GS Pushups!!!

[SheWolf]

Pushups have never been my strong point, But what does it take to be able to complete the drop sets of pushups in GS? I feel like I keep pushing myself to do one more before I drop to my knees each time, but I am really disappointed with my progress. I've been following Cathe now for about four years and have basically all her videos. Please help!


Linda

 

[Lunacat]

Not Cathe, obviously, but I've found the only way to do push ups is to do them. Not much help I know, but when you really really really want to do one more push up, sometimes you can. This advice was given to me earlier this year and since then, I've pushed myself to do more and more push ups and it's worked.

I hope Cathe will offer some more "solid" advice for you.



Becky

 

[jooge]

Linda,

I agree with Lunacat! Keep going - even if you cannot keep up with her count, keep pushing. I also saw a big improvement when I did push-ups daily separate from my workout. I got the idea from the Aug rotation. Although I could not follow the whole thing, I did add a little bit. Including adding additional sets of 40 push-ups 3 times a week. This helped! Stick with it!

Lisa

 

[kathryn]

I put longer breaks between the sets. Eventually, I'll decrease the breaks, but I want to work on strength more than endurance, so that works with me.

Another suggestion is to do as many on your toes as you can then, instead of going to knees, put ONE knee on a balance disc (for a bit more challenge) with the other leg held off the floor behind you, then drop to two knees on the disc. These are less difficult than the "on your toes" version, but more challenging than the "on the knees" version.

(I was disappointed when I tried GSCT the first time, because I'd worked up to being able to do quite a few push-ups on my toes with P90X, then felt like I was backtracking.)

 

[medieval7]

Kathryn, you were kind enough to recently advise me how to gain strength; I can't help asking you what king of balance disc you're referring to here for help with pushups? I've looked real quick at what they are, and your recommendation for use with pushups sounds like your disc must be longer than the circular ones I've seen? Or do both knees fit on the round one? I'm confused about how this works.

Would you mind explaining? Certainly would appreciate. I, too, need pushup help!

Susan G

 

[kathryn]

Hi, Susan!
These are the discs I have:

http://www.power-systems.com/nav/closeup.aspx?c=3&g=865

They are large enough for me to fit both knees on (with knees together), or you could use two and put one knee on each. I also use one as a chair (that I'm sitting on right now!) when I use my laptop (which is on my Fanny Lifter, since it works better as a computer table than a piece of exercise equipment, IMO!).

 

[medieval7]

Kathryn,

Thanks for your fast response. I'll have to try your pushups idea in this topic (and in the topic you forwarded to someone recently from a question you answered for me a few days ago).

You're very knowledgeable, and many many thanks for sharing it with me/us! I'll invest in a disc and give it a full-spirited effort!

Susan G