I, too, couldn't do a single pushup when I started doing NROLS on 01January. I did them with my hands elevated on a bar on my squat rack cage in peg number 13. Slowly but surely I brought that bar down and two weeks ago - I made it to the floor. I can do 4 sets of 10 now. WooHoo! Form is critical - make sure your shoulders are over your hands, not too wide or elbows turned out.
I think you just need to build your upper and core strength a little more, but you are doing great! I would try doing more tricep, bicep and core workouts such as planks; these should help to build your strength the be able to complete those regular pushups. Just try your modified and add one or so regular in the mix every so often until you build-up to half and half or so. Just don't lose motivation!! You're doing awesome with 30 modified, that's tough as it is!!!
You could try putting something in between your hands like a football or a thick book. That way your doing them basically the way you want but with only a partial range of motion. Then try using progressively smaller and smaller objects until you can do the whole movement. The key is to not go to failure but do a lot of reps with some energy left over at the end. Break it up into more sets if you have to. It helps to not think of it as a workout but as merely "practicing" a new skill.
I agree with those that suggest starting with elevate/incline pushups. Up until 5 years ago I could not do even 1 standard push-up. I worked with a trainer who started me out doing push-ups on a bar that was raised only slightly below chest level. As time went on we slowly dropped the bar until I was doing push-ups from the floor. And it only took a couple months.
Just make sure you have good form. Your hands should be not much wider (if wider) than your shoulders and your arms should go back, not out. Otherwise you are putting too much strain on your shoulders.
Thank-you so much for that comment! I've been struggling to do push-ups for a month now...and I'm doing the baby-step incline kind, against my kitchen counter. But, even at such a high height, I truly struggle and my shoulders ache. I'd just about given up on push-ups. When I read your comment, I realized that my arms go out, not back. I just tried a couple based on your advice and they're now a lot less painful on my shoulders.
Ahhh... I just re-read this thread, as I'm starting a dumbbell full-body program today. I noticed that 3 months ago I could do 5 push ups... By adding another one in every time I felt I could manage it, I'm now up to 13! See, stick with it, just like everyone else has said, I wish I'd thought of the incline idea years ago, that's a great suggestion
