Can you pass Dr. Oz's push-up test?

by Bev Sklar (Subscribe to Bev Sklar's posts)
Sep 12th 2007 7:00AM

Categories: Healthy Aging, Celebrities and Entertainment, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements

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Oprah loves the energetic Dr. Mehmet Oz. He's making a big name for himself on the Oprah Winfrey Show, along with his sidekick, Dr. Michael Roizen. Last month on Oprah, the docs introduced their 90-Day Live Longer, Feel Younger Plan. Adhere to these three lifestyle changes and you'll see and feel results fast.

1. Do yoga and lift weights: your heart, blood pressure, strength and flexibility will thank you.

2. Walk 30 minutes every day: rain or shine.

3. Diet: adopt the attitude "food is medicine" -- skip these eleven Hall of Shame foods

Now here's a test. Dr. Oz says a 30-year-old woman should be able to nail 45 bent-leg push-ups, while a man the same age should be capable of 35 standard push-ups. Take away five push-ups for every decade thereafter. Hold on, let me take the test. My face is red and hands are shaking, but I passed ... barely. Any takers?

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Comments (31)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

urthshaykr 9-17-2007 @ 9:46AM

I'm sixteen and I can nail 40 push-ups, easy, and I'm actually far out of shape. Before I stopped working out, I could do 60 push-ups alternating between knuckle and diamond form, 80 if I had the energy.

mcmahon, charles 9-18-2007 @ 8:38PM

I will be 76 this December, and my workout routing is done at home. I do the routine every other day and have been for 30 years. Start with streches(arms, legs, neck)and do 25 deep knee bends, use hand sqeeeze device, and then do 100 jumping jacks and 100 deep knee bends. Use a resistance device for my arms, and then do a variety of body stretches on a pad which includes 50 to 80 sit ups, and 75 push ups. The right way! Then use a slant board 50 to 70 sit up, and chest strenthener, and 90 curls with 40 pounds. Walk a lot, and do house chores of all sorts. Works for me! Sincerely, Charles McMahon

Brad Thompson 9-17-2007 @ 8:28AM

Sounds like a logical test, and in reference to the above posting by Charles McMahon all I can say is "YOU ARE THE MAN"...I work out regularly but I hope I am able to persist and handle your exercise load when I am your age. Keep it up Charles

drmofgenie 9-17-2007 @ 9:45AM

I am a 51 year old woman and I can do 45 straight leg push ups. What's with the bent leg standard for women, especially 30 YEAR OLD women? Bah!

John 9-17-2007 @ 10:11AM

When I started working out 4 years ago, I could barely do 10 push ups. Now at age 50, I do 4 sets of 15 inclined, declined, and standard p/u's then more chest work with dumbbells. I feel 20 again. Try a spiderman pushup by bringing one knee to elbow then go down and alternate. Great oblique workout as well.

Kevin Beair 9-17-2007 @ 10:30AM

i can tell this guy is a retard, he's just making shit up to fool people and make money because he doesn't know what he's talking about, the people who would listen to him are idiots, you don't get in shape just by doing push-ups. You don't judge someones basic physical condition by how many push-ups they can do, what a clown.

Crusader 9-17-2007 @ 11:22AM

Hey drmofgenie I bet your Grand kids think you are groovy!!

Crusader 9-17-2007 @ 11:22AM

Hey drmofgenie I bet your Grand kids think you are groovy!!

Crusader 9-17-2007 @ 11:23AM

Hey drmofgenie I bet your Grand kids think you are groovy!!

p.k.darnall 9-17-2007 @ 11:28AM

I agree with Beair : Dr. Oz is a hustler, probably getting most of his cardio excitement by pushing-up Oprah, bent legged. His so called work out is a wuss out.

NORMA 9-17-2007 @ 11:40AM

U KIDDING FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, I AM 82 AND SURE NOT GOING TO DO PUSH UPS AND DON'T THINK THAT MANY 30 YR OLD DO OR CAN EITHER. I GET AROUND ALMOST AS GOOD AS MOST 30 YRS DO ANY WAY. WHAT A JOKE HE IS.

Susan 9-17-2007 @ 11:43AM

I am a 44 year old woman. I agree with the above, there is no need for women, especially 30 year olds, to do "bent leg" or "cop out" push ups. I did 90 once and got too bored to continue.
Yes, women don't have the same upper arm strength as men but we certainly have enough to do real push ups.

eddie c 9-17-2007 @ 12:00PM

I also agree with Beair. Where are the exercises for the back? A large amount of Americans work jobs that entail working with their arms in front of them for long periods of time ie. desk jobs and manufacturing. This results in shorting of the Pectoralis muscles. When you have a shorting of the Pectoralis muscles compounded by weakness in back muscles you open the door for to neck, shoulder, and back problems. Doing pushups works your pectoralis muscles further compounding this problem. Yoga will not help either, so do not go down that road. Want to get started in the right direction? Look towards a professional for help in the form of a Ceritifed Athletic Trainer (NOT a PERSONAL TRAINER!!!) or a Physical Therapist.

Jim 9-17-2007 @ 12:13PM

At 61 I lift every day, chest, lats, back, legs one day and arms, shoulders, delts, legs the next. Bench is 300, curl 160. We all have a routine that works for us. The important thing is to do something to stay in shape. The benchmark you use may or may not be the same for me. There is no "ONE" standard.
"Nice to read so many people are working out."

Melissa 9-17-2007 @ 1:32PM

I agree, with all the other women out there..... i can do these "girl push-ups" till im bored with it, so what is the womens standard for a regular pushup?

Eddie 9-17-2007 @ 12:38PM

I am 76, play basketball with young guys every weekend for 2 -3 hours a day. Go to gym, use weight machines, pushups about 40, treadmill at maximum incline, and much more. I think that the standards mentioned are way to low for any age.

Susan 9-17-2007 @ 1:15PM

I agree that the standards are too low. Thirty is way too young to expect so much less from yourself.

John 9-17-2007 @ 1:37PM

For all of those people who say that they can do 100's of push ups or whatever rediculous # they've posted here, keep in mind that there is such a thing as proper form and depth when doing a push up. Barely bending your elbows or having your ass straight up in the air doesn't count. I gaurantee with strict form your rep #'s would be alot lower.

mick 9-17-2007 @ 1:42PM

When I was in extreme fitness I got cancer, cured now but just shows you that fit people die too

Mindy 9-17-2007 @ 1:44PM

There seems to be a lot of arrogance out there about what kind of push-ups and how many a woman can do. We are all built differently. Just like it might be a breeze for me to pass the bar exam, it might be a breeze for some women to do 90 straight-leg push-ups. We all have our strenghts and weaknesses.

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