Pushup Question

likitisplit · February 2014

I've been doing incline (dining table) pushups with the goal of doing full pushups from the floor. I just read the "Convict Conditioning" section to see what they recommend. They define a full pushup as one where your chest would touch a baseball that the lowest point of the movement.

I've been trying to do them so that my chest touches the floor and failing, but I can do them at this modified height. However, this is not what I'm seeing on YouTube.

Should I continue progressively getting lower on incline pushups?

Should I do the modified height pushup with the goal of moving my chest closer to the floor?

Should I do something else?

Crumpet_Girl · February 2014

Nose touching the floor is what I have always considered a "full" push up. lol

I'd keep doing them if I were you, you will progress with time.

I wouldn't stress too much about exactly how low your getting - make sure your form is good and do them. Over time you will improve and eventually you will be doing them one armed

Depictureboy · February 2014

There's no shame in doing pushups on your knees. I still do sets of the when I run out of steam on full pushups.

likitisplit · February 2014

Except that I really like what balancing on my toes is doing for my waist

acogg · February 2014

Thanks OP, now I have to go buy a baseball to measure. :grumble: Are you sure it wasn't a softball because that is about as far down as I am getting. LOL! Awesome that you are pushing yourself! :drinker: It took me over a year of trying to do just one!

likitisplit · February 2014

To tell the truth, I couldn't do it to my lacrosse ball, so I chose my daughter's small pink ball as an alternative. It's probably more softball sized :laugh:

Kirk_R · February 2014

Touching a baseball instead of the floor is going to be a bit easier on your shoulders. I err on the better safe than sorry side but then I've also had chronic tendonitis so...

likitisplit · February 2014

Thanks all!

yogicarl · February 2014

Yes - lowering in a push-up to the level where your sternum would touch a tennis ball ensures that your upper arms are about paralell to the floor which is mechanically safe. Any lower and you put excess strain on your elbow joints which is not good and you get no better results for going lower.

The only time I would go to the floor would be if I was going to lie right down and do a backbending movement - like Cobra in Yoga - then push back up from the floor.

Except that I really like what balancing on my toes is doing for my waist

Pushups are superior to bench press in that they hit the core, quads, calves and obliques so you get more returns for your efforts.

russellvolk · February 2014

I do Power 90 routine. It involves doing a few push up sets. When I first started, I couldn't do a single push up, so I started off the kitchen counter. Then I progressed to doing push ups on my knees. Now I do around 100 push ups like a real man.

It takes time. Be patient and you'll get there. Once you do 1 good push up, then you'll see, that number will start increasing quickly.

simsburyjet · February 2014

Doing push ups on your knees is a waste of time... Doing them on a bench is much more beneficial.
Push ups are the perfect exercise and I would keep trying until I could do a full push up.

Inshape13 · February 2014

I wouldn't stress too much about exactly how low your getting - make sure your form is good and do them. Over time you will improve and eventually you will be doing them one armed

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I was thinking this same thing. When I first started I could not do that many and now I do around 35-40 standard push-ups at a time or 15 plyo or decline push ups. If you want to work your core then you can try planks or spiders as well. You will get there in no time if you remain consistent.

LishieFruit89 · February 2014

There's no shame in doing pushups on your knees. I still do sets of the when I run out of steam on full pushups.

Knee push ups aren't useful in training you for on-you-toe push ups.
Incline push ups like she is doing is the way to go.

You aren't engaging your core in knee push ups.

Kamalka · February 2014

Keep on going! As long as you keep straight and do not feel pain in your arms, shoulders and back, you are doing good. I had the same kind of issue but started to do them on fist (on something soft but not a carpet as it burns) before going down. It took me only a couple of sessions to improve strength even thought it used to hurt my fingers joints at the beginning. I noticed it is much more easier if I leave more space between my hands as my elbows get outside instead go being straight, but I don't think it is recommended.

