Full-body push-up...will it ever happen for me? - JP Fitness Forums

Jodi · 03-06-2008, 06:48 PM

I'm really beginning to wonder if I will ever be able to do a decent full-body push-up. One of my goals for a long, long time is to be able to do at least 5 normal push-ups. Currently I am at about a 20 percent incline and it just seems like I will never be able to progress any further.

Is it just something that comes easier to some people then to others?

Jodi

Littlemermaidklb · 03-06-2008, 06:54 PM

I sooo hear you on this!!!!!! I can't do them either and I have been trying for what feels like forever!

LT Hebert · 03-06-2008, 07:10 PM

Try doing pyramids, where you do 10, rest, 9, rest, 8, rest, etc. down to 1. (on your knees or at an incline should do until you get stronger) That's one of the things we did in the Army to get our push-up numbers up. Do that for a while, and you should see improvement. I could do 45 - 50 "real" pushups in two minutes.

jvernacchio · 03-06-2008, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jodi

I'm really beginning to wonder if I will ever be able to do a decent full-body push-up. One of my goals for a long, long time is to be able to do at least 5 normal push-ups. Currently I am at about a 20 percent incline and it just seems like I will never be able to progress any further.

Is it just something that comes easier to some people then to others?

Jodi

Its all about upper body strength, balance, and doing/practicing the motion. The more you do/attempt them the easier they become it just takes time.

My wife couldn't do a Chin up or Pull up and she had to do them on the assisted machines. I taught her how to train to get it and now after a few months she can do 7 pull ups from full extension on her own at her body weight.

Littlemermaidklb · 03-06-2008, 08:13 PM

Woah... your arms are bigger than your head! (off topic, sorry, lol!)

rixatrix · 03-07-2008, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jodi

I'm really beginning to wonder if I will ever be able to do a decent full-body push-up. One of my goals for a long, long time is to be able to do at least 5 normal push-ups. Currently I am at about a 20 percent incline and it just seems like I will never be able to progress any further.

Is it just something that comes easier to some people then to others?

I've got a decent amount of muscle and think of myself as pretty strong - I was out-lifting my ex-body builder aunt last week at her home gym. And push-ups are still a struggle for me. I can do between 8-10 "real" ones, but they're not as low to the ground as they should be and the last couple (and the first couple!) are a real struggle.

Hang in there. Keep pushing yourself. Try doing as many as you can on the floor, then switch back to the incline or your knees when you get tired. This is what I did - just kept forcing myself to do them the hardest way I could manage until my body gave out, then finished up with the "easier" way.

And when you get there, I hope you'll share it with all of us! I know you'll get there.

LaraT · 03-07-2008, 05:25 AM

I feel the same way. I have heard of the "pyramid" method described above but never tried. One thing that worries me is this program seems so much more lower body focused, and thus far (into Stage 2) no weight work for chest (and minimal upper body in general) How will we be able to do real pushups/chinups? I haven't really read closely read beyond Stage 2, but does more upper body come in?

Jodi · 03-07-2008, 06:24 AM

Yes, I do keep trying. I can barely manage to get one decent full-body pushup out. I can do 10 at 20 percent incline, but the last few are a struggle.

I think I will begin doing one or two on the floor, then finish on the incline. Right now I just do them all on the incline. Actually, doing them on an incline is new for me. I never did this until I started this program. I just always did them on my knees. Maybe because I'm incorporating the incline I can make more headway in moving to the floor.

Jodi

Susan4 · 03-07-2008, 06:57 AM

I think I have a mental block with them after getting yelled at for so many years doing them poorly in the Army.LOL. I *should* be able to do my reps on the floor, but so far, not much joy in that department. Ah well. I'm more looking forward to getting to where I can do a pull up anyway.

