I am to weak to do a full push up, how can I build up my strenght to one?

Question

I am a 17 year old female
Need to be able to do at least 50 push ups by the end of the summer. I am planning on joining the Coast Guard and need to pass the PFE test. Everything I read tells me how to improve the amount of push ups I can do but it doesn't help if I cant even do one! Please someone help. I am not fat or anything like that. I am 140 and 5'5. I am also a athlete, just cant do any real push ups.

Answer 1

Try doing them off of a wall or a table first. That will help build up your arm muscles. Then, just do one. Build up from there. It is amazing how fast you will be able to do 50 or more once you get started on strengthening your arms.

Answer 2

I was in the same situation as you, but I was going into the police academy and i as yourself also had to do 50 pushups and on top of that 50 situps too. We did a simple routine that will build your endurance and your strength at the same time. In the police academy, we would do 10 pushups, even if you can do them just attempt it anyways as many as you can and as slowly as you can, after that we would flip around and do 10 sit ups and then flip around and do 9 pushups and then 9 sit ups and then repeat until we get to 0. Now when i started my arms were weak and i had no endurance but i kept trying everyday at home and if you need to use your knees on the ground to help you, do that as well. The only way to do at least 50 pushups consists of willpower, and if you have access to the gym or even free weights thats good as well you need to work out your biceps and triceps, 15 pounds is more then enough for each arm, once your arms get accustom to working out and building muscle, pushups will start getting easier and easier. Unlike you, I had only 2 months to be able to do 50 pushups, and I was successful in doing all 50 and we had to do them under a certain time as well, so good luck and with enough willpower you can and will be able to do those 50 pushups

Answer 3

When I was in high school I had the same problem, I used the bathroom counter. Put your hands on the counter, and put your feet back a little bit, then do some pushups. they are not too hard, and you can do 10 or so without stopping. Now to get to 50 real pushups, you will need to do you 10 pushups, 5 or 6 times a day till you begin to get stronger. 2 weeks, of this and you will be able to more than 15 real pushups. Good Luck, and I hope you get in the Coast Gaurd!

Answer 4

start out by doing them on your knees and focus on the lowering part of the movement, it should take a 4 count to lower yourself. that will start you off towards building some upper body strength. also get yourself in the starting push up position with the legs out (not on the knees) as if you were going to do normal pushups. don't lock your elbows but support your body weight with the arms and try to hold this for 20 seconds. this helps to build muscle, ligament and tendon tensile strength

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Answer 5

I'm twelve and it isn't because I have weak arms but I can only do about five. At the begining of sixth grades second semester I started to have P.E everyday. When we did push ups they told us that only a few girls could do them so we should just try to hold the position. That's what I did and I'm going to do that everyday now to stregthen my arms. Just try to go down as low as you can and push up as hard as you can. It's going to be tough to do that many by the end of the summer but it can be done.

Expect your arms to feel the burn.

Answer 6

start out by building up your upper-body strength. lift weights. find the highest amount of weights that you can repeatedly lift and do 10 reps on each side every day. and when you're just watching television, get two cans of fruit (often about 2-3 pounds each) and stand up. hold them in both hands and rest your hands on your sides. lift your arms up sideways, like airplane wings (sorry about the stupid metaphors, i cant think of the technical weight-lifting terms at the moment lol.) and hold them like that for a minute, then rest for a minute, then start the cycle again. then, start doing pushups on your knees- get on the ground like you're going to do a regular pushup, but instead of being on your toes, be on your knees (make sure your feet aren't touching the ground) and try to do a pushup that way first. once you can do 50 pushups on your knees comfortably, get back onto your toes and start with one of those pushups, then work your way up. good luck!

Answer 7

u have to build ur strenght first. The way you could do that is by doing exercises with your arms to build them and within two wks you will be able to do more than you are doing now.I know b/c that is what i had to do for myself. And while ur out there exercise you matter as well do ur legs to build them as well for running. U have to train yourself. So that you will be able to run miles and push ups.Good luck

Answer 8

get warmed up first.Jog each day for 45 minutes.stretch and touch your toes.also do pull-ups to build arm strenght do 20 a day or more 30 recomended! then go on a soft surface and put your hands apart like 1foot.Try putting your favorite music on to get you ready! music always helps! then go not all the way down but almost will be fine.then go up if you try this rutine then you'll be able to do push-ups!Drink alot of water! eat fruit! hope this helped email me if you need more help go to my profile and email me!

Answer 9

Try starting out on your knees. If you can't do that either, try bench pressing as much as you can until you build up enough to start push-ups.

Answer 10

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