

Knee push ups aren't a great way to progress as it takes away a lot of the core stability work that you get when you push up from your feet. Instead try elevating your hands. Stairs are perfect for this - find the step that you can do a decent amount of reps on. As it gets easier move down a step until eventually you get to the floor.

SnifterPug

I've been at roughly this weight for the last couple of years. I lost a lot of weight prior to that. At this weight I could handle eccentrics (starting at top and going down) which I couldn't do before but the only thing that has got me my first proper full push up has been consistent practice either doing incline push ups as recommended by sijomial or supported push ups (slinging a band over a pull up bar or stretching it between the safety bars of the squat rack in the gym to support the torso). Plus plenty of upper body strength work and core work. It's very slow going - at least it was for me.