Happy *#$&#ing Tuesday!: Week 4, Day 1

I don't want to talk about it. Let's do push-ups. Sets are 21, 25, 21, 21 and at least 32. Go!

Snap, crackle and pop aren't just cartoon pitchmen for sugary stuff you shouldn't feed to a goat. No trouble, no pain. One minute's up...

Twenty-five done. Started to get resistance at 15. Ignored it. Next...

Started dragging at the 12th rep and had to pause at 19. Breathing hard. I'll be taking extra rest here. No reason to try going beyond my ability. Took a much longer rest than I intended, about 15 minutes. Since what's done is done let's see what difference it makes...

They certainly weren't easy, but I was able to snap them out fairly quickly. I am definitely noticing an increase in shoulder strength. A minimum of 32 coming up. That feeling in your stomach when you're about to attempt something and you're not sure if you can do it, that's excitement at the prospect of success...

I had a little talk with myself and came to a beneficial understanding. I was going to do 32 push-ups without stopping. So, I did. That's 120 on the day. See you day after tomorrow.

Lazy Sunday perfect for push-ups: Week 3, Day 3

It's hotter than hot out there right now, so I'm inside where the weather's nice watching the ballgame. Great way to spend a lazy Sunday, especially with some push-ups thrown in. Today's sets are 22, 30, 20, 20 and no fewer than 28 to finish. No reason to be any lazier about this, so...

The shoulders have finally decided to quit complaining and get with the program. I wouldn't call them easy, but those 22 weren't the hardest push-ups I've ever done. The two-minute rest between sets is perfect for my today's lazy approach. Now to try a set of 30...

My shoulders have changed their mind again. They were popping when I got past the 20-rep mark. No pain, but some noise. Things started getting rough around the halfway point, and I was straining. That's the point, though, isn't it, to push myself to new strength and endurance? It is definitely working. My arms and chest are more taut and feel stronger. First set of 20...

That was more of strain than it should have been. I'm also resting more than the two minutes. I write this blog like I'm sure of the outcome, and make no mistake, confidence is important, but the truth is I don't know for sure if I'll make it to the end of this six weeks, or if I if I'll be where I set out to be. I will, however, be stronger and more experienced, and I'll have the satisfaction of knowing I tried. Time for the fourth set...

The extra rest helped. I'll be taking an extra long rest here, too. Speed isn't of the essence. I've been sitting here way too long. I'm now at the point I'm avoiding that last set. I don't need to sit here imagining failure. I can't get down on the floor and push for all I'm worth and avoid it. Last set...

Thirty-two! I set a fast pace and didn't slow even as I blew past 20 then 25. Never judge yourself ahead of your performance. Give yourself a chance to fail. If you do, learn what you can. It's not really failure until you quit.

Time to wrap up Week 3. That was a total of 124 push-ups today, or about 50 shy of my total for the entire first week! I started this week with 398 push-ups, and I did another 340 this week, for a grand total to date of 738 push-ups!

My team just came from behind to tie it up in extra innings. See you in a couple of days.

Things are getting serious, and I'm behind schedule: Week 3, Day 2

Today's regimen calls for sets of 20, 25, 15, 15 and at least 25. We're getting into some seriously large numbers now. Time's short, so let's get right to it...

My shoulders would like to register their displeasure, please. But they're awake now. I had planned to be done with the week's workouts today, but because of my overlooking the test to end Week 2, I won't meet that goal. I'm OK with that. I'll take a day of rest as recommended then finish up this round on Sunday. My two-minute rest period is up, so here's a set of 25...

Between the run I took last night and the stretching I did this morning, I guess I don't have quite as much gas in the tank as I'd like. I struggled once I got past about the 15-rep mark, but kept going, so I've got that to be proud of. When I get to the at-least-25 set I may have to pause, but that's OK. It's important to keep going, and if I need to slow down, maybe start Week 4 in Column 2 instead of Column 3, I'm OK with that. Time to do the first set of 15...

This work-out is pushing my boundaries. I understand one has to embrace uncertainty and expose oneself to vulnerability to be happy, learn to see failure as the start of learning, and no buts about it. I may have a lesson to learn today, and that's fine. Failure is always an option. Quitting isn't. Another set of 15...

So, now I'm a workout behind schedule. I meant to be halfway done today, and instead I have to put that off for two days. If I skip next weekend's two days of rest, too, then I'll be back on schedule for by Week 5. Do I really need to arrive there on schedule? How important is that to being fit and happy? And now the set I'm not letting myself dread...

Done. That's 100 on the day and I'm breathing like a race horse, but I did it. I had to stop in the air twice, but I kept it up. Sometimes you just have to soldier on. See y'all Sunday.

Renewing the Momentum: Week 3, Day 1.5

I have not abandoned my exercise routine! I did a fitness test to gauge my progress at the end of Week 2 day before yesterday that I recorded in my last post. I missed that I had to do that test when I was reading the instructions and it kind of broke my stride a bit. Fortunately, I did well with the test, finishing 29 reps before I wore out, so I'm just shy of of one-third of the way to the 100-push-up goal! But, I didn't show up at all yesterday. I knew I needed to get through my exercise routine yesterday, but by the time I got home last night after an unexpected two-hour evening meeting I had forgotten all about it.

I blew it. But, a mistake only becomes an error when you fail to address it, so here I am, back in the hundred push-up saddle. Being forgiving with yourself when you make a mistake is so important when you're doing a self-improvement regiment, as important as practicing the discipline that makes you show up. I know when I start giving myself too hard a time about a failing I soon lose interest in what I was doing.

Anyway, enough talk. Time for push-ups! Today's routine 14, 18, 14, 14 and at least 20 for a minimum of 80 push-ups. Rest periods are 60 seconds. Let's go...

