Can you do a push up?

[GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf]

I am 26 and I cannot and never have been able to do a push up. DH says most women my age could do at least one, I think that’s BS. Btw other than my lanky arms I am quiet strong, I can leg press a lot and squat a decent amount, I am a healthy weight as well. I can pick up my kids so really I think I can do all I need to do.

So, can you do a push up? Either the one where you’re on your knees or the normal one. If you’re older then I guess my question is could you do one when you were at your peak physical fitness?

Well I have just discovered that I can do two! I am 59 and have worked up to 30 second planks and 10 from my knees over the last six months. I've never been able to do proper press ups even when I was a skinny child, but I thought I'd give it a go just to see! Feeling very proud of myself!

Yes I can do quite a lot of full push-ups. I’m 48 and teach fitness classes.

When you see those charts of how many push-ups a person ‘should’ be able to do at each age range, the women’s ones are often based on adapted push-ups (ie with knees down and/or hands on a step) so it is known and expected that push-ups are harder for women than for men, as men have superior upper body strength. Some women in my classes can do excellent adapted push-ups but have never quite been able to progress to full ones without dipping their hips or head. So adapted ones definitely ‘count’ IMO. I’d rather see a proper adapted PU than a shoddy full one.

Take him up on the bet and prove him wrong!
I am 60 and definitely couldn’t do them at your age mainly because I was hugely overweight! Now I regularly do press ups and plank a lot.

I have been doing strength training for about 10 years and I still can't do very many at all. I can do the ones where I stay on my toes, lower myself down, release hands and then push up on my knees, but proper ones - about 2-3 and that's it and my form is terrible! I have never found it easy to get out of a swimming pool either.

Mid 40s. I can do quite a few on my knees, but only about 10 real ones. My upper body strength is poor but I have a strong core.

I cannot do a pull up and never have been able to.

He reckons he will be able to train to do the splits by Christmas Day 😭. Love his confidence but I definitely think I’ll be winning. I’m not sure it’s possible for him to train that in the time between now and Christmas. If he ends up in a and e I’m not leaving my dinner to come with him.

My dad has put it on the Christmas Day itinerary (after gifts, before lunch - prime spot) so it’s now an official event. I’m glad we’re at my family’s this year don’t fancy doing PE with the in laws I can’t lie.

You've inspired me OP, thank you! I don't think I've ever done a push up and I'm in my 60s. Just managed 10 wobbly knee ones and now having to have a nice sit down to recover. Will have another go tomorrow.
I have no doubt you'll win that bet, go for it!

You're going to have to keep us updated OP!

I can do about 5 normal ones. The 4th and 5th are a struggle though and I can feel my form isn't as good.

Build up gradually (wall or countertop are easier places to start than knees), practice regularly and that should totally be doable by Christmas. Don't just work on push ups, doing horizontal pulls as well (bent over row for example) will keep your back and chest strength balanced.

I am also a fitness instructor and I would estimate that about half the women cannot do a single strict push-up. Majority can do at least one knee push up, but not all.
I can do 50 consecutive ones and 100 with a little break, trying to build up to 100 consecutive. But I also started from 0, so it is certainly possible to improve.

Oh and edited to add, I'm in late 40s and still improving.

I can't do a single one, I don't think I have the flexibility in my shoulders/chest?
I'm fit, consistently strength train and a sports massage therapist so have a lot of upper body strength.

I can, but it took me a long time and a lot of training before I could manage it - even though my upper body strength has always been pretty good.

Tbh I don’t think it helps that I have massive knockers!

Start yourself with wall push ups, by Christmas he can owe you £200 when you do two full floor pushups!

I am fitter now at 47 than I was in my 20s - I can do a few knee push ups and could probably manage 1 or 2 proper ones 💪🏽

It’s more about your core than arm strength. My brother showed me how to do it, and I have arms like birds legs. The power comes from your glutes and deep core, and once you get the knack of engaging that at will, the rest of it follows.

Do it against a wall until you understand the way your body should feel when it’s straight and strong. The arms become more important as you go lower, but depending where you position your hands, and how wide apart they are will change what you can do. Again, experiment on the wall first so you’re not tiring yourself out before you’ve learned the difference.

Rope climbing, punching and arm wrestling are similar - you pull the strength from your core, not just your arms.

Just about

I'm 44

Yes. I can do at least 25 ‘proper’ ones, but I do strength training and also gym classes that include them.

i can now! at 37 - i just said id never be able - but since September i've been practiving pretty much daily! I can do loads now

i worked up from using a bench, to being on knees, to whats called a push up negative (loads of you tube videos of these)

And now im just doing normal push ups on probs!

Just keep going op

There is no point in just trying to do pushups. First you need the STRENGTH to be able to do them. This means…

• strengthening your arm and shoulder muscles through intense weight training, at least 20 minutes three times a week. Dumbbells are very effective. Start with 3-4 kg and work your way up. Important: either get a personal trainer to show you how to do the moves correctly, or follow one of Caroline’s Girvan’s programmes.
• strengthening your core is absolutely vital - not just for doing pushups but also everything else, including prevention of back pain. Caroline has some great abs workouts, but one of the easiest ways to strengthen your core is via a daily plank. Try the Bowflex 3-minute plank.
• All free on YouTube.

NB: I’m in my early 70s and can to a dozen pushups easily; up to 25 with a bit of effort- if I can be bothered.

I am 58 and can do around 15 push ups from my toes. I didn't start from here - I had a shoulder injury which meant I found even a box push up hard. Regular consistent training built up to push ups from my knees and now I can do push ups from my toes. I am still building up the amount I can do - I am aiming for 20 without a break.

I did 2 sets of 10 then managed 6 (then dropped to knees for 4) for my third set, this morning.

You'll be brilliant by Christmas Day, OP. It's just practice, like anything. Start small, be consistent and build up gradually. Enjoy.

I can do a couple of sets of 10 in my mid 40s so I’m surprised you can’t do any at 26 if you’re reasonably fit and able.

On the plus side, his challenge of doing one by Xmas should be very easy so you’ll be £100 richer!

Absolutely love this.

Relationship goals right there.

I can't do any.
But 26 yr old dd can, but she is the exception even amongst her friends in her sports team.
As @Trumptontown said, the thread is likely to attract those who want to let you know they can, so I think the poll will be skewed somewhat.

I've just checked and I can do 18 "man" push ups in a minute. I'm 51.
Used to be able to do loads more when I did martial arts.