Physically possible?

[joethejudge]

For me, I can't see how it is physically possible for anyone to do at least 40 press-ups the way that I do them.
i am the best at press-ups in my year at school and can do 25. Most people who (i think) are quite strong struggle to do 5!
Is it my age that my muscles aren't fully developed yet or do all of my year group a bunch of weaklings?
Ive just turned 14

[rabby]

How old are you?? I would suggest you are all weaklings. KIDDING. If you are 14/15 then you probably should be able to do more. BUT there is also the point about not being developed properly, I started getting fit when just before my 15th birthday, I found it a struggle then too, but there were guys that were weightlifting machines at that age, could lift more then that I can now.

[mr.zog]

joethejudge - i would strongly recomend joining a gym (thats if you havent already )

as i did so, n saw... within a month my pushup maximums go from 46 to 70.

It worked for me anyway

Chris

[Kane]

Do your press ups four times a day, and within the first month, you should be able double your maximums.

[Maverick00]

You're still quite young so give it time. Its just a case of practise, practise. practise and they will improve.

[Tab]

Don't worry about it chum, just slowly work away at it a little at a time. Do your five presss up three or four times a day, then raise it to six the next week, and then add on one extra press up a week. It will take time but at your age you have plenty of it. If you really want it you can do it.

[joethejudge]

I can do 25 now.

[Jordiman]

Dont worry about pressups till you're 16 just keep fit you dont need to start training seriously till you're about 1 yr away from applying.

[Kane]

Is 4 1/2 months enough to get properly fit for PRMC? I was running 8 1/2 minute miles and doing 30 press ups, 25 situps, and 6 pull ups before I began. Should I be okay for PRMC in late July?

Sorry for the thread jack.

[podder]

heres a tip for increasing the number of press ups you can do... as each day goes by add 1 more pressup to your routine. its obtainable and soon you will be able to do a lot more. hope that helped a bit

[lew]

Joe I wouldn’t worry about it too much, as has been said before your young, give it time, and remember the most important thing... DO NOT OVER DO IT your still quite young...

On a different note, I’ve just been given the all clear from the physio as I dislocated my shoulder playing rugby, tried to do some press-ups today and could only manage 15, so I have to strengthen my arms again...


lew

[Grimey Vibes]

Yeah you are young, also it takes time to increase your bodys threshold for overload. I find that during the day time i just drop and thump out 10-15 press ups. Try that, this will help to increase your maximums.

[df2inaus]

JTJ,

Joining the gym may help. Several sets of 10-12 reps of 10 or 15 kg plates each side may be all you need. Only use free weights and ignore the machines, they restrict your body's motion and encourage cheating.

When I was 16, I started with about 5 sets of 10 press-ups at a time, at 21 I could do 100 straight and went downhill from there, yet could bench-press far heavier weight at 24.

While you're still a civvy, give your body the chance to recover. Take a short break between sets and take a couple of days off each week. Concentrate on good form, that is lower your body slower than you raise it when pressing up, and your muscles will grow.

I was disappointed in training when the PTI's ignored form and demanded numbers, no matter how bad it was for the body. I did 70 press-ups during one assessment perfect form, back ramrod-straight, triceps exploding and buddy who's back is arched, stomach dragging on the mat and wobbling does 73 and the PTI's give him a better score-that's just wrong, but that's the army.

Punishing the body in a dangerous way for its own sake is not good in the long term for combat fitness or your back. Jack-knife style sit ups are another back destroyer when partial crunches are far better, but the army doesn't change.

I think the best thing to do is build up your strength with free weights as much as possible and higher numbers of press-ups will follow, I promise you.

There is a limit though, if you find yourself becoming too bulky, lower the weight substantially and increase the reps. The Yanks and Canadian soldiers, to a lesser extent, tend to obsess about weight training and neglect the cardio a little too much.

[Jon]

joethejudge - i would strongly recomend joining a gym (thats if you havent already )

as i did so, n saw... within a month my pushup maximums go from 46 to 70.

It worked for me anyway

Chris

Persoanlly, I wouldnt bother. They are too expensive. Ive joined David Lloyds - £42 a month but ive actually experienced a fitness decline. Much prefer doing pressups and running through parks than machines and treadmills. Work on lifting your own body weight.

[I love beasting]

People are too ready to slag off gyms. Mines £30 pound a month and next to a big park. For that £30 I get an alternative gruelling cross training session (rowing, cycling and climbing) loads of free weights to work on legs to prevent injuries and compliment body weight for full body conditioning. Loads of swimming and a sauna to cap it all off. But most importantly the totty.