How Many Pushups Can You Do?
May 21, 2008
How Many Pushups Can You Do?
By: Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Turbulence Training for Fat Loss
The push-up is the all-American exercise. Too bad most Americans would have
a hard time cranking out a single repetition, let alone the number they
should be able to do for their age.
It’s time to start re-gaining your upper-body strength. And in a challenge I
put together for Men’s Health Magazine last summer, I set the bar very high.
Here, for example, are the numbers I gave for men under the age of 45 to
determine their level of fitness:
Able to do less than 20 push-ups = out of shape
Able to do 20-34 push-ups = average
Able to do 35-49 push-ups = fit
Able to do more than 50 push-ups = “Men’s Health” fit
(For a woman, cut the number of repetitions by 60 percent. So, to get
an “average” fitness score, a woman under the age of 45 would need to be
able to do at least 12 pushups.)
If you are a beginner, start with kneeling push-ups to build strength. Do
one set of 5-10 reps today, and add one set every other day until you are
able to do three sets of 10 kneeling push-ups.
Once you are able to do that, you’ll be ready for the next level: lowering
yourself to the ground for a 3-count, then relaxing onto your knees and
getting back up to the start position. Work your way up to 8 repetitions…
and then you’ll be ready to do full push-ups.
If you’re already doing full push-ups, here’s how to improve your fitness
score: Start by doing half the number of repetitions you can do, rest 30
seconds, repeat that same number of push-ups, rest 30 seconds again, and
then repeat the push-ups. Do this two or three times per week, decreasing
the rest period by 10 seconds each week. Retest your max after three weeks.
About the Author
Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, Maximum Fitness, Muscle and Fitness Hers, and Oxygen magazines. His trademarked Turbulence Training fat loss workouts have been featured multiple times in Men’s Fitness and Maximum Fitness magazines, and have helped thousands of men and women around the world lose fat, gain muscle, and get lean in less than 45 minutes three times per week. For more information on the Turbulence Training workouts that will help you burn fat without long, slow cardio sessions or fancy equipment, visit Turbulence Training for Fat Loss
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