I just did half a push up!
RachelSD7
Posts: 65 Member
I used to think push-ups were something only people who were born fit and sporty did. How wrong was I?!
Determined to kick-start my new healthy lifestyle, I tried to do push ups. Real, toes on the floor, arms shaking push ups. How hard could it be? Of course, after an entire life of living a sedentary lifestyle, I couldn't even do one without collapsing onto the floor. BUT! I didn't give up! I've been doing assisted push-ups off the kitchen counter for the past few weeks whilst waiting for food to cook, the kettle to boil - anything! So tonight, when I decided that I'd give them another go, I DID IT! I can now lower myself to the ground with control - not collapsing onto my face like a disgruntled pancake.
I guess what I'm trying to say in a rambling sort of way, is that a victory is a victory, no matter how small. If you can only do half a push-up, or walk half a mile, you're half the way closer than you were before!
Determined to kick-start my new healthy lifestyle, I tried to do push ups. Real, toes on the floor, arms shaking push ups. How hard could it be? Of course, after an entire life of living a sedentary lifestyle, I couldn't even do one without collapsing onto the floor. BUT! I didn't give up! I've been doing assisted push-ups off the kitchen counter for the past few weeks whilst waiting for food to cook, the kettle to boil - anything! So tonight, when I decided that I'd give them another go, I DID IT! I can now lower myself to the ground with control - not collapsing onto my face like a disgruntled pancake.
I guess what I'm trying to say in a rambling sort of way, is that a victory is a victory, no matter how small. If you can only do half a push-up, or walk half a mile, you're half the way closer than you were before!
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Replies
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Now to work on pushing myself back up again...
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You go, girl!!! There is no victory too small when it comes to being healthy. That's an amazing accomplishment!
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Assisted push-up like your feet on the counter, or your hands on the counter and pushing up?
Anyway, you gotta start somewhere! And starting is the hardest part. Pushing yourself back up is the hardest part, you're right.
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...the down AND up motion is a full push up.
![:\](https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/resources/emoji/confused.png ":\")
ETA: derp, read this as a "completed a full push up"
Good for you haha
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Hey we all have to start somewhere.. I used to do them inclined on the wall, then went to doing them inclined, feet on the floor hands on the couch. Now I can do almost 10 on the floor. Keep it up!0
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awesome!0
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...the down AND up motion is a full push up.
Hence why I said HALF of one! People make push ups look so easy - they bob up and down like they were born to do it. But it's hard bloody going! The more you weigh, the harder the lift and for someone like me, it's a big sign of progress and a massive motivation to work on getting back up again!
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Haha yep, I updated my comment, total derp moment!...the down AND up motion is a full push up.
Hence why I said HALF of one! People make push ups look so easy - they bob up and down like they were born to do it. But it's hard bloody going! The more you weigh, the harder the lift and for someone like me, it's a big sign of progress and a massive motivation to work on getting back up again!
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lousyhero9 wrote: »Assisted push-up like your feet on the counter, or your hands on the counter and pushing up?
Anyway, you gotta start somewhere! And starting is the hardest part. Pushing yourself back up is the hardest part, you're right.
LOL! I'd have to have reallllly long arms to do it with my feet on the counter!!
I stand two floor tiles away from the kitchen counter, feet together. Hands in front of me, shoulder width apart, and then slowly lower my chest to the counter edge, back straight, and back to neutral. It was a challenge at first to do 10, then I gradually increased to 20, and now I'm doing them 3 tiles away, and adding attempted push-ups to my routine too!
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Way to go!!! You should be proud! Progress is progress.
I am working on my pullups... I can do one. But one day, I will be stronger. And that is what counts.
Keep up the good work!0 -
Haha yep, I updated my comment, total derp moment!...the down AND up motion is a full push up.
Hence why I said HALF of one! People make push ups look so easy - they bob up and down like they were born to do it. But it's hard bloody going! The more you weigh, the harder the lift and for someone like me, it's a big sign of progress and a massive motivation to work on getting back up again!
No worries - I'll let you know when I get to 1! 0 -
My husband can do pushups with my 50lb son on his back. Meanwhile, I am where you are, I can get down, just not up.
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clandrum1984 wrote: »Hey we all have to start somewhere.. I used to do them inclined on the wall, then went to doing them inclined, feet on the floor hands on the couch. Now I can do almost 10 on the floor. Keep it up!
That's awesome! I wish there were more lovely people out there who show that you don't go from 0-100 in one day - it takes time and practice!0 -
Laurend224 wrote: »My husband can do pushups with my 50lb son on his back. Meanwhile, I am where you are, I can get down, just not up.
Pfft. Show off
You'll be there before you know it. Your son will be heavier too, so more means for boasting!0 -
This is me too! Pullups are a B.MireyGal76 wrote: »Way to go!!! You should be proud! Progress is progress.
I am working on my pullups... I can do one. But one day, I will be stronger. And that is what counts.
Keep up the good work!
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You'll get there. Do your half push up everyday, until it becomes a whole one...then continue to 1 1/2 ....2 .... 2 1/2...etc. Form over number! You will progress quickly and see your abs and arm muscles get firmer!
Why do I know, you ask? I've been there and worked myself up to 25 in a row and 3x20 within a workout in just 1-2 months. Could do more now, but was always quite happy with that ;-)0 -
Awesome! I've been trying and failing to do pushups for ages, so just last week I decided to start using the counter. I realized that my chest was never engaging before and I was only using my shoulders, so I'm really hopeful that I'll be right behind you!!0
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Awesome! I've been trying and failing to do pushups for ages, so just last week I decided to start using the counter. I realized that my chest was never engaging before and I was only using my shoulders, so I'm really hopeful that I'll be right behind you!!
