Need a directive on push ups!

missferoux
missferoux Posts: 118 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi all,

I have been setting myself fitness challenges. My new one is PUSH UPS! I literally can't do even one! So...I am going to do the whole wall / kitchen counter / step / floor lead up rather than knees as I have read other posts that recommend it, and plenty on t'interweb.

However, I am a bit dense. I would love someone to help me build a programme. If there are any experienced people out there, can you give me an idea of:

How many times per week?
How many reps each session?
When I can do how many, do I move down a level?

I have been following certain challenges (eg plank & squats 30 day challenge) andI like the way it's prescriptive. Can anyone help? Please?
Thanks in advance :flowerforyou:

Replies

  • SarahSmilesCA
    SarahSmilesCA Posts: 261 Member
    Hi, good luck on your goal. Push ups help us get strong. I did this and it helped:
    http://www.military.com/military-fitness/spouse-and-family/getting-passed-girl-push-ups

    Not sure why people recommend not using the knees, I was able to go from 30 knee pushups up to the regular military style within a few weeks. Give yourself time and take it one day at a time...

    For me my next goal is chin ups...I really hate them.
  • Sycoholic
    Sycoholic Posts: 282 Member
    Knees.... Do as many regular as you can and then drop to your knees. If you can go back up off your knees for a few more, then do so. The idea is muscle memory. Make sure you're going down low enough or you're cheating yourself. I would say to alternate between 100 one day and 200 the next. Do groups of 10 for 100 and groups of 20 for 200. I had looked at programs and suggestions for increasing push ups. This should be a start.

    When you get better, just do them periodically throughout the day, as many as you comfortably can. I broke my wrist and in 2 months passed my Army pt test doing it this way. I actually scored higher than I ever had... Watch tv at night? Every commercial break drop and do some. The countertop methods aren't consistent as it relies on your foot position to be the same each time..... just do knees when you get tired. In basic training this was what they expected, was for us to drop to our knees if we had to and keep going.

    When you get better try elevating your feet on things to provide more weight on your upper body. Those "Perfect Pushup" handles help you get lower for a better workout too.
  • socioseguro
    socioseguro Posts: 1,679 Member
    Hi

    Push ups have been very helpful for getting rid of body fat, in particular at the core area.
    I always did "military style", first with a sturdy chair at home or a metal box at the gym. I tried to do 15 pushups non stop
    Then slowly I will move to a lower height box, a step and finally the floor.

    Now I can do 33 push ups in 1 minute. I do not try more.

    I try to change exercises every time I am at the gym. My body seem to get "bored" if I perform the same exercise too often. My body just stops responding.
    Doing something else, like planks, bridges, burpees for a few days and then come back to push ups seem to work better for me.
    Good luck in your journey
  • stingrayinfl
    stingrayinfl Posts: 284 Member
    Sarah, that is one fo the best websites out there. Good job. A lot of workouts and very few people know about it.
  • missferoux
    missferoux Posts: 118 Member
    Thanks all. Will check out that website. Need to be able to do one on knees before anything else lol. I'm so feeble:-(
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    Get the 100 Pushups app (it's free) and follow it on whatever incline you can manage, then on the next cycle, get closer to the floor :)
  • affacat
    affacat Posts: 216 Member
    My wife and I followed the program in a book called 7 Weeks to 100 Pushups and both had fantastic results. I believe it has a plan for if you can't do any to start.

    However, I've also had great results just doing 3 max sets every morning (a short rest in between, like pushups, pee, pushups, brush teeth, pushups). I did that as part of a different program (the Armstrong pullup program) and had fantastic results.

    I currently do 4 max sets M/W/F in the morning.

    I personally prefer just doing the 'max' sets because I'm okay with pushing myself and don't need to meet a number... and so there's less risk of breaking form. However, my wife really likes having a goal, so 7 Weeks to 100 Pushups gave a solid program for her. And I do admit, it helped a lot. But once I was finished it, I just do max sets.
  • guacamole17
    guacamole17 Posts: 109 Member
    I 2nd the hundred pushup challenge. Google it. Its awesome! I was doing up to 80+ pushups (in sets) the last time I did it. I can still do about 20 and its been months. I need to pick it back up again!

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