i need help with push-ups!

[Anonymous]

i really want to join the navy but i've promised myself i won't sign the papers until i can do 20 good pushups. see, i was in the army once upon a time, but i couldn't do decent pushups and they tend to frown on that, so eventually they kicked me out. has anyone ever started from where i am (weak, weak, weak!) and worked their way up? i need to know how you did it. i mean, i'm starting to wonder if i'm even capable...i spent a year in the army, working out every day, sometimes twice a day, and still nothing! i hope i was just doing something wrong all that time, and if i follow the right program, i'll be able to do pushups. because i'm sure i want to join the navy, but i have to be sure i can pass the p.t. test first, because i can't face being kicked out again...it was so painful.



wlsblue@hotmail.com

[Anonymous]

I'm sure that you will get some good responses here, but another site you should use for your posting is www.getfitnow.com -- they have similar forums where you can ask questions and their pros will answer them for you. They are all fitness instructors (ex-military, and at least 2 were SEALs) and are qualified to help you with proper form, etc. It's not as good as having them see you in person, but they could probably tell you which gym machines come closest to using the same muscles that push-ups do, etc. That's one way to get some more input on the push-up problem. I hope this helps! Good luck.

[Anonymous]

What you can do is put your hands on the back of a chair or at the edge of a desk, lean at a slight angle keeping your body straight and build up your strength until you can use the floor, also you can try doing modified push ups by using your knees instead of your feet. one thing though, before i joined up, I couldn't do one decent push-up. within a couple weeks in bootcamp, i got up to 35. So don't let push-ups keep you from signing up now.

studette@mailexcite.com

[Anonymous]

I found when i do push ups it helps to do them if you put your hands a little more than shoulder width apart. it helps me also if you roll alittle onto the balls of your feet it helps take the weight off of your upper body also do "female push ups" it helps build strength. I went to boot camp only being able to do 10 push ups and not that good. I left being able to do 72 (the most i ever did at one time)

potientialhill@hotmail.com