Wait, your chest is supposed to be helping?! Well, I never! Maybe that's where we're going wrong! I've seen a definite muscle increase in my arms since starting the kitchen counter routine, so it does help (even if I'm doing it slightly wrong)
Off to find a youtube vid, methinks
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lousyhero9 wrote: »Assisted push-up like your feet on the counter, or your hands on the counter and pushing up?
Anyway, you gotta start somewhere! And starting is the hardest part. Pushing yourself back up is the hardest part, you're right.
LOL! I'd have to have reallllly long arms to do it with my feet on the counter!!
I stand two floor tiles away from the kitchen counter, feet together. Hands in front of me, shoulder width apart, and then slowly lower my chest to the counter edge, back straight, and back to neutral. It was a challenge at first to do 10, then I gradually increased to 20, and now I'm doing them 3 tiles away, and adding attempted push-ups to my routine too!
Try staying in the front-leaning rest for 30 seconds. Its kinda like a plank, only more weight on your arms Its a time-extended half push-up! 0 -
Awesome sauce, Rachel! I get it, girl. Thought I would never be able to push through 1 stinkin push-up! Grrrr... Now I can do 5. Oh yeah! And yesterday, I did 2 (TWO) chin-ups! Seriously, I still can't quite believe it. It took me 7 months to do 1 chin-up.
(/)(\)(/)(\)(/)(/) *** Happy Dance!***0 -
Good for you (in so many ways)!! Pushups are hard. Even harder when you are overweight (talking about myself here).0
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Ok, so now I feel a little better. I was thinking that I was the only one not doing this whole fitness thing. I recently had an eye opener, a week ago, I went to Arrowhead Stadium with the fam. for a Chiefs game. Our seats were not quite in the nose bleed section, more like the "wow this is really up here" section. I went to the wrong one and climbed the stairs about half way up on the upper deck, figured out that I was in the wrong place, then went back down, thinking, "Oh My I gotta climb those again." After I started the ascend to back up, about row 20 I was thinking, "Oh this is not good, I'm winded." Once arriving at our row 35, I embarrassingly admit that I was really sucking air for a few minutes until I caught my breath. The walk to the end of the parking lot wasn't so bad, but it wasn't up hill. I've had that moment when you really take a look at yourself and think "I have neglected myself too long. It's time." Wish me luck, your push up story gave me a grin as I realized I'm not the only one.0
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Awesome! I've been trying and failing to do pushups for ages, so just last week I decided to start using the counter. I realized that my chest was never engaging before and I was only using my shoulders, so I'm really hopeful that I'll be right behind you!!
Wait, your chest is supposed to be helping?! Well, I never! Maybe that's where we're going wrong! I've seen a definite muscle increase in my arms since starting the kitchen counter routine, so it does help (even if I'm doing it slightly wrong)
Off to find a youtube vid, methinks
Please let me know if you find out differently lol, I don't want to continue with bad info
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jesiann2014 wrote: »Awesome sauce, Rachel! I get it, girl. Thought I would never be able to push through 1 stinkin push-up! Grrrr... Now I can do 5. Oh yeah! And yesterday, I did 2 (TWO) chin-ups! Seriously, I still can't quite believe it. It took me 7 months to do 1 chin-up.
(/)(\)(/)(\)(/)(/) *** Happy Dance!***
Chin ups are insane! You should all be so proud!0 -
Congratulations! I think it's really exceptional that you're so determined to work your way up to being able to do push ups!
I hope I'm not overstepping by offering a little advice, but I found that doing Sun Salutations every morning was really helpful in getting me to full military style push ups. The slow controlled lower into Chaturanga and then push up to Up Dog step really works wonders and isn't quite as difficult as even a push up from your knees. It's a really great stepping stone!0 -
BraveNewdGirl wrote: »Congratulations! I think it's really exceptional that you're so determined to work your way up to being able to do push ups!
I hope I'm not overstepping by offering a little advice, but I found that doing Sun Salutations every morning was really helpful in getting me to full military style push ups. The slow controlled lower into Chaturanga and then push up to Up Dog step really works wonders and isn't quite as difficult as even a push up from your knees. It's a really great stepping stone!
I was with you, then you lost me! Is there a video or tutorial explaining each move? I'm all for do anything to make workouts easier, especially if they help me towards my goal. Thank you for the advice 0 -
WTG, that's fab and I so get what you're saying.
You've inspired me, full press up will be first goal of 2015 0 -
BraveNewdGirl wrote: »Congratulations! I think it's really exceptional that you're so determined to work your way up to being able to do push ups!
I hope I'm not overstepping by offering a little advice, but I found that doing Sun Salutations every morning was really helpful in getting me to full military style push ups. The slow controlled lower into Chaturanga and then push up to Up Dog step really works wonders and isn't quite as difficult as even a push up from your knees. It's a really great stepping stone!
I was with you, then you lost me! Is there a video or tutorial explaining each move? I'm all for do anything to make workouts easier, especially if they help me towards my goal. Thank you for the advice
Oh! There are lots and lots of videos on YouTube that'll walk you through a traditional Sun Salutation sequence. I like this one:
http://youtu.be/73sjOu0g58M
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Awesome NSV! I'm working on getting push-ups down too!0
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Awesome job! I couldn't do a single "real" push-up until last year. After I incorporated a little dumbbell work with Jillian Michael's I was better able to lift my own weight. Now, to be able to do a bunch in the row. That will be awesome.0
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