Are you ready for the fifth day of the Get Fit Slowly one hundred pushup challenge? Monday went well for me — I maxed out at ten pushups in the last set despite resting only 30 seconds between sets (because I can’t follow directions). I have high hopes that today’s results will be just as edifying.
Here’s the schedule for those doing week two:
And here’s the schedule for those like me who are repeating the first week:
Remember that you should rest at least ninety seconds between each set. It’s fine to rest longer if needed.
Update: Did my pushups at the gym this morning, and I didn’t feel as strong as I did Monday. I was able to do nine on my “max” set, which was more than the seven I eked out last week, but it wasn’t a strong nine. I agree with one of the commenters: I can feel my form breaking down as the sets progress, so that the last few pushups on the last set are always pretty sloppy.
And, again, I feel like the pushups are affecting my upper body lifting. I can’t lift nearly as much since I started. Strange? I don’t know. Maybe it makes sense. Also, I’m beginning to wonder how much sleep, time of day, and diet affect my ability to do pushups. Could these really have an impact? Lastly, yesterday I installed several light fixtures in our house, which involved a lot of reaching overhead with outstretched arms. I wonder if this made them tired.
Sounds like I’m searching for excuses, huh? I just feel so weak on the pushups sometimes. On the other hand, I’m already much stronger than I used to be. I need to remember that I’ve never been good at pushups…
Read about this project at One Hundred Pushups.
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I found this website last week so I started on Monday.
W1D2: 12,12,10,10,11
My arms feel like jello
100 pushups is still a long way away. But I’m getting better at the first pushup… as measured by the lack of dread.
Two friends of mine have also begun this challenge, and all three of us are going to start Couch to 5k (c25k.com) next week.
Having a simple, focused plan that doesn’t take much time is *great*.
Just out of curiosity, how does your form end up during the last max set? I can keep my body straight as a plank for the first two sets, taking my pushups nice and slow. By the max set, however, my legs are shaking, I feel like my back is collapsing a bit, and I rush through the 15 pushups as fast as I can (I’m 3rd column, 2nd week). Anyone else seeing the same happen?
I’m excited to do the max test on Sunday. I definitely see an improvement so far.
The challenge of this is wonderful, but I think I’m dropping back to the plan that worked for me a few years ago. That would be about 4 months instead of 6 weeks.
Partly, it’s because I’ve come down with a slight bug this week and have been unable to keep up with my schedule. Also, I’m about as anti-competitive as they come; I’ll get to 125 again, dang it, but only in my own time.
I’ll keep reporting back how I’m doing, and I wish everyone luck.
Going great… Feels great. Can’t wait…
100 pushups is coming soon.
btw anybody look ahead a little?
Not looking forward to week 5… 8 levels instead of only 5.
W2D2: 16, 13, 11, 11, 14 – Doh! So close to the last set min of 15! I’ll try W2D2 again on Friday, I think.
Today felt really manageable. Week two day two level two 11,9,7,7,10. that first week was kind of brutal but now i feel great about it.
I just finished today’s workout. Ugh. Last week was great and Monday was great. I was actually thinking about trying column 3 today. But when I started doing column 2′s pushups today I could barely do them. I think part of it is that I’m making an effort to do them a little slower, with better form, and exhaling when pushing up (I always do the opposite). Talk about being put in your place! Whew.
Day one week 2 for me. I’d like extra credit please for 1)today is my 49th BD and 2)it is overcast and threatening rain and all my little arthritic bits and bobs are creaking. That said, I got through it and even did a bit over the minimum for the last level, but at the cost of ab and lower back pain. So I also went through about 1/2 of the sun salutation yoga I used to do – the parts where the abs and back get stretched, and feel much better. Since this is as much about getting back into a routine of doing SOMETHING for me, I am suitably pleased with myself.
Can I have a beer for lunch now?
As for changes – well I used to stop halfway to the chicken coop with a full bucket of water and switch hands. Yesterday I was thinking about something else and strolled all the way out with the bucket in my right (in my case, weaker) hand! Meanwhile, this has been a real wake up call that I’ve let those abs and back muscles go which I cannot afford to do since I have a slight case of scoliosis. So this has had at least two salutory effects so far – 1)increased strength, 2)wake up call
W2. Finishing up third column with 20, laying on the floor panting for a minute or so afterward. W3 starts to look scary, but I begin to feel in shape. At least the muscular pains from last Wednesday are gone – like I hoped they would.
I’m off to watch the second half (Germany vs. Turkey, Euro 2008). See you next time and don’t give up!
Sorry to repost but hoping for some feedback:
Is anyone else a little confused by the lack of specificity in the instructions? Exactly *when* do you take the exhaustion test? Immediately following the day 3 workout? Immediately before the following weeks day 1 workout? Some random time in between? Since you’re supposed to use the results of that test to determine the column you use next, it seems important to take it at the “right” time.
Jason, I don’t know the “correct” answer, but I plan to take my exhaustion test on the day after I complete week two, which will be a Saturday. I figure that way it won’t interfere with week three…
W2D2: 16, 13, 11, 11, 18. Felt like jello after #18, but got ‘er done!
16, 13, 11, 11, 39. I couldn’t get that last one that I wanted. I am a little confused about that max test, but if my max is already keeping me in the same column, then I’m going to skip it. I plan to only take 1 day off on weekends to try and stay on schedule when I do need to take that test.
Doing week 1 again, first column. It’s still great cause I was barely able to do 2 pushup before I began the program
W1D1 2,2,2,2,8
W1D2 4,3,2,2,8. I did them after a soccer game. I even did push-up during my warm-up before it. It really improve self-confidence.
Surely, I will be able to go to week 2 next week.
Week 3 looks pretty scary. I’m not sure I can do 16 pushups yet. I’ll probably have to repeat Week 2.
I really like this mini-workout though. I feel like I’m at least doing something good for my upper body.
From my own experience regarding having to drop back on your upper-body weights, you aren’t imagining it. I mean, pushups *are* weight lifting — your body weight.
When I switched to working with kettlebells a few times a week, I noticed that doing my normal weight routine seemed much harder suddenly, until I realized that kettlebell is nothing but a cannonball with a handle and thus I was ALREADY weightlifting.
Hope that helps how you’re feeling about it.
I accidentally did level 2 instead of 1. I was shocked that I could just whip out 11 pushups.
This program is amazing.
Fail. I had many of the same thoughts that JD posted: I was sick all weekend, I ate like crap, and I just didn’t feel up to it. Monday felt ok, and I was probably more sick. Yesterday, however, I couldn’t finish the last two sets.
16/13/11/8/8 +3 bench pushups
If I can’t get day 3 done, I’m definitely repeating week 2.
Most of the weeks seem to show incremental increases, but week 3 is two to three times more push-ups in every column compared to week 2.
Looks like everyone’s having fun on the program
I just completed Week 2 and am curious to see how many I can knock out in my exhaustion test on Saturday.
Keep it up!
–Steve
–www.hundredpushups.com