PUSH UP

Try doing wall push up. Stand up facing the wall and do the push ups that way. Then work up to the modified push ups and so on.

With weight training and fat turning into muscle you will be able to do it in know time! That was a struggle of mine and was finally able to do a push last week after 2 months of dieting and exercise. I started out with planks, then modified push-up and finally a full push up.

do them against the wall, the farther your feet are away the harder they are. Once you get good at that use a chair or table, then move on to knees, then once you are good at those you will be ready for regular push-ups.

If it helps, you're not alone. I manage to get ~5 out & spend the rest of the time splayed on the floor.

I find that it really hurts my wrists- like a sharp pain. Any advice?

I used to have that same problem. When I first joined my gym, the trainer that was assigned to me had me do a push up in an upright position. I was standing in the free weights area of the gym and there was this "machine" it looked like a frame of some sort. Anyway, there was a metal bar across the machine at about hip level and I placed my hands on the bar like I was going to do a push up and moved my feet back so everything was straight and I did my first push up in about 20 years. The other thing she had me do to build up some strength in my arms was planks. Basically on a mat, lay on your stomach, put your forearm on the mat beneath you and push your body up until everything is aligned. Engage your core and hold as long as you can. She just had me repeat this a couple of times, 2 or 3 times a week, and before you know it, you'll develop some strength in your arms.

Good luck - you can do it!

So you think you can't do a push up eh? Most people who have difficulty with them actually lack core strength or technique more than actual upper body strength. Obviously there are a ton of arm, chest and core strength training that you can do to help you up but here are a few adaptations that will help you get on your way to a full, military style, push-up.

1. Start layining on your stomach with your thumbs tucked under your arm pits, sort of "at the ready". Then push up. Even if you're hella sloppy you'll still work the chest and arm musles required. Then go down on your knees and reset. Make sure your core stays nice and strong and that your head doesn't dip bellow your shoulders.

2. Do the opposit. Start up and slowly go down as far as you can, or until your upper arm is parrallel with the floor. When you can't go further. Knees down, take a quick break and reset. Make sure your core stays nice and strong and that your head doesn't dip bellow your shoulders.

3. Set yourself up in from of a set of stairs with your feet on the floor, toes pressed up the bottom stair. "Fall" forward and place your hands on whatever stair is in line with your shoulders. Push up from the stairs. As you get stronger, take a step out and move down one stair. Continue doing this until you can do them flat on the ground. Make sure no matter what level you're on that your core stays nice and strong and that your head doesn't dip bellow your shoulders.

Staying in the push up position, aka a plank, will help develop that arm strength also, along with the wall pushups and other suggestions above! Just keep trying, even if you just do one or two a day and work up to it! When I started 30DS I couldn't do more than a couple, but I can do about 15 now, which is HUGE for me!