If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
It’s day eight of the Get Fit Slowly one hundred pushup challenge. Word has it that week three day one was hard, but it sounds like many of you were able to struggle through it. Here’s the schedule for week three day two:
Here’s the chart if, like me, you’re doing week two:
Remember that you should rest ninety seconds between each set.
I’m surprised how small things affect my ability to do pushups. For example, a deep carpet makes them more difficult. Why is this? A hard floor is easiest for me. If I don’t get enough sleep, the pushups are difficult in the morning. If I wait until early afternoon, they’re easier. Have you experienced anything similar?
Update: Since when are pushups aerobic exercise? I’m winded after doing mine today! I managed to do 11-9-7-7-12. I thought I’d be able to get fifteen on that last set, but it just wasn’t to be. Still, I feel good with what I did: 46 pushups total! Plus I just figured out today that the rest breaks are the perfect length for doing my stretching routine. It’s like I’m doing two fitness-related activities at once!
Read about this project at One Hundred Pushups.
Mac
24 responses so far ↓
1 MizFit // Jul 2, 2008 at 3:16 am
for me it’s too much consuming of the processed white!
the next day? I can barely push out one UP!
2 Leslie // Jul 2, 2008 at 5:32 am
Ugh! I made it through week 3 day 2 but it was close. My form was a little weak on the last few of each of the last sets and I had to increase the rest intervals between the last couple of set too. I made it but it was awfully close to failure.
I don’t know how people in columns two and three are doing it. My husband is in column 3 and he claims it is hard but he has been able to do more than the minimum on the last set both days. I belive he will be going on to week 4 while I stay at week 3 next week.
3 Brian // Jul 2, 2008 at 6:10 am
Attempted week 3 day 1 column 2 today. My exhaustion test was 21 so I was right at the cutoff and I actually considered dropping down to column 1. Wish I had. Could only manage 11 in the last set instead of 20. Going from a minimum of 46 in week 2 to a minimum of 83 the next time is just too big a jump.
So here’s my plan: I’m going to drop back to column 1 for the rest of the week and then repeat week 3, but on column 2 this time. We’ll see how it goes.
4 fit36.com // Jul 2, 2008 at 6:35 am
You’re right about Week 3. I got bitch-slapped by Day 1 even though I “passed” the exhaustion test. I’ve since decided to beat a hasty retreat to Week 2 for Days 2 and 3. Hopefully next week will be better.
5 Nick // Jul 2, 2008 at 7:09 am
I failed week 3, day 1 (level 1). Instead of repeating week 2 again, I was planning to repeat week 3, day 1 until I got it. Any thoughts?
6 drifting // Jul 2, 2008 at 8:55 am
W2.2D2: 16, 13, 11, 11, 23 - felt pretty good.
I tried this day twice last week, falling short on the 15 rep min on the last set. I’m pretty pleased.
7 drifting // Jul 2, 2008 at 9:00 am
@ Nick - that’s what I did last week when I was just short on W2D2, but my second attempt was worse than the first, so I decided to drop back to W2D1 this week, and it seems to have worked. Not sure which approach I ‘ll take next time.
8 Chris // Jul 2, 2008 at 10:34 am
just finished W2D2C3 (I am repeating W2 after starting W3 and failing miserably) and was able to do 10 more than the min for the last set for a total of 76 today.
However, C3 for W3 is crazy where the minimum jumps to 99, 105 and then 121!
9 Al // Jul 2, 2008 at 11:58 am
Week 2, Day 2, Column 3. 16/13/11/11/17
This is a repeat of week 2. I woke up late today, and didn’t really get warmed up, so I’m pretty happy with the results.
On another note, I’ve been getting some stiffness in my shoulders. I’ve incorporated some extra stretching to combat this.
10 WeightLadder // Jul 2, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Day2 of Week3 was better for me… After getting hammered on W3D1 I think my mind was a more ready for it… It is probably intential that after each exhustion test your have to step it up a notch…
11 WeightLadder // Jul 2, 2008 at 12:09 pm
oh… and the reoutine is certainly turning in a decent cardio workout too.
12 Steven Rigney // Jul 2, 2008 at 4:29 pm
It’s strange how the 3rd set can have me practically collapsing, and yet with the max set I find a way to push through. I have found that mentally stating I will do x (some number over the max) before I start helps to psych me up to actually get beyond my max. Today I did 27, 19, 19, 15, 31. I couldn’t quite straighten out for 32.
