Need advice about strength

[Anonymous]

HI! I really really need some advice. I'm off to Basic this summer. I run six miles a day and I thought I was in great shape. However, I can only do 1/2 of a push up. I would like to do at least 10 by the time I leave. When I tell people that I can't do a push up they think I'm exagerating and they give me evasive, general tips. Does anyone have any suggestions? Have you ever known a person to go from zero to ten in three months? I've been trying for a few weeks already. What should I do? Cynthia

cynthiamorgan39@hotmail.com

[Anonymous]

: HI! I really really need some advice. I'm off to Basic this summer. I run six
: miles a day and I thought I was in great shape. However, I can only do 1/2
: of a push up. I would like to do at least 10 by the time I leave. When I
: tell people that I can't do a push up they think I'm exagerating and they
: give me evasive, general tips. Does anyone have any suggestions? Have you
: ever known a person to go from zero to ten in three months? I've been
: trying for a few weeks already. What should I do? Cynthia


You can start off by using a chair or a low wall. Hold on to those with your hands as if you were doing a regular push-ups. When you can do 10 or so of those find something lower to use and keep progressing from there. Do not do the knee push-ups (girl push-ups as they used to be called). You can be to 30 push-ups in 3 months. When I went to basic I was able to do the required 4 push-ups only by the time I graduated I was doing 30 push-ups. Just keep working on them. By the way, how are your sit-ups, those also tend to kill everybody. Everybody is so worried aboout running and push-ups they forget about sit-ups. Good luck and work hard, D'Hana

traumahead@hotmail.com

[Anonymous]

Sit ups are important to your push up because you have to be in control of your midsection. It drags you down. Most important is to hold your head up and look straight ahead. Your body should be in a straight line. Looking under drags you down. Also, warm up the upper body and get your heart rate up. This gets the blood to your arms. And Breathe! Let out bursts on the effort and breathe in on the way down. The louder you are the better, takes your mind off the pain.

rainchek1@excite.com

[Anonymous]

I've been in the Army for 18 years and push-ups have always been my weekest event, however, I've always tried my best to exceed the maximum amount required. I improved my strength by doing pushups every chance I had. Even if you only do one, do it correctly. Keep your body straight from head to heel and flex at the elbows. Do pushups when you get up in the morning, during commercials if watching TV, prior to going to bed. This is my best program done 3 times per week then increase number by 3 each week. Example: Do 3 sets of 3 pushups on Mon, Wed, Fri then next week do 3 sets of 6 pushups and so on.

Do 3 sets of ___ push-ups in 1 minute then rest 1 minute. (fill in the blank

with how many

correct pushups you

can do) Do 3 sets of ___ Wide-arm pushups in 1 minute/rest 1 minute. Do 3 sets of ___ Close-arm (Diamond) push-ups in 1 minute/restone minute.

michelle_talley@hq.dla.mil