I now use PushUps app from Runtastic (partner with MFP, so accounts are connected) for Iphone, which made me go from 4 push-ups max (it starts at 1) to 50.

timeasterday · February 2014

Varda - if you're going to be doing a lot more pushups in the future, go out and get a cheap pair of pushup bars. Pushups with hands flat on the ground might tweak your wrists. It's painful for me due to a lifetime of computer work (carpal tunnel). The bars are much more comfortable.

tigersword · February 2014

Yes - lowering in a push-up to the level where your sternum would touch a tennis ball ensures that your upper arms are about paralell to the floor which is mechanically safe. Any lower and you put excess strain on your elbow joints which is not good and you get no better results for going lower.

The only time I would go to the floor would be if I was going to lie right down and do a backbending movement - like Cobra in Yoga - then push back up from the floor.

Except that I really like what balancing on my toes is doing for my waist

Pushups are superior to bench press in that they hit the core, quads, calves and obliques so you get more returns for your efforts.

A properly performed bench press hits all those muscle groups as well.

yogicarl · February 2014

Yes - lowering in a push-up to the level where your sternum would touch a tennis ball ensures that your upper arms are about paralell to the floor which is mechanically safe. Any lower and you put excess strain on your elbow joints which is not good and you get no better results for going lower.

The only time I would go to the floor would be if I was going to lie right down and do a backbending movement - like Cobra in Yoga - then push back up from the floor.

Except that I really like what balancing on my toes is doing for my waist

Pushups are similar to bench press in that they hit the core, quads, glutes, calves and obliques and are great if you can't get to a gym or prefer not to use weights.

A properly performed bench press hits all those muscle groups as well.

edit: Fixed above - because I often get over-enthusiastic about bodyweight training, because it's awesome!.

zboone05 · February 2014

Sometimes it is helpful for me to see how the "extreme" version of a specific exercise feels so that the more normal movement doesn't seem timid. That sounds odd i know, but if you look at this youtube where he does push ups on the blocks, you might find your doing this gives you the confidence that you can go lower to the ground than you are comfortable doing now. You are sort of going "beneath" the ground if you do this version. It helped me get going so maybe you will like it too. Good luck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLRsVnnj3LU

yogicarl · February 2014

Intersting You Tube - thanks.

I can see how this could be used to extend the Military Press also; once you can get your face to the floor.

nccarolb · February 2014

I know this is a serious question and I, too, wanted to know the answer. However, I just gotta say it: My boobs are bigger than a softball, so should I just be happy if my boobs touch the floor? :bigsmile:

yogicarl · February 2014

Thsi might be useful to the original poster (or anyone else working towards getting the first real push-ups) - to do some negative push-ups.

To do this, start from the high plank position then sl-ow-ly go down to the low push-up position (I call this Chaturanga Dandasana in yoga), hold the low push-up position for a brief moment and then relax completely onto the floor. Then its up to hands and knees and then high plank for another slow negative push-up.

working the negative will help build strength in the low part of the push-up where you need the strength to push back up out of the low position.

PS: I don't know about boobs touching the floor, but my belly used to get there first!:bigsmile:

blably · February 2014

Doing push ups on your knees is a waste of time... Doing them on a bench is much more beneficial.
Push ups are the perfect exercise and I would keep trying until I could do a full push up.

not much truth in that. by keepin on doin them on your knees, you can build up your strenght so you can make the regular ones.

blably · February 2014

I know this is a serious question and I, too, wanted to know the answer. However, I just gotta say it: My boobs are bigger than a softball, so should I just be happy if my boobs touch the floor? :bigsmile:

you can give me some of your boobs... allways in for some boobs...ahhh soon the day will come that ill have some given by a doc

JoRocka · February 2014

Yes - lowering in a push-up to the level where your sternum would touch a tennis ball ensures that your upper arms are about paralell to the floor which is mechanically safe. Any lower and you put excess strain on your elbow joints which is not good and you get no better results for going lower.

