There are many types of push ups, and different push ups do different parts of your upper body. I'm assuming you are doing the classical pushup, which primarily works your chest, deltoids, and possibly some triceps. Remember to always use the correct form because if you don't, you will not be targetting the desired area(s) and/or you can injure yourself. Pushups are good for those seeking a "healthy lifestyle", but pushups alone will not get you "ripped" / "toned" / "big". You should set a total amount of pushups you wish to do, and complete them set by set. For example, say I wanna do 30 pushups before sleeping, I do 3 sets of 10. You can do sets of 20, or whatever you are able to. As for how many you should do, that all depends on you. If you're using the correct form from start to finish, fitness level, ect ect. My suggestion is you start with 5 pushups and build up until you reach 30. If you are unable to reach 30, just stop whereever you left off. Then the next day try to do just one more, and so on until you reach your goal. If doing 30 was hard before, it will now be obtainable. Then you raise your goal, and 30 will become easy as pie to do. The "pain" you may be feeling can be one of two things: soreness, or you are doing the pushup incorrectly (thus causing little pain). It is probably being sore. What you should do to relieve the soreness is to eat some grams of protein (8-15grams should do for ya) and then have a good nights sleep =]. You are sore because the muscle is rebuilding itself and is in need of protein (in order to repair tore muscle tissue) If you REALLY wanna get into bodybuilding / getting ripped, tell me and I will further point you in the right direction ;). Thanks alot for your advice, I don't eat particulary much proteins, so ill get into that. and all im after is a healthier lifestyle and don't look like weakling ;-P