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Dec 2022
9:55am, 8 Dec 2022
20,877 posts
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Shark the Herald Angel
Incidentally, I can barely do three full push ups. Small, weak pecs and the aforementioned freedom seeking shoulders are mainly to blame. (And scaredness - always an issue with me).
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Dec 2022
9:59am, 8 Dec 2022
61,469 posts
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Velociraptor
Push ups are something I find quite straightforward, which is probably just a biomechanical quirk similar to the ones that mean I can't squat low or get up off the floor without using my arms.
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Dec 2022
10:05am, 8 Dec 2022
20,878 posts
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Shark the Herald Angel
Or just that your arms, chest and shoulders are (relatively and intrinsically) stronger than your legs and bum? Or have more fast twitch?
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Dec 2022
10:06am, 8 Dec 2022
20,879 posts
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Shark the Herald Angel
I guess that^ is a biomechanical quirk!
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Dec 2022
10:37am, 8 Dec 2022
61,471 posts
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Velociraptor
Who knows? I taught myself to do full press ups before I did any lifting, even BodyPump, and had no upper body muscle definition at all. I started doing a lunchtime Bums and Tums class once a week when I first decided to shift the post-Tink podge because I could fit it into my working day, and the instructor challenged the class to do ONE full press up by the following week so I went off and practised.
(Maybe hauling children and shopping around was better training than I thought at the time.)
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Dec 2022
10:41am, 8 Dec 2022
1,484 posts
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tipsku
Speaking of biomechanical quirks: I don't have a problem with the full pushups when my arms are in the normal position. But when I go to the narrow position with my arms just shoulder width apart, I can't even do them properly on my knees. I'm not sure if my triceps is pathetically weak or if there are any other muscles involved that are much weaker than the rest. I think I'm using my triceps in normal pushups, too and I can do triceps dips. So I don't know which muscles are to blame and how to strengthen them with other exercises.
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Dec 2022
10:41am, 8 Dec 2022
38,297 posts
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EvilPixie
Don't think I can do a proper full press up on the floor - surfaces yes floor no
maybe that should be a 2023 goal
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Dec 2022
10:45am, 8 Dec 2022
20,880 posts
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Shark the Herald Angel
Well I am impressed whatever it is/was that did/does it!
It's also interesting how much our thought processes, I dunno - mind to muscle, patterns to learn and all that - influence what we can and can't do. You (V-rap) know I'm so NOT a 'believe and you can do anything!' sort of person. That is obviously rubbish or we'd all be world class at just about everything.
However, visualisation seems to have fairly solid proof behind it, and more importantly learning a correct technique - obvs the brain is involved - will enable your body to do things you might think it couldn't ... if that makes sense!
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Dec 2022
10:47am, 8 Dec 2022
20,881 posts
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Shark the Herald Angel
Triceps are involved, tipsku - but I think pecs and delts more so. Also good core control is v. neccessary (something else I cheat with if at all possible - bit of a bugbear of mine atm)
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Dec 2022
10:51am, 8 Dec 2022
38,298 posts
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EvilPixie
I read somewhere that thinking about pull down allows the bodies elastic fascia to work so makes it easier
Not tried this TBH and no idea if there is any fact in it
I know my upper body strength is poor which when combine with heavy body weight makes it hard for me
I wonder .... as I lose weight would this make me stronger as my body is used to moving heavier weights?!
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The Six Pack Revolution
Oct 2023