One hundred push ups

[Zen]

I'll be right there. Gotta finish this donut.

[SadieKate]

Just put the donut on the floor in a strategic location for inspiration.

Or do 'em one-handed

[Blueberry]

I'm ashamed to admit it - but I can't do one push up. Of any form. I need to gain strength - and would love to do this. But it's kinda hard to figure out where to start

[snapdragen]

I'm ashamed to admit it - but I can't do one push up. Of any form. I need to gain strength - and would love to do this. But it's kinda hard to figure out where to start

Wall push ups. Seriously.

[firenze11]

Well I'm determined to make this my year-o-fitness. Swim lessons, check. Spin class, check. Gym membership, check. Flabby, weak arms, check. . .wait, that's bad. I'm so in.

The things you all make me get into. . .

[SouthernBelle]

After the 100, we should all learn to do those pushups where you clap at the top.

[OakLeaf]

After the 100, we should all learn to do those pushups where you clap at the top.

You should be able to do those once you can do 15-20 regular ones. They're not hard. But DEFINITELY don't try them if you have wrist, hand, elbow or shoulder problems.

[Blueberry]

Wall push ups. Seriously.

Any good resources on technique?? I tried what I thought was correct, and didn't really feel any resistance. I'm also doing light arm weights - but I don't think that will be enough to seriously help the lack of push up ability.

CA

[SadieKate]

Did you read this? I like Kim's idea of a fitness ball also. I have to protect my shoulder but I know some kind of pushups will help.

http://www.hundredpushups.com/what.html

[Blueberry]

Did you read this? I like Kim's idea of a fitness ball also. I have to protect my shoulder but I know some kind of pushups will help.

http://www.hundredpushups.com/what.html

Yep. I need to do some searching on the fitness ball style - that could be the way to go for me (until I build up strength).

CA

[snapdragen]

Any good resources on technique?? I tried what I thought was correct, and didn't really feel any resistance. I'm also doing light arm weights - but I don't think that will be enough to seriously help the lack of push up ability.

CA

From SparkPeople.com:

Starting Position
Start facing wall, arms length away, feet slightly apart, legs straight (but knees not locked). Place hands onto wall, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.

Action
EXHALE: Keeping head in neutral position, bend elbows to lower head/chest toward wall, coming as close as you can to it but not touching it.

INHALE: Straighten arms and return to starting position for one rep.

Special Instructions
The further your feet are away from the wall, the more difficult this exercise will be. Also be sure not to lock knees or elbows.

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/...p?exercise=107

[SouthernBelle]

Reporting in.

I started this morning! I'm so pathetic.

Question: I'm right-handed so my right arm is stronger than my left. I find my weight migrating over my right arm. I can't seem to prevent this. Do you think time will cure it? Should I think about something extra on an off-day, maybe a one-armed wall push up for the left??

[OakLeaf]

Any good resources on technique?? I tried what I thought was correct, and didn't really feel any resistance. I'm also doing light arm weights - but I don't think that will be enough to seriously help the lack of push up ability.

As Snap said, try standing farther away from the wall. Because your body will actually be moving in an arc, be sure you place your hands where they will be under your shoulders when you're closest to the wall, not when you're standing up to begin the movement. Don't bring your shoulders closer to the wall than your elbows.

Most of the form tips for wall push-ups are the same as for doing them horizontally. Practice plank position - with a mirror or an observer - to strengthen your core and get the idea of how your body should feel while doing push-ups.

You can also do push-ups with your legs on a stability ball. This gives you the ability to micro-adjust your fulcrum and gradually roll out to a longer lever as you get stronger. Again, as with any type of decline push-up, don't bring your shoulders below your elbow level (unless you've been cleared to do that by a PT or a qualified trainer, and you can do it without pain or instability in your shoulders).

Of course the weight work will help, as long as you keep increasing the weights. The main difference between bench presses and push-ups is the secondary muscles that get used (more central core in push-ups, more shoulder stabilizers and obliques in bench presses, particularly dumbbell presses) - the load on the triceps and pecs is very similar. There's a slight difference because of the way your body becomes the radius of an arc during a push-up, so a mix of regular and decline bench presses would be the best simulation.

I use small dumbbells so I can keep my wrists fairly straight during push ups. I figure that riding plus computers has given me a fairly significant case of carpal tunnel. Bending the wrist back (as in normal push ups) is tough on the nerves.

That works, or with a lesser case of weak wrists, try splaying your fingers out and using your whole hands to distribute the weight, rather than putting it all in the heel of your hand.


Geez, I'm hanging around this thread so much I apparently have a secret desire to do the program Okay, okay, provided I don't go through with the surgery (which I'm making a final decision later this week after talking to a couple more people), I'm in. Start tomorrow

[jobob]

Geez, I'm hanging around this thread so much I apparently have a secret desire to do the program

You're doing very nicely as our coach.

(And best wishes on the surgery decision.)

[OakLeaf]

Or do 'em one-handed

Dangit! That's another thing I want to do! I can do a respectable number of two-handed pushups (nowhere near 100 though!). But one-handed, I can only do on the wall, and standing embarrassingly close to it too. I guess I need to start seriously working on one of these...