Some advice about Doing Pushups

girish_ph

Hi all,

I am on my way to lose weight. Yet, when it comes to doing pushups, I have a problem. I can do just 2. What should I do? I cnat even do week1 day 1 of one hundred pushups. Feeling frustrated and depressed. What shoud bI do? Any ideas?? Help Please!!!

BinaryPulsar

Try doing them with your hands on an elevated surface, and move lower and lower (as you are building strength) until you can do them on the floor. You could also add weight lifting to increase your strength.

MSimm62385

Same way you treat any muscle building I guess. Do your MAX number of push-ups, until you drop to the ground out of exhaustion. Keep your protein intake high. Gett a good night's sleep, let your muscles repair themselves and try again for more.

stephl21uk

your lucky i cant even do 1 haha i have NO upper body strength at all, have proper sparrow arms, im trying to build up my strength with weights

amazing_shrinking_woman

When i started the 100 push up challange, I did it for the first time all the was through by leaning twords a wall and "pushing-up" away from it. It will still build muscle, but will be a lower intensity. Once you make it through that way you can increase the incline by pushing up against a desk or some stairs. Just maintain good form and keep increasing the incline. I can now do 100 girly push ups, all by working up to it slowly. Hang in there!

MissMormie

The 100 push-ups site does give alternatives to the regular push-up. So if you're following their program, listen to it.

I've started out doing push-ups against the table, after a week or two I could do girly push-ups with my knees on the ground, and just yesterday did the first 2 sorta real push-ups.

You're already ahead of me, so just build up your strenght and you'll be fine doing some push-ups before long.

sophieclarev

I know this sounds weird but clench your buttocks....it really helped me. I can now do 7. Started on 3. Not amazing but waaaay better than I was

ickybella

This blog post goes through a few different variations you can try and how to work up to a normal push-up: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/BerryH/view/how-to-do-10-full-push-ups-what-worked-for-me-126396

BerryH

This blog post goes through a few different variations you can try and how to work up to a normal push-up: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/BerryH/view/how-to-do-10-full-push-ups-what-worked-for-me-126396

Hah, I was just about to post, thanks for the endorsement! :flowerforyou:

Smuterella

I can only do about 10 knee push ups before collapsing so have quit P90X almost half way through and am going to hit the 100 push up challenge instead, until I can do a few real ones. At the moment I can't see it happening, everytime I try I pull something in my abs. Sigh. But I'll keep going.

girish_ph

Thanks folks for all your support. I feel better already. I was going thru the "I will never ever, ever, ever be able to do pushups." Now it is, "Let me try" So thanks to you all.

I'll start by easier pushups as most of you suggested, and (hopefully) graduate to the real ones. Specifically, I'll go through method suggested by BarryH in her blog. I'll keep you all posted on my progress.

Can anyone suggest weight routines to improve upper body strength? I want one with max 5lb wt in either hand and NO MORE. I'm ready to do more reps though

Smuterella

Why max 5lb and NO MORE? Heavier = stronger. It really is the best way.

girish_ph

Why max 5lb and NO MORE? Heavier = stronger. It really is the best way.

Lisa, it could be a psychological problem. I am *kitten* scared of weights and gym.

TavistockToad

Lisa, it could be a psychological problem. I am *kitten* scared of weights and gym.

in what way?

Joannie30

If you can only do 2, i'd say just do 2 until you feel ready to have a try at 3. Then do 3 until you feel ready to have a go at 4 etc. In between times, build up your upper body strength in other ways.

You got this.
Jx

jimmerwoo

No one's mentioned breathing. Absolutely crucial part of doing push ups. It's breathe in on the way up. Breathe slowly out on the way down as you lower yourself. Start on the knees or against a low wall or steps like someone suggested. You'll get there in no time. Rock on!

shelbyfrootcake

I do mine with bent knees at the moment and will work up to straight legs, then onwards to who knows what lofty inclines and weights!!

Philllbis

I had little or no upper body strength and struggled doing pushups. I set a goal to do 5. When I could do 5 I set my goal to do 10, etc. Just keep pushing yourself to do one or two more and like any other muscle, you'll soon be able to do more.

tubaman58

First.... do 2

Second, try pushups from the knees (they used to call them female pushups)

Try incline pushups.... hands on a bench, feet on the fllor


Keep going!!!

eviegreen

Why max 5lb and NO MORE? Heavier = stronger. It really is the best way.

Yes, but I think it is best to ease into heavier weights, especially if the OP doesn't have the musculature to do more than a few push ups. I was in the same situation back in June, had to do the half push ups. Started with five pound weights for circuit training (which really worked my arms at the time, weak things that they were), and have graduated to heavier weights since, and can do full push ups now.

bblich02

Hi all,

I am on my way to lose weight. Yet, when it comes to doing pushups, I have a problem. I can do just 2. What should I do? I cnat even do week1 day 1 of one hundred pushups. Feeling frustrated and depressed. What shoud bI do? Any ideas?? Help Please!!!

try to do as many regular pushups as you can. when you reached your max, place your knees on the ground and do as many pushups on your knees as you can.

my trainer told me to do this when i had one 2 years ago. made hugeee progress!

ninerbuff

Thanks folks for all your support. I feel better already. I was going thru the "I will never ever, ever, ever be able to do pushups." Now it is, "Let me try" So thanks to you all.

