I confess to you-I'm a cheater...

T

TeTe

Cathlete
at push-ups.

I feel like an imposter on this board sometimes. Most of you are doing dozens of "real" push-ups while I can barely eek out 10 girly-ones. The other day I discovered that if I put my heels under my futon frame while doing push-ups (kinda like the way we had people hold our ankles in gym class for sit-ups), I was able to do more girly-girl push-ups and with better form.

So, do you think this might actually help me build up to doing them for real? I definitely felt it in all the places I was supposed to.

With shame, I ask for your help and advice. (They say the first step is admitting that you have a problem.)
 
I admire all the women here that can do them, but I can't do to many girly push up either. I just stop and look at Cathe and figure maybe if I do them for a few more YEARS, I just may be able to do 1 big boy push up. I hav some of her DVDs still wrapped in plastic, like Gym Style chest and triceps, this is one I will have to work up to, if I can't do 5-10 girl push ups, I know I can't do the 70+ from the gym styles!!!
 
TeTe -

Please don't feel bad! Because of my lymphedema risk in my left arm, I do Little Girl push-ups and don't apologise anymore. I once asked for help on how to get myself to do big-girl push-ups, got a lot of great answers and then after I had my first lymphedema scare, my doctor said I needed to take my risks more seriously.

So, no Big Girl push-ups for me! And I'm fine with that.

Besides, IMHO, I can promise you I won't be on my deathbed thinking, "If I had only done that 75th push-up, it would have made all the difference." - heehee!

Like Tony Horton says - do your best and forget the rest!

Keep working at it and you'll get it!

Susan L.G.
 
THEY'RE NOT LITTLE GIRL PUSH-UPS!! People, don't belittle your accomplishments. They're MODIFIED push-ups:) And it will come. I didn't used to be able to do ONE modified push-up, much less one straight leg push-up. You'll get there!
 
So funny you posted this today!!! I have been doing girly pushups...and finally after a year I can keep up with Cathe's boy push ups in most videos (not gym styles!!) I have been upping my weights with flys and presses and have seen definite strength gains with S&H. And then...last night with no video pushing me I tried boy push ups...AND...I did 15!!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't believe it!!!!!! It was really the first time I tried (when I knew I didn't have more presses or flys to come).....And I literally couldn't believe it!!! So the point of this, besides just to brag to people who would understand, is that you WILL get there...and probably when you least expect it! I am sure you are doing great and progressing more than you think! Keep it up!


Debra

Bite off more than you can chew. Then chew it---Ella Williams
 
Drop the shame this instant, no place for it around here! I have barely worked out at all for the last year and I'm still here. It's not about out-exercising everyone else, just helping you and everyone else to be the best "us" we can be, in all areas of life. And whether you do girly push ups or any other kind, qualifies you to speak up and attend regularly. OK?

Clare
 
I don't think modifying an exercise is cheating at all.

It has taken me years to do full body push ups and even now some days I have to modify about half way through.

And yes, from my experience modifying an exercise helps improve form and agility.

What I do is do as much of an exercise the way Cathe and crew do them and if it gets to be too much (as was the case tonight with Cardio Fusion), I modify.
 
No, it's not consider cheating....it's using your resources!!!:7 After being in the Navy and having to crank out as many toe push ups as possible in 2 minutes, using HORRIBLE form, when I started exercising again (gave it up completely after getting out 4 yrs ago), I found that in order to "re-learn" how to do push ups using correct form, I modify. About once a week, or so, I try to do as many toe push ups as I can, and have found that I am making progress there, but still have to modify to make sure I don't strain my back or injure myself in any other way.
 
Hehe, you sucked me with that subject!

I found this article [a href="http://www.stumptuous.com/cms/displayarticle.php?aid=75"]Mistressing The Push Up[/a] a great guide to builing up to "real" push ups... not that I am there yet :)
 
Hey, I cheated too. I didn't use the band for the biceps curls in LIC. Irritates me when I'm off center with it so I decided just not to use it.

Jeanette
 
"Cheating" to me is when I sit on the bed and look at the DVD and move my toes to the music.... anything that even resembles what Cathe is doing is called modification.... :+ :7
 
Thank you so much, everyone! I will continue to "modify" and "use my resources!" Sometimes, when it gets to the "push-up" section of a workout, I just don't even try because I know I won't be able to do them all. Yeah, stupid thinking, when, I know that the more I do, even if it's just a couple, I will get better over time.

Now, I think I'll just go order Cathe's Gym Style!:p
 
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