I only seem to breath really hard after the max set, otherwise, my breathing during the set has been enough.
13 Peter // Jul 2, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Just finished Week 2 Day 3 Column 3: 15-15-12-12-24
I did 16 standard form push ups on the initial test, but then I got destroyed on the first day. So now I’m doing push-ups on my knees. I plan on finishing the program like this first and then repeat it doing standard form push-ups. I’m definitely getting stronger, so I hope I’ll be able to just fly through it on the second go.
I should be able to do at least 26 on the upcoming exhaustion test, but whether that means I’ll actually be able to do W3D1C3? Honestly, I doubt it! Week 3 looks really intimidating.
Stay strong everybody! We’ll get there!
14 Peter // Jul 2, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Oh btw, I was thinking of maybe following the same program for pull ups. That should balance out the strength gains of your chest muscles. Good idea? Bad idea? What do you guys think?
15 Lazy Man and Health // Jul 2, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Like Fit36, I got bitch-slapped as well. I couldn’t do day 1 on M. So I gave it a try again today. I got a lot closer to finishing it with a 15 in the final set.
Hopefully, I can get that above 25 on Friday and then run the whole week again from the beginning next week.
16 drifting // Jul 2, 2008 at 9:56 pm
@ Peter re: the pull ups.
I thought that, too, until I actually grabbed a pull up bar and tried to haul my butt up into the air.
Um… nope. Not a one. So I’m doing remedial pull up stuff (hanging, dropping slowly), and I hope to be able to do a few soon. But THIS progression? Not a chance.
17 Pablo // Jul 3, 2008 at 1:53 am
After completing week 2 last tuesday I could only do 13 pushups on my exhaustion test. I spent this last week repeating week 2 and just did my exhaustion test again and could *barely* crank out 16 of them, but I did it. I’m going to start on week 3 on friday even though I am almost positive I will fail to complete the required pushups and have to redo the week, either way I don’t think another week 2 will do very much for me.
18 brian // Jul 3, 2008 at 4:48 am
After figuring out that it’s NOT a good idea to do the push-ups after an arms workout at the gym, today went a lot better. Got in 27, 19, 19, 15, and 30. I was still sore going in to this set from Monday’s routine! But that tells me we’re really going to be getting some gains!
@Peter: Yeah, pull-ups are going to be a LOT harder to do. I’m in column 3 and I can barely eke out like 5 good-form wide grip pull-ups.
I’m thinking it might work with sit-ups though if you’re looking to tone up the abs as well.
19 Steven Rigney // Jul 3, 2008 at 7:23 am
@Peter: I’ve thought of pullups as well, and would love to be able to do pullups, but I can’t get a single one. I am doing other things for exercise, but I’m not trying to get into pullup shape at the same time that I’m focusing on this challenge. when this challenge is over, I plan to continue doing sets of pushups while focusing on other parts, pullups will probably be one of them.
20 bmis // Jul 3, 2008 at 8:11 am
@WeightLadder: agreed, W3D2 was a little bit better than D1, probably mentally more prepared as well.
W3D2C3: 27,19,19,15,28. Might’ve been able to eek out 29 at the end, but was completely out of breath by then, so ended it at 28.
Overall, feel better today than I did right after W3D1.
21 Pete @ quicktofit // Jul 3, 2008 at 9:32 am
I am on week 2 day 3 now, and like you on day 2 it was tough - but i’m proud to say on the max rep set i hit my new high - 16 !
I’m hearing from people that week three is a bear though.. ugh. here we go.
22 Steve M // Jul 4, 2008 at 7:00 pm
WOW! I just finished w3d2 and did 27 , 19, 19, 15, 27 and then added it up and it is 105. I barely made it to the end so for the next day I will probably go back to mornings. I think it is too hot in the evenings for me.
I have found that if I go for a 30 minute walk in the neighborhood after dinner that I getter better results in my workouts the next morning.
23 Weekend Link Love | Mark's Daily Apple // Jul 6, 2008 at 9:26 am
[...] Get Fit Slowly shares his progress on his 100 push-up challenge. [...]
24 100 Pushups: Week Five, Day Two // Jul 16, 2008 at 7:32 pm
[...] Week three [...]
Leave a Comment