I can't do a proper pushup

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Replies

  • levitateme
    levitateme Posts: 999 Member
    I couldn't do 1 "real" pushup in January. I've been benching with progressively heavier weights, practicing modified pushups, planks and general balance/core strength stuff. I can now do real pushups in sets of 8. Just work at it. Strengthening your chest, core, shoulders, back are all helpful when it comes to pushups.
  • mommyrunning
    mommyrunning Posts: 495 Member
    Pushups require core strength and upper body strength so planks like others suggested are good. There is a program called 100 pushups that you can use once you are able to do a pushup. It helps you practice until you can do more. When I was in the military we had to do a certain number of pushups in 1 minute. I would practice doing that # each night until I was fast enough to do it under a minute. Focus on your form doing a couple pushups to start and as you get stronger increase your #.
  • iasue
    iasue Posts: 46 Member
    I am definitely going to try the wall push ups - I have never been able to do a full on push up but I think that with this training I will be able to get there.
  • carlyraer
    carlyraer Posts: 9
    Start by doing modified push ups then you will get more upper body strength. Also lift more weights to build arm strength
  • bobbinalong
    bobbinalong Posts: 151 Member
    in for the info...
  • feltlikesound
    feltlikesound Posts: 326 Member
    When I had a trainer we did pushups in a rack - setup like you are doing squats. Push up off the bar first at chest height, progressively moving the supports (and thus the bar) down. Worked like a dream with tangible "measures" for improvement. Obviously not something everyone has access too, but is a gym alternative to wall pushups, counter pushups, etc.
  • beesareyellow
    beesareyellow Posts: 335 Member
    Do you have any stairs at your house? If so, a really neat way to start doing pushups is to start at a high step and do your sets. When this starts to feel easy, go down one step and do them here until it gets easy again. Rinse, repeat. Eventually, you will hit floor level. I was one of those who never could do a "real" pushup, but could rock knee pushups all day. Then, one day, a trainer saw me and and only made one comment: "the only way to do pushups is to do pushups". What he meant was, knee pushups were not going to get me there because they use a different mechanism and muscle group. The stair pushups are much closer to proper form. Now my warmups before lifting can consist of 5 sets of 10 pushups (that's 50 pushups!) no sweat. Give it a try:)
  • mjterp
    mjterp Posts: 650 Member
    "You Are Your Own Gym" is a great book for building up from nothing to ..yeah there is NO way I will even aspire to that (yet)
    They also have an app, but the app really helps only after you understand the stuff explained in the book.
    Thinks like starting with push ups against the wall...then down onto a kitchen counter...then down to a desk level, then down to a coffee table...then down to the floor...(the progression continues with your feet going up on a step, then a table or chair, then up against the wall until you are doing crazy stuff like wide handed pushups, handstand pushups, jumping pushups...just WILD stuff)
    For the record, I went from being able to do NONE to being able to do 7 with good form and 10-12 with my form falling apart and muscles quivering.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,986 Member
    YAYOG is cool! And I learned a lot doing it. It just didn't help with pushups.I can do 100 or so on a wall, none elevated (see above), and don't manage to get past kneeling ones.
  • VitaminAmy
    VitaminAmy Posts: 130 Member
    Lots of amazing advice in here... going to try doing planks in sets and also wall push ups to start.
    I do have stairs in my house but not very much room at the bottom so I'll work with that to start, then go to a chair, etc.
  • keegan2149
    keegan2149 Posts: 65 Member
    I agree with everyone that advised to try other exercise or modified push-ups. As a guy push-ups seem like this shiny fitness goal in the sky, but there are plenty of other exercise to start out with. Just start out with what you can do and work from there.

    You should be careful of nutrition. I'm not sure what your body type is but if you're really thin and have a strong metabolism you'll need to eat a lot of protein throughout the day and especially after your workouts. You'll also need to eat some simple carbs after your workout. You can't get stronger without muscle and muscle is made of protein.
  • Curtruns
    Curtruns Posts: 510 Member
    Never tried nerdfitness, but I have used Neila Rey. She has excellent body weight workouts

    http://neilarey.com/

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