First set's a wake-up for my deltoids. I haven't had any pain or soreness, but I sure know the muscles are there. Rest time's over...

Those delts are awake now! The second set seemed easier than the first...

The third set was easier still. Those 14 flew. Time for another 14...

The extra day of rest, even unplanned, sure put the bounce back in my upper body. Hope I'm not draining myself for tonight's run...

Twenty-seven to max-out! That's 87 reps today and 116 on the week. See you on Friday!

Week 3, Day 1: Meeting Stiff Resistance and a Test of my Resolve

I do not want to do this. It's Monday and I've had a day and a half...  I'm not going to spout some nonsense about not letting anything get in my way while I do this. Sometimes, you have to cut yourself a break and sometimes you don't. The trick is to know when to do which. Today, no break.

Or maybe I do get one, sort of. Before I start week three, I'm supposed to do another self-test so see how many push-ups I can get before I drop. Once I've got that number, there are three options depending on how well I do. Let's find out...

Twenty-nine. I'm not sure if that's good or bad. Lemme check... Those 29 put me in the third category again, so I'm progressing without losing pace.

I'll know tomorrow if I'm ready to get right back at it or if I should rest a day. Either way, I'll see you then!

Week 2, Day 3

I'm tired today. Good thing I get two full minutes to recuperate after each set. Plus it's Friday and it's supposed to be a beautiful weekend! I'll keep that in mind as I'm going up and down. The sets for today are 16, 17, 14 and 14, with at least 20 for the max-out. Eighty-one push-ups and I'm done for the week. I'm sniffing the barn, so let's do this already...

First set done. I noticed I had a butt problem. It was too high up. Gotta stay flat. The girl in the picture's doing it right, and as usual that's clearly that's not me. Second set now...

Second set done. Forgot my butt again. Now for the first 14...

Fourteen done. Butt in place, too. And I remembered to breathe. The tendency is to want to hold your breath because you're entire abdomen is tense as you hold the plank position. You can quickly run out of air if you don't pay attention.

And 14 more. Butt in order. Breathing as needed. I think I'm getting the hang of this. We'll find out for sure when I try to get past the 20-push-up mark for this last set.

Twenty-three! The last five or six were a definite struggle, but here I am, done for the week with 84 push-ups today and 221 for the week. I didn't tally up at the end of last week so I'll just check... Including the 17 I did for the initial test, I did 177 push-ups last week for a total of 398 so far!

And I'm feeling every one of those. It's a good burn...

Week 2, Day 2

This guy is also not me, but I am definitely feeling him. Look at how proud he is of himself! And well he should be. I'm proud of him, too. But, we both have a long way to go, and today's journey for me is 14, 16, 12, 12 and at least 17 push-ups in five sets. Seventy-one push ups...

Finished off by forcing myself to 20 reps on the max set for 74 total. All that and a bag of chips... See you on Friday.

Week 2, Day 1

Let's just say it was a rough weekend for me. One of those life events that you know is going to happen eventually happened, and despite your wishes life keeps right on going, and you have to go with it.

So, even though it feels like life's got one foot on the back of my head, I'm going to do push-ups anyway. Take that, life!

Mentally, I'm exhausted, but physically, I've had two full days of rest, so I'm hoping for good results. The sets are 14, 14, 10, 10, and at least 15 for a total of no fewer than 63 reps. Keep on keeping on.

I just did the 63 and I was done by the time I was done. Things are going to get better. They always do.

Just to put everyone's mind at rest, that's not me getting stepped on. I'm not doing the stepping, either...

Week 1, Day 3

Drop and gimme 11, 15, nine, nine and at least 13, you worm! Guess who that isn't in the picture. That's right! It's not me again! But I'm finally feeling it a little bit. I'm glad this is Friday and I won't have to do this again until next week...

That last set was a struggle! Definitely going to take it easy this weekend. Speaking of takin' her easy, I'm supposed to rest more as the days go along. Day 1 was 60 seconds between sets, Day 2 was 90, and today it's two full minutes. And, I'm supposed to rest longer if I need to. Don't encourage me to slack. This is bringing out the inner drill sergeant in me.

See you on Monday, recruit...

Week 1, Day 2

Looking back, I realize I did 62 push-ups on my first day. Not bad! Today's routine will actually be less than that because I won't be retaking the initial test.

It's going to be four sets of 10, 12, eight and eight, followed by a set of reps to exhaustion that's at least another dozen. That's a total of at least 50... Here we go!

Fifty-eight! I was able to get 20 reps in on that last set before I maxed out. You might not be impressed, but I sure am.

And, no, that isn't me in that picture either.  That kid's got way less belly than me, and nobody wants to see that. But I'm working on it!

I'm going to do 100 push-ups!

Well, not today...

And that picture's not me...

I turned 44 last month, and for some reason that hit me pretty hard. I've decided as part of my ongoing campaign to get myself into the best shape of my life I'm going to work up to doing 100 push-ups in a single set. I've found a website that has a week-by-week routine I am going to follow and a self-test I can take to see where I am already.

Here's the site I'm going to use, hundredpushups.com, and this is the test. Wish me luck...

OK! Not bad! Better than I thought it would go. I was able to do 17 push-ups, which puts me into the "advanced" category. I think I'm supposed to wait to start the program. The site's not really clear... I'm going to start now anyway! No time like the present. The routine for week one, day one is four sets of 10, 12, seven and seven reps, then a last set of as many as I can do, but at least nine. Sixty seconds rest between sets. Let's go...

That was tough. None of the sets was that hard except the last one, but I got it done. Nothing hurts.