I'll start by easier pushups as most of you suggested, and (hopefully) graduate to the real ones. Specifically, I'll go through method suggested by BarryH in her blog. I'll keep you all posted on my progress.

Can anyone suggest weight routines to improve upper body strength? I want one with max 5lb wt in either hand and NO MORE. I'm ready to do more reps though

Upper body strength is improved when you push more resistance than muscle is used to. Most people can easily move a 5lb weight so you're not going to do much to improve your body strength with it. And more reps only helps with endurance.
Don't be afraid of heavy weights. You've probably been told they will make you "bulky", but on calorie deficit that's not likely at all.
Search the forums for females who train with heavy weights and check out some of their physiques.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

secretlobster

Do as many good-quality pushups as you can. Elbows bent to 90 degrees at the bottom of your pushup, straight back (no butt in the air)

From then, drop to your knees and use the same good technique

Every day, repeat the process... Do as many as you can from your hands and then drop to your knees when you need to. You'll see improvement over time. Pushups are not easy to start out with, but you will get better!

If you are trying to improve your strength (and pushups improve your strength), it makes zero sense to me why you would need advice on exercises that use no more than 5lbs of weight. You realize the amount of weight you're essentially lifting when you do a pushup is significantly higher than 5lbs, right?

Jeneba

I began with girly pushups on a bosu. I am now doing 35 manly-man pushups on the floor. Just begin slowly, take your time, use whatever props you need and you will be successful!

girish_ph

Thanks for all you folks about lifting weights for building upper body strength to do pushups. I have a question -

Can I lift weights to get the strength and then give it up? Ofcourse, if I am not exercizing at all, I expect flab. But if I use weights for a short period (3-6 months) and then give it up for pushups, will that cause any problems??

BerryH

If you a break from weightlifting, even if you've lost a lot of strength you will never find it as hard as when you first started as you will retain muscle memory.

But why would you do that? Why not incorporate push-ups into your weight training routine? If you find it tough while you're building up your push-up reps you might want to drop the chest -specific exercises, say bench-presses and flies.

Doing both will be the best way to build up upper-body strength.

robin52077

Can I ask WHY you would want to strength train "just until you can do pushups", then stop training?

Strength training is the absolute BEST way to transform your body into something that looks awesome naked... anyone can look good dressed, but if you want things firm and smooth, start lifting and DON'T STOP!

The key is to start. Once you do, you will WANT to go heavier because you will notice results and want MORE!

girish_ph

Can I ask WHY you would want to strength train "just until you can do pushups", then stop training?

Strength training is the absolute BEST way to transform your body into something that looks awesome naked... anyone can look good dressed, but if you want things firm and smooth, start lifting and DON'T STOP!

The key is to start. Once you do, you will WANT to go heavier because you will notice results and want MORE!

Maybe I did not make my position clear. I am a mathematical consultant, married with a daughter. I was always the academic/social type - never the physical type.

Now, I want to be fit. But I need a routine that I can do and "forget about it". I need something that is not very strenuous, which I can do. I am not too concerned with having an awesome body - just with being fit and a bit strong. I have a lot of commitments in life, and I want something I can do every day (or alternate day) that will ensure fitness. Thats all.
My thinking is like this - suppose I work hard and can do a fixed number of pushups - say 25. I'll reach a level of fitness. I will NOT INCREASE it, because I am happy with that level. I hope I have explained my position - something simple and not too complicated.

Hotby40

What is it about them that is hard for you? (weak wrists, pain anywhere, arm strength?)

ahmommy

If you don't want to lift weights, don't. There is a lot you can do on just body weight. Check out this workout:

http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/12/09/beginner-body-weight-workout-burn-fat-build-muscle/

You've gotten some great tips on how to work on doing push ups. I've read that doing knee push ups doesn't develop the same muscles as doing them on your toes, and that it's better to decrease the intensity by doing them on a chair, table, or wall to build up strength until you can do them on the floor. You can also do them on the stairs, and work your way down until you reach the bottom.

WendyTerry420

When i started the 100 push up challange, I did it for the first time all the was through by leaning twords a wall and "pushing-up" away from it. It will still build muscle, but will be a lower intensity. Once you make it through that way you can increase the incline by pushing up against a desk or some stairs. Just maintain good form and keep increasing the incline. I can now do 100 girly push ups, all by working up to it slowly. Hang in there!

I did this too! Start small and just keep adding one more each time. I couldn't even do one girl push-up at first, and only 5 wall push-ups. Now I can do 10 girl push-ups. Eventually I will work my way up to *real* military-style push-ups, but not this day.