Press ups - can you ?!

I think you've nailed it mmmicecream, most women probably don't do press ups generally so won't be able to more than one or two (sorry banana but the women going into the RAF probably don't fall into 'average' category ). That's not to say they wouldn't be able to do lots more with practice. I don't think the trainer deserves the put downs he's getting here unless he is saying that 1-2 is a goal/maximum a woman could manage ....can't believe he is, as a PT he has surely come across lots of strong women .

I was all motivated after reading this and just managed 25. BUT I really like press-ups as a thing to do for core strength so probably do them more often than other strength exercises - about once a week or so. I remember when I could only do 2 though, and I wasn't unfit then, just weak.

He's talking bollocks.

In the RAF a 39 yr old female has to do 8 man-style 'full' press ups minimum to pass that part of the fit test - this is apparently based on the average that the population as a whole should be able to do.
(I just managed to do them and I was very strong, but I've known quite a few women I've worked with that have banged out 30+ easily).

It's all about practise and good form, really - strong core helps. You can start by doing them on an incline (stairs or worktop), then keep dropping the incline lower until you are on the floor.

He's probably right. The average woman probably can't do more than 2 strict pressups in a row (on their toes/ chest to floor), without snaking.

That isn't to say that the average woman isn't capable of building strength to do far more than that, but if you tested the status quo, he's probably ballpark.

Even when I climbed several times a week and could do full pull ups no problem I couldn't manage one press up! My almost 60 year old mother who does no exercise however can do 5!

When I started training I did a press up test and did one. That was on my knees, tits to the floor and back up. So he's right as far as I'm concerned! After several weeks of weight training I am expected to be able to cope with about 8 of those.

I'm off to see how many proper push ups I can do before bed. I'll report back!

I can knock out 20+ with my hands wide and at chest level. I get told off that these aren't correct though, and I should hand my hands slightly turned out with my upper arms tight to my sides so that my elbows come into my waist in the lowered position.

I can only do 3 of those full, more on my knees.

Bit of a dick

I can do more than that and I'm in my 50s

He doesn't sounds very great TBH, what do you think of him ?

he's talking crap.

pre-dc's and during my most intense kickboxing phase (late 20's) I could do over 40 'boy' push ups. me and my ex gymnast friend used to challenge each other.

I'm 40 now and out of practice but I can still bang out 15 of them.

'Average ' woman who works out regularly or 'average' as a whole population? I'd hope most women who exercises regularly could manage 1-2 but considering that is what, less than 30% (?) of all women, I'd guess most of the 70% couldn't do it...in which case he's pretty optimistic . I can do at least 30 but strength train regularly.

Yep I can do 40 plus I would say.. Just a question of building up your strength.. Make sure your form is good, start on your knees and move up to full push ups. Lift weights to build arm/shoulder strength. All women can do push ups your trainer is talking crap!

Yep he's very wrong I can do 50 proper push ups. Pull ups I can do 15 body weight and anything between 5/10 if I put weights onto a belt same applies to dips. Go and fire that trainer and find one that don't talk garbage

depends if I'm allowed to do them on my knees or not! I could probably manage 3 -4 full press ups though before collapsing.

I can do a few more. But not many and I am pretty strong

I can do 8-10 in a row now but that's only after a few months' training at the gym. Before I could only do box press ups.

I wouldn't have thought many women can do them without training. I go to classes at the gym occasionally and I'm usually the only one doing full press ups.

Yes. but it's quite hard.

I can't