Pushups for the weak

[coalminerswife]

I just did my first workout tonight. I am far too weak in the upper body to do two sets of 15 pushups-- even a "girl pushup" with bent knees. What do you do in this instance? Just do as many as I can? Or is there some kind of modification I should do while I get strong enough to do them right?

[LisaS]

Most people here advise that you stay away from the knee push-up. Part of what you are doing with a push-up is holding that straight body plank position.
Instead, use something up from the floor to put your hands on (makes it easier). At home, you could put your hands on a counter and work your way down a chair and then to the floor. If you have access to a squat cage or smith machine, you can set the weight bar at different heights and work your way down to the floor as you get stronger.

[coalminerswife]

Thanks, Lisa. I work out at home, so I'll take your advice and use a good sturdy piece of furniture.

[LisaS]

If you read in the book, you'll see that they talk about 60 degree, 45 degree, 30 degree progression. That's what they mean - start with something about waist high and work your way down to the floor.

[coalminerswife]

Thanks Lisa. I used a dresser to do a 60 degree pushup, and was actually able to do two full sets. I've never in my life been able to do a real pushup, but hopefully I'll be doing them soon.

[Smiley]

I have been at this now for 2 months and still can't do push ups but I can do 30 degrees now! It does come, slowly.

[WildStrawberry]

If you work out in a gym, you can use the smith machine. That gives the option of moving downward in small increments every week if you like.

[coalminerswife]

Thanks, wildstrawberry. I work out at home, so various counters and pieces of furniture will have to do. For now, it's a dresser in my guest room.

[WildStrawberry]

Good luck coalminerswife. That there are step by step instructions on how to build up to real push ups and pull ups is one of the most awesome things about this book IMO.

[cj713]

Quick pushup question... I can not do 2 full sets of 15 pushups. I can do 7 (which I still think is pretty darn good) Anyway, I am just starting stage 1. Should I do as many as I can on the floor and move up to easier variations (30, 45, 60 degrees) within the same set? Or do both full sets at a variation I can do, then progressively go harder as I can? Does that even make sense?

Thanks,
CJ

[ZeeSparrow]

I think you're supposed to

Originally Posted by cj713

do both full sets at a variation I can do, then progressively go harder as I can

That's what I did.

[LisaS]

if you can do 7 - how long do you have to recover before you can do another 7 from the floor?
One way to increase the number in a row is do fewer and rest and do some more - rather like the jog/walk intro to running. Maybe do 4, rest a little, do 4, rest, 4, rest, 3 - and then decrease rest over time until you are doing 15 in a row. Just another way to do things.

Or you could just finish up on an easier angle.