How do I get upper body strength.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-12-2006
How do I get upper body strength.
12
Tue, 04-24-2007 - 3:27pm

Well, it feels good to know that I'm not the oldest one on this board. Some I've been on I have to wonder.

I'd like advise from anyone on how to gain upper body strength. I can't even do a push up. My husband is fairly athletic, my son is very athletic (Athlete of the Year last year at school), and my daughter is pretty much so. .....then there's me. I'd be so proud if I could just do a few pushups. How would I build enough strength to be able to hold myself up. I'm not big. 5'4" 108 lbs. I'm just not fit.

Any advise would be appreciated.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2001
Tue, 04-24-2007 - 8:18pm
Hi and welcome. Try

Miss P




 

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-12-2006
Tue, 04-24-2007 - 9:58pm
Thanks for the suggestions. I've actually done them on the wall, but maybe I'm not doing them correctly. If you think of anything else, I'm all ears.
Pam
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-27-2001
Tue, 04-24-2007 - 10:36pm
Pam, you could also do them with your hands on your bathroom counter.
Nancy

"Make Choices that bring you joy"  cl-Patty


 


iVillage Member
Registered: 10-12-2006
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 9:46am
Thank you for the info!!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-02-2005
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 3:05pm
Hi there and welcome to FOF. I am not really going to give you advise although I can do 25 pushups without passing out. I would suggest speaking with a personal trainer and/or weight lifting. Do you lift any weights now? I believe the suggestions that Patty and Nancy gave you are great. We have an open door policy here and everyone is welcome to offer advise, lend an ear or give a pat on the back!

cl-Deb

cl-Deb

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-27-2001
Thu, 04-26-2007 - 8:15pm
Can you really do 25 pushups at one time?

Nancy/midlifegal


Nancy

"Make Choices that bring you joy"  cl-Patty


 


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-09-2007
Thu, 04-26-2007 - 8:35pm
I've enjoyed reading a lot of your messages. I just found this site today. 25 pushups? I'm with you bratchick, I can't do one and I'm trying to work on situps too. I can go a little ways down doing pushups and do about 4 (that's barely 1/2 way down) and then I quit because my wrist starts bothering me and I feel like I must be doing them incorrectly. I feel like I'll never make it all the way down and up. I have been going to a gym and using some of the weight machines for arms (I swear on one of them the young guy working there must have set it up wrong because I couldn't even move it!) and I do bicep curls and some other exercises using weights that I've found online or in magazines. Anyway I'm really out of shape and need to work on that and losing some weight. I was set back this past month with a sprained ankle and then sinus infection and killer cold has slowed my momentum down doing exercises. Anyway that exercise that everyone is talking about really sounds like fun but I have a bum knee so I have to watch what I'm doing. I'm usually doing the Leslie Sansone walking tapes and taking it easy on the side-steps or replacing them with something else. Hope to get back here soon and see how everyone is doing.

 

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-02-2005
Thu, 04-26-2007 - 8:53pm
OK I just tried it.....last year I could do 25, lol. Tonight I managed 10 without falling apart. Sorry!

cl-Deb

cl-Deb

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-12-2006
Fri, 04-27-2007 - 3:54am
Hi shastar and welcome,
I cannot give advise, but I want to wish you luck with the weight training. Hope you get to feeling better.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-12-2006
Fri, 04-27-2007 - 4:00am
Well, 25....10...either way, you have made me tired just reading it. Wow, I'll shoot for 5. I like the bathroom counter idea. I've done them on my wall, alot, but it's hard to tell how much is actually upper body strength, or just that it's easier to move that way. I can't even do one all the way up on my knees. Anyway, thanks for the encouragement.

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