Are some people naturally bad at pushups?

I can do a few "regular" push ups, but it hurts like hell, and I don't care to do them unless I was pushed to do so- I can find better arm exercises and weight lifting. I'm more of a cardio exerciser though.

Yes. It would seem as though I have absolutely NO upper body strength because I truly suck at them! I can pick up my 32 pound son with no problem. I can bring in a ton of grocery bags at once, but I can't lift my upper body up off the ground. You are not alone

Try doing a plank for 30 seconds. Then the next day again, and again. Try to increase to 1 min. After a week of planks, try a push up. Not only is upper body strength needed for pushups, but left/right balance and core stability is required too! Pushups are a fabulous exercise! Everyone can do it, but yeah, some folks need a bit more time practicing for it:)

Yeah, I can't do real ones either. I've gotten better at doing the knee ones, but still not great. I like to think it's because I am rather well endowed and the extra weight up top makes it difficult!!

I work out regularly and while I improve in other areas I can't do a proper "real" push up. I can do the ones on my knees but even that is a struggle after 10. So, u r not alone and we may just be naturally bad at it.

This is just an indication of your lack of upper body strength. First make sure you are doing them correctly. The following video will give you probably the best training on proper form that I have found:

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

Next, realize you will have to work up to it. The wall is probably the lowest difficulty way to do it, but I would suggest placing your hands a step or two up the stairs instead, as the height your hands will be up the wall will probably not do enough to build your chest and triceps. So try them at 3 or 2 or 1 step up the stairs using the regular form, not from the knees.

I would suggest to build up the number you can do try ladders. You can find them described on this page:

http://www.marklauren.com/20-minute-workouts-details.html#ladders

Even if your ladder is repeatedly doing only one repetition then resting then doing one then resting and so on, you will still find an increase in your strength.

As I said, the problem is lack of upper body strength, in particular in your chest and triceps. Both are areas that when strengthened will really help you look better, so don't get up on push-ups.

P90X will solve that...you build up to it...it's reps...no one is pre-disposed to not being able to do them (unless you have no arms or are paraplegic). I have seen amazing results of folks that cannot do pushups crank out 20 or more easily after doing P90X. I am a guy and could barely do three when I started and can now crank them out (just finished my first round).

So true Bob. When I started P90X I couldn't do one push up. But each week I got stronger and stronger . Its still hard but I do 20 with no problem now! Just keep do a little at a time it will get easier.

I am horrid at pull ups...I try to lift from my shoulders not by bending my arms...try doing them from your knees first then move up

Here is another post I did on this

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/196286-help-for-those-who-want-to-do-push-ups

I could not do push ups, but is getting better everyday. I do my push ups with my feet on the couch or chair to keep the.correct form