The Test!: Week 4-5 Intersession

After Week 4, which I finished yesterday, it's time again to reassess my progress. The test is simple: do as many push-up as you can before you collapse. Time to set my mind and try it...

Forty-three. I paused very briefly at 41 and got out two more before my knee went down seemingly of its own accord. And the results are...

Finishing more than 40 push-ups puts me again in the third or most advanced column, so that's where we'll pick it up tomorrow. See you then!

EDIT: If you add these 43 to the 425 I did during the three work-out days, that's a total of 468 push-ups. I'm beginning to really impress myself. Sure, that's egotistical, but we need to pat ourselves on the back for work well done, give ourselves a reward if we promised one. Be true to yourself.

When in Doubt, Shut Up!: Week 4, Day 3

I was standing in the bathroom last night brushing my teeth before bed when my brain finally decided to remind me I was supposed to do push-ups. It was nearly 1 o'clock in the morning at that point. I thought to myself you could do them right now, stick to your schedule and make this happen. Then I thought, why? Why do that? I'm ready for bed. It's been a very long day full of work, even though it was Saturday. Give yourself a break. The push-ups will still be there in the morning. They are. I am.

Today's sets are 29, 33, 29, 29 and at least 40. I think whoever designed this workout's progression got a little bored after week two. It's fallen into a predictable pattern. What am I complaining about? I'll be straining to finish by the end, and I'm getting the results I was after, more strength and endurance.

Those 29 were a struggle. Not sure if I'm in too deep here. Should I back off? Go down by one column? I think I'll try the 33-rep set and see how it goes. After a couple of minutes rest I'll have a better idea. Going to give it shot...

It's good to question yourself. It's good to know why you're doing something. So, as I stood there thinking about whether or not I could do 33 push-ups, I realized that of course I could. The real question is do I want to? Yes. The answer is a simple "yes." But why? To be strong. To improve posture. To slow down the aging process as much as possible. To have endurance. Then, is achieving those desires worth the minor aches and pain, worth risking injury? Yes. Then I got down on the floor and pushed them out. I started to flag around 20, but reminded myself I am able and the mental block evaporated. I could have kept going past 33, but I've got three more sets to get through, including the max-out. I'm confident now I'm on the right track, and knowing why I'm doing this allowed me to have the attitude I needed to press on. Speaking of which...

I accidentally did 30 instead of 29. Shows I've got some gas left in the tank. The big differences here are the attitude I already mentioned and the added rest. Taking enough time to let my breathing return to normal and my shoulders stop aching gives me much more oomph. I'm rested; next set...

Human beings just like round numbers, I guess, because I did it again, 30 reps instead of 29. I was just in the zone and was already doing No. 30 when my brain registered I'd just done No. 29. That's fine. Sometimes shutting down the conscious brain lets you achieve things you'd otherwise tell yourself you couldn't do. Sometimes you have to listen to that small, quiet inner voice when it gives you advice. Other times you've got to tell it to shut the hell up. This is one of those times. One last set of at least 40 to go...

I had to stop twice and even broke form. There's an endurance test to take before I start Week Five, and I'll reassess myself then. I think after a night's rest I'll be able put myself in the third column again. We'll see tomorrow.

EDIT: I forgot to total up the week's push-ups! Including today, I did 425 push-ups on the week. Holy cow that's a lot of push-ups!

Just Like Old Times: 100 Push-Ups Week 4, Day 2

Three and a half weeks into this adventure and my arms, chest and shoulders are already starting to look like they did when I was a regular at the gym three times a week. I was squeezing the last of the toothpaste out of the tube last night and noticed my forearms rippling in the mirror. Isn't that how every guy judges his physical fitness? I still wouldn't take my shirt off at the beach but that's more about the fat between my ears than on my belly.

The sets today are 25, 29, 25, 25 and at least 36. That last set, if I can do it, will put me well over the one-third  mark on the way to the goal of doing 100 push-ups in a single set. I should be there in just two and a half short weeks if things continue going as planned, so without further ado... Twenty-five done.

Push-ups are also great for the abs, as you tense them to hold yourself flat. That also means you're likely to forget to breath. Don't. Having plenty of air is of prime importance, and it's hard to make up the lost ground once you're out of breath. I rolled out my shoulders a bit before starting today, and that helped keep the pops and creaks from happening. Time for a set of 29... And done.

This sounds stupid, but pretending I'm blowing myself into the air by breathing out before I push myself up helps me remember to breath. Whatever works works. Speaking of things that work, I know no one is reading this blog as I go through the program, but knowing that if I stop doing the workout this blog has to stop too keeps me going. Whatever works works. At least a 90-second rest is recommended, but I'm taking more if I don't feel ready... 25 more done.

I was ready, but I had to close my eyes and bear down to get from 20 to 25 on that set.  I will definitely be taking more time between sets this round and next. Especially before the last set of at least 36. Here's the last 25...

I quick visualization exercise of imagining myself doing the set of push-ups to completion without stopping is great for helping me make my goal. Before I get down on the ground I take a moment to just think about how relaxed my shoulders are and how my body can easily do 25 push-ups. I think about not following any impulse to slow down, and it works. I've just got this last set to finish... And that it. Thirty-nine at max-out.

One hundred and forty-three push-ups on the day, around 30 fewer than I did during the entire first week. That's another benefit of keeping this blog: I know exactly where I started, where I am and where I'm going, and that does a lot for helping me end up where I intended to go. See you on Saturday!

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!