Can you do a push up?

[cyclingwith3]

Just idly wondering how many women can. I’ve been pretty fit in other ways but they’ve always eluded me!

I can climb a rope easily, cartwheel, plank for ages, lift heavy things, cycle and run long distances.... but can’t get my nose off the ground!

But then DH can't fo situps, which to me are easy peasy.

No, my arms are like string. I can't even do one on my knees.

I've just started some strength and conditioning training so I'm hoping to be able to do proper ones by the end of the year and have arms like Michelle Obama.

Yes thanks to pilates. I do a 3 minute plank every morning before I get into the shower.

No. Nowhere near.
It does strike me as weird that there are some thing I can do that others can't, and some things that other people can do no problem, that I can't get near. There is so much more than 'fitness' or 'strength determining it.

Yes quite easily and I don't work out or do any exercise. I'd struggle to do more than a few at a time mind you.

About 15?

I can do a few, not many and have crap upper body strength (but decent core).

I think it’s because most of my weight is from my waist down so I’m not having to lift that much of my body iyswim!

Nope, gave myself a nosebleed straining to do push ups, decided that wasn't healthy lol

I can do do 20, proper form, on my toes. It's taken two years to get here though, and if I've done a lot of arm work the day before I can't do it.

I got to 38 being able to do none. Have been doing hard core spin for 6 months and am now quite good (can do like 5-8). We do quite a lot of upper body strength in the spin classes though. I am very impressed with myself!

Still far though...

fat

Can also cartwheel. Was v impressed with myself doing that on the beach the other week after a 30 year hiatus!

Yes, I can do about 50. I train twice a week and do pilates twice a week. It's taken me 2 years to go from 0 to 50.

Can't do a single pull up.

Pullups elude me but I'm fat, so power to weight is an issue.

Can do pressups.

Can't run but can lift well.

Interestingly, can do sit ups but some of the (very much fitter than me) people on my personal trainer courses couldn't. It was all in their heads tho, so a lack of motor control.

Not anymore I can't and my arms are the strongest part of me. I do however have a hand tremor which goes nuts if I try to do a press up/plank, so I still try and have a good laugh at myself.

Nope

Yes! These are the arms that enable such madness!

Not a hope.

@ZillaPilla jealous, those are the arms of my dreams.

I am not so healthy at the moment after being ill for the last 2 years but I used to be pretty fit and was quite strong for my size. I went to the gym a lot and did weight training too. I have never managed a single push up. Not even the easy version. I got close one time but fell flat on my face.

Yes I can. I can do 12 in a row, and do a set of 12 every morning and evening. No matter how hard I try, I can never get past 12 though!

I can do about 10/12 at a push, pretty much from making myself get bettter at them. I do a couple of circuits classes a week and over a year I've gradually got stronger but my arms are definitely the weakest part of me. I can run for hours at a time, do planks for ages and 100's of sit ups, and I can do all the plank variations (walkouts, shoulder taps, side planks etc) but push-ups I find really hard! My muscles tremble after about 4

I can do a few, not many and have crap upper body strength (but decent core)

And that's the thing people don't realise. Do a push up with just your arms and you're going nowhere. Pullups are the same. Use your core and you're halfway there.

A press-up means pressing about 65-70% of your bodyweight. That's tough.

If you want to get there, two things to try

1. incline press-ups - so, press-ups with hands on a high object (like a kitchen worktop), then to lower objects (like a sofa, or stairs). Increase the number over time. Once you can do 5, repeated 3 times, make it harder by going lower or doing more. That will build strength. And, I think, better than the on-knees version
2. Just do the 'down' part of the press-up, as slow as you can. That will also help to build the right muscles. Then get back to the top position and repeat.

Yes, not sure how good my technique is though.

I decided to build up - could do about 3 and pushed myself to do just one more. Do 20 ish each morning now - I do between 18 and 22 depending on when my arms give out. If I can only manage less than 18 it usually means I’m com8ng down with something