John, Why Should I Do Push-Ups? I Hate Push-Ups

[John Peterson]

Hey Friends,

I have to admit that the PM I received from a man telling me that he hates Push-Ups and does not want to do them really cracked me up. Friends, I never once said that one must do Push-Ups. And I have never held a gun to anyone's head and said "do Push-Ups or else." I have only stated that they are incredibly effective as one means of achieving "off the Charts" strength and conditioning. C'mon look how many other modalities of training we offer. Push-Ups are only one of many.

He also stated that he has no intention of buying "Ultimate Push-Ups". And you know, that's probably a good thing because truth to tell, had he read it with an open mind, I may have convinced him to at least try something that he hates. Oh well, you can't please everyone.

---John Peterson

[gs300tx]

hate push ups?? Hate is pretty strong word. That sounds like a personal problem to me.

[ben alexander]

Push-ups? I don't hate them...I don't love them. They're effective though, so I do them, along with lots of other exercises.

Sounds like the guy has had one too many PT coaches saying "Drop and give me 20, maggot!"

Ben

[kelbiz]

ben;

You are right. That "pushup hater" must have been tormented by an overly zealous gym teacher. As far as any exercise goes, if you feel forced to do it you may not enjoy it. Or people only do enough to feel miserable. If they really commit to being in it for the long haul, they just might develop the proper mindset. Like in the movie "Cool Hand Luke"...you gotta get your mind right!

Jack

[Greg Newton]

A good practice to master is to take the exercises that are difficult for you and which you do not like, and make them a priority, so that in turn it actually becomes a favored exercise.

P.S. - Am I starting to sound like Gruntbrain?

[Karateka]

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[tom]

Good point, Greg.

And I'm a Grunt wannabe, too.

I hate burpees. But in small doses it only takes a small dose and you have one heck of a workout.

I hate jogging. So I don't.

Tom

[Alan_OldStudent]

Hello all,

Another explanation for this guy's reticence to do push-ups is that push-ups just don't suit everyone. Maybe there's something in the biomechanics of his body that make them extremely unpleasant and not productive. It perhaps is not a psychological problem or character flaw at all.

My answer is "well and good. Don't do push-ups. You may not benefit from them."

There are plenty of other alternatives.

Most of us who are into physical culture enjoy push-ups and benefit from them. I hope our friend can find some other form of exercises uniquely beneficial to him.

As I've said here on several other occasions in several other contexts, one should take anything of benefit they can from here, contribute anything of benefit they have to others here, and disregard whatever is irrelevant to their own way of growing. At the same time, we do come from many different backgrounds and viewpoints, and we need to remember that

Regards,

Alan

[hollyweed88]

There are many reasons one may not like doing a certain exercise. It may be very difficult, there may be a shoulder soreness after doing them from a prior injury, his lower body could be very strong from track but have a very weak upper body, etc. I do not feel he should be made fun of or laughed at as some of the posts sounded like to me. We should give him alternative exercises that also can be almost as effective. One day in the future, when he is open to try pushups, he may give it a go.
I hated them. The only reason I tried them, finally, is because so many of the forum members said how they were the best upper body exercise and I had become stronger from Isometrics.
So, I sympathize with him.

[ezekial1925]

Greg,
Lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't know why, but that really tickled my funny bone!
Aloha,
Jim

[John Peterson]

Hey Guys,

I'm not making fun of anybody. It just struck my funny bone because I have never once stated that one must perform Push-Ups to be in great shape. In fact, there was a long period of time when I focused exclusively on DVR/VRT due to a very serious shoulder injury that made Push-Ups impossible. And get this, several friends would not believe me that DVR/VRT was how I trained when they saw me at the beach because they thought I looked better than ever and they could not believe that I had not done a single Push-Up or Pull-Up in over a year. The reason I perform push-Ups and Pull-Ups now is because I really enjoy doing them. If you happen to be someone that hates Push-Ups, Pull-Ups or anything else, DON'T SWEAT IT. We have many, many methods in our exercise arsenal. It's not the end of the world.

---John Peterson

[Alan_OldStudent]

...........The reason I perform push-Ups and Pull-Ups now is because I really enjoy doing them. If you happen to be someone that hates Push-Ups, Pull-Ups or anything else, DON'T SWEAT IT. We have many, many methods in our exercise arsenal. It's not the end of the world.

