Pushup Time
 

Remember all those pushups we use to have to perform in school gym class? Well they are still aorund and I for one am going to give this plan a try. I have no affiliation with this program just found it intriquing and thought I'd give it a try. It's hard to say the least or at least at the start! My initial try I did 18 :( well I've only done it two days so far I am a little sore but man what a workout. Add these into your off season workouts and see how you do. Edited forgot to add the link duh!!!
http://hundredpushups.com/

Whoa, what program ya talkin' about pilgrim??

Added link to origional post. I should really have one of those shirts with an arrow pointing up saying I'm with stupid.

Cool! Thanks for that link, I think I'll give it a whirl. Also plan to start hittin' the gym soon...

edit: just did my initial test, jeez I'm in awful shape!

I should set that as a goal. I've never in my life been able to do a push-up.

I have a less than stellar shoulder and the back doesn't like push ups either.

None the less, it won't hurt too bad to try. At least I don't think it will.

Bilateral arthritis, both shoulders, and residual pain issues from my May crash.....no pushups fopr me, unless they are the modified "Girl" pushups. :(

Nothing wrong with the modified pushup. Most people give up on doing pushups because they can't do one from the start. The modified will work most of the important muscle groups to get them strong enough to do a full-weight pushup.

Now if there was only a good modified pull-up without having to use a machine or the resistance bands.

I've heard good things about this program, I think I might give it a go. I just did the initial test, and it confirms what I already pretty much knew. I've had a seditary job for a bit over a year now, and with out doing any kind of weight training, I've lost virtually all of my upper body strength. Prior to that, I was lifting equipment up to 30 lbs in each arm, which isn't a ton but it does build fairly well toned arms. I had to leave that position because it pretty much wrecked my ankles.

Ah well, nowhere to go from here but up!

Never could do a push up or pull up

They also have a 200 sit up program as well, seems like it might compliment the push program quite well: http://www.twohundredsitups.com/

There is a simple modification. If your doing them at home on a bar in a door jam, put a chair under the bar. Place your feet on the chair and allow legs from the caff up to be off the chair. This will let you you your thighs to assist with the pull up. You may need to have the bar set lower than it would be normally to get the necessary leverage to use your legs to help. But it can be done.

So, if I am understanding correctly, you kneel on the chair, with your hands on the bar, and use your upper legs to help push your body up some? That seems like it should help.

Thanks for the tip.

A good variation which I prefer (since it stresses my injured wrists less for me) is the dive bomber pushup:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YidzZW74T2M

A great way to progress to higher #'s is the 'ladder' method:
Do 1 pushup, rest for the length of time it took to do 1 pushup.
Do 2 pushups, rest for the length of time it took to do 2 pushups.
etc
up to say, 4, or 12, or however many you want to do. You can then do the ladder back down. The idea is you're building volume without overly fatiguing the muscles, which is the whole point of endurance training, right?

If you can't do 1 pushup, start by doing negatives, where you just do as much of the 'down' portion of the pushup as you can sloooowly. Repeat until you can go all the way down, then try going back up. Keep doing the negatives, you'll build up the strength eventually. This works awesome for pullups, dips, etc.