Comments on: Push-Up Confessional

By: Skey

Skey — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 13:10:37 +0000

Push-ups were used as punishment and as a regular exercise when I was in the police academy. Those and pull-ups (while wearing 35 lbs of gear). They never let the women do modified push ups. I struggled bad until finally it just got easier. Since I left the department, I avoided push-ups because they brought back lots of blistering memories. Lol. However, I find that I need them to help my triathlon training. I can’t do full length well anymore, but the modified ones are a tad easy. I have been doing mixed sets instead. Within a set of 12, I will do 6 full length and 6 modified. That along with dips and various dumbbell exercises have made these easier. I look forward to the day where I can do a full set of 12 full length push-ups.

By: Megan @ Run Like a Grl

Megan @ Run Like a Grl — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 11:50:42 +0000

I’m one who can’t do real pushups but not because I haven’t tried. I damaged my elbow when I was younger (torn ligament which I never got surgery for, calcium deposits, chronic tendonitis) so it just hurts like hell when I try to do them for real. Didn’t take care of it right in the past so I’m paying for it now unfortunately. Ugh!

By: Matt @ Share It Fitness

Matt @ Share It Fitness — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 04:13:13 +0000

I found doing dips (or assisted dips if needed) will work wonders for your push up prowess. Try doing 3-4 sets of 10-12 dips a couple times a week. You’ll hit often neglected muscles in your pectorals that will lead to increases in push up power…keep up the good work!

By: knitnrun4sanity

knitnrun4sanity — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 16:58:49 +0000

I love this post because it is so true. I think you feel this as you get more ‘experienced’ (or older). I have certainly become more compassionate to others’ as I get older. With exercise I had not really thought about this but we do all come from different experiences as in all areas of life. Thanks for sharing.

By: Paula

Paula — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 16:56:53 +0000

I know how you feel!! I had a neck injury few years back and for months I couldn’t exercise my upper body. After that I could do maybe 5 “real” pushups and I felt SO bad!! But they come back quickly – just keep doing them

By: Jen

Jen — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 15:54:21 +0000

I started with modified pushups because I felt like I was so bad at unmodified that I didn’t really get enough of a workout. I could do so few before bad form set in that it wasn’t really helping me reach my goals. I only switched to unmodified when I could do sets of 30-40 modified pushups.

One thing I’ve found amazing about pushups is the ability to improve. I was a college athlete and lifting has been something I’ve done for years. Despite starting to lift in 8th grade and lifting as part of a strength & conditioning program all throughout college, I found that in movements like bench press and db chest presses, I had a window of 80-100lbs for bench and 20-30lb db’s for chest press before I would just tap out. However, I’ve found an incredible window of improvement with pushups in a relatively short period of time. The magic of the pushup!

Keep working those modifieds and you’ll be back to where you were before you know it!

By: Alexandra Elizabeth

Alexandra Elizabeth — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 14:20:14 +0000

Great post, and so true! I avoid pushups because they are hard and my arms are weak. I’ve been trying to build up the muscle by lifting, but I know sooner or later I’ll have to just get in there and do them and work through the difficulty.

By: Michelle @ Eat Move Balance

Michelle @ Eat Move Balance — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 12:29:28 +0000

Hi Jess. I really liked this post. Very thoughtful and a great reminder for all of us. Thanks–have a great weekend!

By: Caroline

Caroline — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 12:29:21 +0000

I’m all for modified pushups as a way to work your way up to regular push ups. I actually have a similar story as you, I used to loove push ups but haven’t been able to do them in a while because of unexplained shoulder pain. I also have been dealing with a hip injury…I never thought the two might be linked?

By: Carrie @ Fitness and Frozen Grapes

Carrie @ Fitness and Frozen Grapes — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 12:21:11 +0000

Ah, I remember the days of doing pushups for basketball punishment. During both high school and college, if our entire team failed to complete a suicide within the allotted time, it was pushups for all. Today, I definitely don’t hate them, but I also don’t do them as often as I should; I usually have “pushup phases” where I’ll incorporate them into my workouts for a few weeks, but then I stop for no apparent reason. Like you wrote, Jess, I can definitely tell a major difference when I regularly do them and when I don’t.