I can only do 3 pushups!

jessgrey2
jessgrey2 Posts: 88 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Grr, I feel like such a weakling! I can only do 3 real push ups :) Tell me this will improve over time?
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Replies

  • ldoublem
    ldoublem Posts: 12
    It will improve over time!
    Just keep at it!

    I got so excited when I saw this because I can totally relate to where you are! I started working with a trainer and the first time he had me do pushups I could barely do 3 or 4 and felt horrible! (although my trainer was great and didn't make me feel bad at all!)
    Now I can do over 20 at a time!

    It is so exciting to see progress and pushups is definitely an area where I saw a lot of progress!
    You can do it! It's hard now, but totally worth it! So don't worry about only being able to do 3! You can only get better at them from here!

    So yes! It will improve!
  • sagetracey
    sagetracey Posts: 607 Member
    That's three more than me......
  • Pinoy_Pal
    Pinoy_Pal Posts: 280 Member
    Absolutely...keep working hard, build your strength, and be patient. :o]
  • imthelobster
    imthelobster Posts: 179 Member
    It will definitely get better!

    I started http://hundredpushups.com/ and could only do 5 in a row. Now I can do 11 in a row, after having done it for 2 weeks. You'll progress in no time as long as you stick with it!
  • azzle07
    azzle07 Posts: 10
    It will improve! Up until last week, I'd never even done one! I can now do about 4/5! Stick with it and you'll get there!
  • djf23
    djf23 Posts: 58 Member
    Grr, I feel like such a weakling! I can only do 3 real push ups :) Tell me this will improve over time?

    do bench press with as much as you can do for like 8 reps...it uses quite alot of the same muscles so if you start lifting heavier you will be able to do much more pushups
  • Trail_Addict
    Trail_Addict Posts: 1,340 Member
    Focus more on doing negatives..... where you slowly lower your body to the 'down' position. Then get back up in the "up" position, and repeat your negative. The focus is on the 'down', and not the 'up'.
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    Focus more on doing negatives..... where you slowly lower your body to the 'down' position. Then get back up in the "up" position, and repeat your negative. The focus is on the 'down', and not the 'up'.

    This.

    This type of negative training works really well for pullups too.
  • ishtar13
    ishtar13 Posts: 528 Member
    you can try this: http://hundredpushups.com/
  • Nataliaho
    Nataliaho Posts: 878 Member
    You will get better pretty quickly and you should be proud to be doing any at all! I was doing them on my knees when I first started and now I am doing clap push ups and one-legged pushups. I'm actually not sure how many normal pushups I'd be able to do in a row, but I'm guessing 30+.
  • AirCircleI
    AirCircleI Posts: 334 Member
    It does get better and easier. I used to struggle with three and can now do 25 in one go, and the other day completed 100 over the course of the day (25x4). I used to hate doing them because they were so hard and now I really like the challenge!!
  • jessgrey2
    jessgrey2 Posts: 88 Member
    Focus more on doing negatives..... where you slowly lower your body to the 'down' position. Then get back up in the "up" position, and repeat your negative. The focus is on the 'down', and not the 'up'.


    Interesting I will try this tomorrow!

    Thank you everyone for the great tips, you are so sweet :) I'm going to keep working at it!
  • NanoBear
    NanoBear Posts: 67
    It definitely gets better!
    6 months ago I couldn't do 1 real pushup, and I could only do maybe 5 on my knees.
    I'm still no pushup master, but last night I did 4 sets of 8 at taekwondo training. Absolutely unthinkable last year!
  • jessgrey2
    jessgrey2 Posts: 88 Member
    It definitely gets better!
    6 months ago I couldn't do 1 real pushup, and I could only do maybe 5 on my knees.
    I'm still no pushup master, but last night I did 4 sets of 8 at taekwondo training. Absolutely unthinkable last year!

