Comments on: New for 2010: Project Push-Up

By: Tracey

Tracey — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:55:07 +0000

Girlxoxo, I’m with you: Can’t this be an overnight success kinda thing?!

By: girlxoxo

girlxoxo — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:40:05 +0000

I can barely do 15 regular ones before I drop and do girlie pushups like Joanna – and I lift weights on the regular. I’m with you on the challenge – a few before bed and when I wake up in the morning and I’ll be one-handing it in no time (… okay I was being overly dramatic there

By: Tracey

Tracey — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:54:38 +0000

Joanna—So true, no gym membership or fancy equipment required!

FoodFitnessFreshair—Remembering to breathe is the hard part for me, too.

Struggler—5 to 10 on a good day is pretty darn good in my opinion!

Laurie—I do remember Jack LaLane saying the exercise is the best for physical fitness. I like your idea about the bathtub, but I fear I’d slip and conk out. I’m a bit of a klutz.

Sagan—Thanks for passing along the 100 push up link. It’ll be great to have some instruction. I’m pretty darn good at the plank, but I’ll have to push it over a minute to challenge my weak arms more. And 35 push-ups? I’m impressed!

By: Sagan

Sagan — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 19:00:05 +0000

Great goal! I’m a big believer that push ups are one of the best ways to judge total-body fitness.

I completed the 100 push up challenge just over a year ago, so they have a neat training program for working your way up to doing 100 consecutive push ups (but you could start off with as many as you like, because 100 is definitely daunting!). Here’s the link to their website: http://www.hundredpushups.com/index.html

Right now I can do about 35 consecutive, and I started off doing the regular ones right off the bat rather than the ones on the knees. Walking is a good way to build up core strength, and also try holding the plank as another way to help build the same muscles you use for push ups (start with holding for just 15 seconds and work your way up to holding it for 60 seconds or more).

By: Laurie

Laurie — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:51:12 +0000

I love that you mentioned Jack LaLane, who, by the way, at 95 just underwent heart valve surgery and is recovering nicely! He once said that if you have time for only one exercise, do push ups!
I used to be able to do them, but have really slacked off lately. I find the best way to work my way back into them is to prop myself on the rim of the bathtub. That seems to be a good height and still provides a good challenge.

By: Struggler

Struggler — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:19:08 +0000

I’m having a hard time transitioning from the girly ones to proper push ups. The first are a bit too easy, the second, way too hard – I can do maybe 5-10 on a good day.
Of course, if I actually showed up for all my fitness classes, it might be different

By: FoodFitnessFreshair

FoodFitnessFreshair — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:49:32 +0000

Ah push ups are the death of me! They’re so hard! I can do a solid 15, and then from there, my push ups become mutated. I don’t mind the girl version though. I can actually really feel my muscles doing the girl version and don’t have to focus the whole time on remembering to breathe. That’s a good resolution though. I might try to do the same.

By: Joanna Sutter (Fitness & Spice)

Joanna Sutter (Fitness & Spice) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:22:32 +0000

I love push ups! I can do about 25 consecutive pushups w/ good form and then I drop to my knees until just below failure.

Push ups are one of my favorite body weight exercises because you can do them ANYWHERE and no equipment required. Plus they hit just about your entire upper body!

Great challenge! I’m cheering you on!

By: Tracey

Tracey — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:14:11 +0000

Good call, Jill. As much as I want to be Superman, I guess I’ll have to start easy. Though I might need to use a wall before moving down to a table.

By: Jill

Jill — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:43:57 +0000

Try using less than full body weight at first. Prop your hands on a low but sturdy table in the beginning. That will let you ease into it and once that is too easy you can move to the floor (and hopefully will have built up enough strength to push up your full weight).