---John Peterson

That's exactly how I feel, John. No one exercise or even approach is suitable for everyone.

Regards,

Alan

[Hank_Z]

A good practice to master is to take the exercises that are difficult for you and which you do not like, and make them a priority, so that in turn it actually becomes a favored exercise.

P.S. - Am I starting to sound like Gruntbrain?

Greg, I think that's a great way at looking at many other things in life. Thanks for saying it that simply and clearly.

--Hank

[gruntbrain]

The pushup numbers given by some folks here can give us "outside the bedroom performance anxiety" which generates much angst if not hate

[Nathan]

I can say I used to HATE doing push/pull-ups. But after making myself do them for awhile I have came to love them. I usually don't have a single day where I don't do push-ups or pull-ups. I believe the reason I do them so much is like I said made myself do them so much I have come to enjoy them and the wonderful results I have gotten from them. Anyway All the best everyone and have a great night.


---Nathan

[John Peterson]

You're an inspiration to us Nate. Thank You.

---John Peterson

[Nathan]

Well John YOU are my inspiration.

---Nathan

[revwally]

When I got here, I did not plan on doing pushups. I had 10 years of active duty military (Army), and another 12 in the reserves and guard. I had done LOTS of pushups. Reasons I did not like them:
1. I had done them in a regimented manner with 30 - 200 others at the same time -- boring.
2. A weight lifting prejudice against higher reps (still don't like going super high - find it boring).
3. One of the few injuries I have had from exercise was through pushups. A drill sergeant had me "dropping" then getting up...not fast enough drop...I know that is not through the pushups themselves, but it injured my rotator cuff. That was 35 years ago, and it flairs up occassionally now.

I STILL DON'T DO REGULAR PUSHUPS BUT
1. With power t's the numbers don't have to go as high
2. these are integrated into the rest of the workout.
3. I am doing them at my own pace/rhythm
4. people in this forum have been patient, and open to lots of different kinds of exercises.

having said that -- the fact that John believes and teaches that there are many exercises to use opens up a whole lot of choice. He doesn't say that you have to do any one exercise -- only that you should get out and do it. Sounds like the best option to me

wally

[gruntbrain]

Mr Exercize, Jack LaLanne, says he hates to exercize. As with Jack, such declarations are likely examples of poetic license.

[b38]

Hey friends,

I did push-ups before I ever heard of John Peterson. But it wasn't until I got the Transformetrics bug and found out for myself how great push-ups can be.

The night I made it to 200, I was over the moon with the accomplishment. Push-ups may not suit everyone but for my money they are the greatest!

All the Best.

B38

[R.ticle One]

I don't "hate" pushups - I simply avoid doing them. Actually, when I manage them, I find the workout to be very satisfying, but it's like someone said - my particular biomechanics don't agree with them at this time, meaning, I've either gotten injured, or aggravated injuries, doing them, which leads me to believe that I jumped into them too quickly without being strong enough in other ways first.

That's why I'm focusing on Isometrics/Power Flexes/Maybe VRT in the future for the time being, and omitting push/pullups until I strengthen my connective tissues as well as my main muscles.

Cheers,

Raph

[Nathan]

That is very smart Ralph. But I would suggest doing DVRs/VRT because it will help you strengthen those connective tissues and main muscles even faster.

---Nathan

[gs300tx]

At the end of the day, all that matters is what works for YOU. For example, I dont like doing DVR's, I just dont get them. But DSR and ISO I can do all day, and sometimes I will do them all day. There is always a way around these things, it all depends on what our intentions are.

[kelbiz]

The bottom line is results. That's what counts first and foremost. I knew guys who lifted weights and said they didn't like squats...yet they had "chicken legs":chicken:

If you have something that gives the same or better result than push-ups go for it.

I find they work for me, in all their variations. Tiger stretch, Atlas and standard are all part of my diversified exercise program.

John brings out an excellent point in stating that the reason Atlas had his students do dips throughout the course, and perpetually, is that they produce results.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Jack

[keith james]

Hi everyone
Maybe you should e-mail the guy back and state that he maybe sholud purchase M7 and IPR, as these are not pushup books, neither is PYTP, but maybe he will have more of a workout if he combined these two books. Just a suggestion.
Hope you all okay.

KEITH JAMES.

[R.ticle One]

Hey Nathan - I'm definitely considering a DVR/VRT routine in the future!

Thanks,

R.