push up progression

You may not like this answer - but it took me over two years. Finally got my first full push up in December.

I really seriously started working on the push ups at the start of 2020 with the advice of a PT. I did a lot of tricep work and a lot of slow eccentrics (start in top position and lower as slowly as you can bear to). I also did a lot of core work. I don't like using my knees, especially on the way down, but a really slow eccentric and then a drop of the knees to help you back up can be a good thing to do.

Video yourself to check your form and make sure you're not letting your butt sag. Also don't let your elbows stick out to the sides. You want them max 45 degrees from your shoulders - I keep them even tighter to the body than that. It makes it harder initially but you will end up with a stronger push up.

Incline push ups off the stair case as suggested by @sijomial are very good, too. If you have a pull up bar and a long resistance band you can loop it round the bar and round your rib cage to do assisted push ups. That way you can get reps in while keeping the proper position. Or if you have access to a squat rack with safety bars you can put the band round the bars and lie on top of it for support that way.

I have lost almost 50 pounds this past year but it was a lot of walking and less gym or weights, I was definitely on my knees doing push-ups last February. March -September not much strength training. Then October -current strength and cardio. I personally think the biggest factor that lead me to be able to do unmodified push-ups was dropping the weight. It wasn't until I was down about 30 pounds and combining that with regular strength training that I got my first pushup. Once I finally pushed through that block though I have built strength quickly, last nights workout had a total of 80 push-ups broken into sets of 10, I did all of them unmodified! I feel it a bit today but still it felt awesome. Keep at it, once you get the break through progress will come quicker!