Lisa~ · 03-07-2008, 07:41 AM

[quote=LaraT;514745]One thing that worries me is this program seems so much more lower body focused, and thus far (into Stage 2) no weight work for chest (and minimal upper body in general) [quote]
I'm not sure how you can think this. Using Stage 2 as an example, there are 3 upper body, 3 lower body, and core work in each workout. That's an even amount of upper and lower body work. Maybe you're thinking you need to be bench pressing, but for most women push-ups are much more challenging and much more metabolically demanding than bench pressing (where your back is on against a bench). And I really admire Alwyn's choices of back work in this program. Movements like the prone Cuban snatch and prone cobra work the lower traps and teach us how to set the scapulae in place. Those are prerequisites to barbell benching. If you're thinking of arms, then push-ups and push press take care of the triceps and rowing and pulldowns take care of the biceps. Everything is covered in a balance way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jodi

I think I will begin doing one or two on the floor, then finish on the incline. Right now I just do them all on the incline. Actually, doing them on an incline is new for me. I never did this until I started this program. I just always did them on my knees. Maybe because I'm incorporating the incline I can make more headway in moving to the floor.

I like the plan to start on the floor and move up to the incline when you can no longer complete a full ROM rep in good form (that means not sinking your head or hips). The incline is better than going to your knees because it keeps the same long line from top of the head to the toes. You'll get there!

Aoife · 03-07-2008, 09:48 AM

And, of course, if your shoulders are your problem, as were mine after some injuries, some work in that department can help tremendously. Y T L W stuff, external rotations and some raises, etc...

ZTAKPsi · 03-07-2008, 10:56 AM

Sorry to bust in on this thread...but I guess I sort of have the opposite problem. I guess because of all the push-ups in Stage 1, when it came time for AMRAP, I did 32 full push-ups for my 1 set. I was quite amazed actually. I've always thought of myself as more of a leg girl.

But anyway...for the push-ups we do in Stage 2, I've been putting my toes up on a step (just one riser) and I'm assuming that is ok, right? I'm just trying to make them more difficult since I can really do regular ones with no problem. Thanks!

beach_plums · 03-07-2008, 11:06 AM

Putting your feet on a step for pushups does add an extra challenge. So do the T pushups shown in the book. I've been doing those.

PerfectMartini · 03-07-2008, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZTAKPsi

Sorry to bust in on this thread...but I guess I sort of have the opposite problem. I guess because of all the push-ups in Stage 1, when it came time for AMRAP, I did 32 full push-ups for my 1 set. I was quite amazed actually. I've always thought of myself as more of a leg girl.

But anyway...for the push-ups we do in Stage 2, I've been putting my toes up on a step (just one riser) and I'm assuming that is ok, right? I'm just trying to make them more difficult since I can really do regular ones with no problem. Thanks!

That's fine, you can also put your feet on a swiss ball and your hands on a bench or do T pushups or explosive pushups if you want more variety or a way to make them harder without changing the angle too much.

ZTAKPsi · 03-07-2008, 11:15 AM

I forgot about the T push ups! I'll try those on Monday. I do spiderman push ups for my warm up right now too...and actually, have always done some sort of push up for my warm up...so maybe that's how I got so good at them. Woo hoo!

LisaS · 03-07-2008, 11:22 AM

to the OP

I don't remember if you have a lot of weight to lose or not, but I know I do.
If I recall correctly, a push up is moving about 60% of your body weight - so it approximates benching 60% of your body weight. Assuming I remember that correctly:

If I weigh 200 lbs, a pushup is as if I am benching 60% of 200, or 120 lbs. I know I can't bench 120 right now, so I'm not surprised floor pushups are out of reach.

If I got no stronger at all and just lost body weight down to 150 lbs, the pushup would be moving 60% of 150 - which is 90 lbs. I can see me benching 90 lbs right now - maybe not for 15 reps but for a few.

So my working theory is that like with pullups, I will get stronger & my BW will go down and somewhere in the process the lines will cross and I'll be able to "do" the real BW exercise with my BW and my strength.

afterburn · 03-07-2008, 12:11 PM

I have a weird one for yall... I can do around 10 floor push ups ( not as low as I should ) But I have been doing a push up while my feet are on the ball in between each prone Jackknife & those re really easy for some reason?? I wonder why, It seems like they should be harded! HUMMMMM I don't do them everytime,, just on a 3rd set for FUN ( FUN hahahah said that ) afterburn

missjane · 03-07-2008, 12:17 PM

I have always found push-ups from a swiss ball easy; however, the more of your leg that's on the ball, the easier it is! I never had my toes on the ball, I know that!