    Good job Bear! It is a bit humbling this whole process. But so great to have support!
  • likeschocolate
    likeschocolate Posts: 368 Member
    Here's a nice video for beginners to pushups

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S990kHLMVFg
  • chuckyp
    chuckyp Posts: 693 Member
    If you have an Android phone, there is actually a push-up app that will test you on day 1, then tailor daily sets of push-ups to get you to your goal of 50 or 100 at once.
  • amy1612
    amy1612 Posts: 1,356 Member
    Of course it will!

    I remember being able to only do them on my knees, then being able to do one or two on my toes, and now I can do 15 in a row :). Just keep at it, it'll build up.

    Ive found that holding plank has really helped me, it strengthens up the core which I think people underestimate the use of in push ups for good form.
  • giggitygoo
    giggitygoo Posts: 1,978 Member
    I couldn't do any at first! Now I'm doing 50ish a day. Nose to floor, proper form.

    Just build it up gradually. It will happen!
  • TheFunBun
    TheFunBun Posts: 793 Member
    I second the hundred pushups. Nice program. :)
  • AlexanderK1994
    AlexanderK1994 Posts: 243 Member
    I can't do any proper push ups. And apparently the ones I'm doing on my knees I'm not doing right... *sighs*
  • Donnacoach
    Donnacoach Posts: 540 Member
    I started out not being able to do any. P90 is taking care of that problem. You will do many more. Just stick with it. Good luck
  • fozzie500
    fozzie500 Posts: 177 Member
    do three every night before you get into bed,i guarantee by the end of two weeks you'll be able to do at least 5.
  • lizzue
    lizzue Posts: 276 Member
    Stick with it... about a month ago i couldn't do one and this morning i did 10! Just keep going at it you'll get it :-) x
  • stephm112
    stephm112 Posts: 297 Member
    I can only do 1 so you're doing better than me!
  • SorchaRavenlock
    SorchaRavenlock Posts: 220 Member
    That's three more than me......

    :laugh: I just came in to post that! I just lie there like a beached whale when I try. Just keep building up your fitness, we'll get there.
  • lisa28115
    lisa28115 Posts: 17,271 Member
    Grr, I feel like such a weakling! I can only do 3 real push ups :) Tell me this will improve over time?

    do bench press with as much as you can do for like 8 reps...it uses quite alot of the same muscles so if you start lifting heavier you will be able to do much more pushups

    I DON'T HAVE A WEIGHT BENCH
    CAN I USE MY COFFEE TABLE TO DO BENCH PRESSES ???
  • netchik
    netchik Posts: 587 Member
    LOL it gets easier. When I started 30 day shred I could barely do 3, by the end of the first week, could do 10, week 2, 15 etc. It's all about building that strength!
  • lisa28115
    lisa28115 Posts: 17,271 Member
    I PRATICE AT WORK IN THE BATHROOM BY DOING WALL PUSHUPS
    TRYING TO BUILD STRENGTH...
  • bazfitness
    bazfitness Posts: 275 Member
    I'm absolutely terrible at them too. For past 10 weeks been doing them twice a week at Karate. Have got fitter and I think stronger overall, lost 15 lbs and yet don't seem to be making any noticeable inroads in doing push ups - in my youth I remember when I trained the amount of pushups I could do would improve rapidly, now in my early 40s it seems to be taking a whole lot longer. I think I'll give that hundred pushups site a try also as it's beginning to get to me also my lack of improvement in them.
  • medoria
    medoria Posts: 673 Member
    Been doing Jillian MIchaels dvds since february last year and started doing them on my knees which was totattly fine. Then january this year I realized it was just to easy and there was no way for me getting away from stepping up my game so I started doing them on my feet and could only do five in the first set, maybe 3 in the second. Now im up to 12 in both sets on my good wellrested days.

    Just hang in there and set goals for your self. What I did was set goals for how many I wanted to do i the first and second set since I knew I didnt have the strength to do the same amount in both. Also I tried to avoid going back down on the knees in the second set even though the second set would only end up beeing mayb 3 pushups.

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