Really super stupid pushup question page

[sbhikes]

Okay, please understand that I have never in my life done pushups until about a week ago. I could only do knee pushups. I am up to doing 7 regular pushups.

I am also doing squats, deadlifts, bench press, overhead press, planks and other things for the first time in my life. I am growing muscles where I never had any before.

I was doing pushups today and it was like my body wanted to use other muscles in my torso to do the pushups. Is that cheating or is that how pushups actually work?

Also, my butt wanted to help out by raising up. I think that one really is cheating, right?

[WeldingHank]

don't raise your butt. keep as flat as possible. there are other smaller muscles being recruited in the process, but for the most part your using shoulders,triceps, and pecs.

[magicmerl]

Okay, please understand that I have never in my life done pushups until about a week ago. I could only do knee pushups. I am up to doing 7 regular pushups.

Yay!

I am also doing squats, deadlifts, bench press, overhead press, planks and other things for the first time in my life. I am growing muscles where I never had any before.

I was doing pushups today and it was like my body wanted to use other muscles in my torso to do the pushups. Is that cheating or is that how pushups actually work?

I feel this too, mainly in my rubs under my arms. I think it's normal.

Also, my butt wanted to help out by raising up. I think that one really is cheating, right?

Heh, yeah you want to have a straight body, with your bum neither leading nor lagging on the movement.

[Urban Forager]

Wow, SB I am impressed that you are already up to 7, great job!

[inesenite]

Wow, 7 pushups is impressive for someone who just started doing them! I can only do about that even though I have been training for a while. My trainer makes me do them so that my boobs/nose touches the ground, so it's bloody difficult.

[sbhikes]

Maybe I need to go lower? My belly touches first. I have very long arms.

[not on the rug]

keep your back straight. unless you have a gut (and you don't) your chest should touch first

[Kochin]

If you're having any trouble keeping them "regulation", try incline (NOT "decline", btw!) push-ups for a while and then gradually grow lower. It's what I'm doing (my chest strength is rubbish) and I'm getting close to floor-level now.

[Nigel]

Okay, please understand that I have never in my life done pushups until about a week ago.

The idea is to keep belly and bum tucked in so you are straight going up and down. I started off (as in Mark's video) going against a wall and then lower down against the bath. I tried full pushups but found I was cheating with arse in the air so have gone back to leaning on the bath until I can do 50. Then, I'll try the floor again and see how I get on.

Progress is continued improvement and where I end up, not how fast I get there.

[Dirlot]

Back straight Paval in The Naked Warrior suggests tensing your body especially your glutes at the same time. He has a suggestion for contracting the arms for more strength and to recruit more muscles but it sounds like you might be doing it.