The only time I would go to the floor would be if I was going to lie right down and do a backbending movement - like Cobra in Yoga - then push back up from the floor.

Except that I really like what balancing on my toes is doing for my waist

Pushups are similar to bench press in that they hit the core, quads, glutes, calves and obliques and are great if you can't get to a gym or prefer not to use weights.

A properly performed bench press hits all those muscle groups as well.

edit: Fixed above - because I often get over-enthusiastic about bodyweight training, because it's awesome!.

And so does a bench press.

That is why it is a full body compound move.

People forget- or don't realize the bench can be performed in isolation - back flat on the bench or as a compound- with an arch- pushing through the whole body through the heels.

I often get glute/hamstring cramps with heavy bench- because I'm pushing... with my whole body.

That being said- nose to the ground is wildly over rated- sternum about 3-5" depending on your structure is fine.

not much truth in that. by keepin on doin them on your knees, you can build up your strenght so you can make the regular ones.

that's what we are tryign to say- it's not any wear near as efficient as doing them on an incline and moving downward- they just do not compare in effectiveness. Few people rarely make the transition from knee to full push ups- and if they do it takes them forever.

FindingMyPerfection · February 2014

Doing push ups on your knees is a waste of time... Doing them on a bench is much more beneficial.
Push ups are the perfect exercise and I would keep trying until I could do a full push up.

not much truth in that. by keepin on doin them on your knees, you can build up your strenght so you can make the regular ones.

You can build upper body strength but not the needed core strength. I was up to 50 knee push-ups and couldn't do 5 toe push-ups because my back would collapse. Two weeks of working from the wall down and I am now at 20 toe push-ups.

yogicarl · February 2014

@JoRocka - agreed - that's why I fixed my own earlier post.

juliewatkin · February 2014

This was an interesting read on the variations and how low people go. I don't think I ever touch the floor. I think I'm a few inches off. It would kill my shoulders to touch the floor because I have zero chest and they would be in a very compromising position. My husband has a chest like a barrel though and routinely touches. We usually throw them in at the end of training as core work - much less boring than planks. I also think of it as should pre-hab for bench.

Huffdogg · February 2014

Yes - lowering in a push-up to the level where your sternum would touch a tennis ball ensures that your upper arms are about paralell to the floor which is mechanically safe. Any lower and you put excess strain on your elbow joints which is not good and you get no better results for going lower.

The only time I would go to the floor would be if I was going to lie right down and do a backbending movement - like Cobra in Yoga - then push back up from the floor.

Except that I really like what balancing on my toes is doing for my waist

Pushups are superior to bench press in that they hit the core, quads, calves and obliques so you get more returns for your efforts.

If your bench press doesn't hit your core and legs, you're not doing it right lol

juliewatkin · February 2014

Yes - lowering in a push-up to the level where your sternum would touch a tennis ball ensures that your upper arms are about paralell to the floor which is mechanically safe. Any lower and you put excess strain on your elbow joints which is not good and you get no better results for going lower.

The only time I would go to the floor would be if I was going to lie right down and do a backbending movement - like Cobra in Yoga - then push back up from the floor.

Except that I really like what balancing on my toes is doing for my waist

Pushups are superior to bench press in that they hit the core, quads, calves and obliques so you get more returns for your efforts.

If your bench press doesn't hit your core and legs, you're not doing it right lol

True. I know I'm finished a set on bench when my quads cramp up.

yogicarl · February 2014

I'm going to regret having said that. I've re-thought this one and decided to eat my words!

Mischievous_Rascal · February 2014

Doing push ups on your knees is a waste of time... Doing them on a bench is much more beneficial.
Push ups are the perfect exercise and I would keep trying until I could do a full push up.

I agree. I never went anywhere with pushups from my knees. A year of nothing and then as soon as I switched to an incline it progressed really fast. Keep doing it, you'll get there sooner than you think!!

Pushup Question

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