Join me: 1000 squats and 700 Crunches Challenge

PikaKnight

Why do 1000 squats when doing 20 (3 sets of 5, 2 times a week) with some weight on your back will accomplish more?

^I'm with this.

Doing what you are doing isn't going to help your muscle strength. It'll help with endurance for sure, but you're basically doing cardio. The wear and tear on your joints is also not being allowed to heal if we look at your plan and working the same muscle group back to back is not recommended.

Also, I would not recommend this plan to people with back issues. Crunches are already known to aggravate the condition...doing this many consistently is not going to do you any favors. And for one of the better body weight exercises targeting the core/abs...I'd recommend planks.

PikaKnight

Whoa I just started squatting (like to prep for dead lifts) and I'm lucky to get 60 done a day (3 sets of 20).

It is just sooooo painful!

Are these weighted? Your deads must suffer with so many reps. Are you focused more on endurance/cardio than strength or hypertrophy?

Nikoruo

Well i haven't done squats in a while but i think that would be sorta manageable the first couple days but then the 3rd day or so my legs wont have any of it since i haven't done them in a while haha!

Crunches on the other hand... i can't do to save my life. I feel like i'm breaking my neck and like my boobs and my tummy are squishing the life out of me. I look forward to trying to do crunches when i get in a healthy weight range!

Goodluck!!

superlilmomma

A good way not to stress ur joints is by spacing them out longer try doing entervals of other moves between them like crunches other ab moves and arm moves it makes a big difference

PikaKnight

A good way not to stress ur joints is by spacing them out longer try doing entervals of other moves between them like crunches other ab moves and arm moves it makes a big difference

Your still stressing them. And you are still working your muscles. Spacing them out through the day or putting other moves between isn't going to change the fact that you are working the same muscle group constantly and not allowing them to really heal.

jofjltncb6

Whoa I just started squatting (like to prep for dead lifts) and I'm lucky to get 60 done a day (3 sets of 20).

It is just sooooo painful!

If it's truly "painful", then you're doing it wrong.

For starters, I would reconsider your set/rep scheme.

jofjltncb6

Well i haven't done squats in a while but i think that would be sorta manageable the first couple days but then the 3rd day or so my legs wont have any of it since i haven't done them in a while haha!

Crunches on the other hand... i can't do to save my life. I feel like i'm breaking my neck and like my boobs and my tummy are squishing the life out of me. I look forward to trying to do crunches when i get in a healthy weight range!

Goodluck!!

Re crunches, they're generally a...(how you say?)...less-than-optimal exercise...but if you insist on doing them, whatever you do, do *not* put your hands behind your head unless you are absolutely certain you can resist the urge to try to pull yourself up with them. (Pro-tip: you probably can't; most people can't.) This is what's know as a Very Bad Idea™ that can lead to all kinds of neck problems. Instead, cross your arms over your chest.

While many compound movements like squats and deadlifts will hit your abs with plenty of resistance, if you're really set on working them in isolation, I really like the ab wheel. ~$10 and kind of fun (without all the neck-wrenching and squishing).

conquertheself

143 squats and 100 crunches down I turned it into a circuit workout for today. Man I feel good and sore. Loving the burn .

GREAT! I still have some squats to do! I love that burn as well!!

conquertheself

Y r u so argumentative if u dont want to do it then u shouldnt have clicked it. It two things that most people people have problems with and it keeps it simple. Thats it

YES exactly my thoughts. Thank you for saying this

conquertheself

Why do 1000 squats when doing 20 (3 sets of 5, 2 times a week) with some weight on your back will accomplish more?

well why not? Its a challenge and it needs determination. And how can you be sure if what you are saying will accomplish more? You can add weights to the 1000 squats if you want to make it more challenging and accomplish a lot more.

Well no - all you'll do is make yourself tired. Have you never heard of the law of diminishing returns? Crunches are pretty much a waste of time anyway - they mainly work your back muscles. And 143 body weight squats a day will just aggravate your knees.

Why not spend your time on specific exercises instead of throwing something against the wall to see if it sticks?

I see what you mean by this and I respect your opinion. Just to be clear this is just a one month hard challenge aside from my usual workouts I do during the week. 143 squats per day and 100 crunches is not much if you actually try it.

conquertheself

I'm in - just did a 30 day squat challenge so this amps it up for me a bit more...went from doing 10 squats on day 1 to 250 squats on day 30 so I think I am ready for this. Good on you for putting a challenge out there. I will start today and log every day how I went.
Good luck everyone who is joining the challenge

Awesome, I am glad to hear it

conquertheself

Hey just so you all know ... I Thank you for your suggestions and concerns but I think every human being understand his or her body. I definitely know what may injure me and what may strain my back or knees. I am not trying something I never did and if someone is not capable or does not want to do this then please don't. You should do what is best for you and for your body. I would really appreciate if I can get Support from everyone rather than suggestions and opinions. Thank you anyways and best of luck for everyone's goals, whatever they may be!!

superlilmomma

143squats and 100 crunches later. I am feeling great. Yall can do this

jofjltncb6

Hey just so you all know ... I Thank you for your suggestions and concerns but I think every human being understand his or her body. I definitely know what may injure me and what may strain my back or knees. I am not trying something I never did and if someone is not capable or does not want to do this then please don't. You should do what is best for you and for your body. I would really appreciate if I can get Support from everyone rather than suggestions and opinions. Thank you anyways and best of luck for everyone's goals, whatever they may be!!

Interesting.

I have always been a relatively active/fit individual but even after decades of self-evaluation, I still don't know what is going to injure me or cause a problem...and I'm relatively problem-free. I do know, however, that high reps of the same movement on consecutive days without adequate rest is a recipe for disaster for most people.

Aha! I just figured out the disconnect we have here: you're 19. I'm not saying that's a problem and that your ideas on what is and isn't a good idea are irrelevant, but I *will* say that when I was 19, I could have done this challenge without any obvious repercussions too.

As for others who are attempting this who are closer to my age and further from OP's age, you might want to give this idea just a little more thought before you boldly jump into it.

dixiewhiskey

I would join but I made more progress doing heavy barbell squats and core exercises..

sjaplo

Hey just so you all know ... I Thank you for your suggestions and concerns but I think every human being understand his or her body. I definitely know what may injure me and what may strain my back or knees. I am not trying something I never did and if someone is not capable or does not want to do this then please don't. You should do what is best for you and for your body. I would really appreciate if I can get Support from everyone rather than suggestions and opinions. Thank you anyways and best of luck for everyone's goals, whatever they may be!!

Interesting.

I have always been a relatively active/fit individual but even after decades of self-evaluation, I still don't know what is going to injure me or cause a problem...and I'm relatively problem-free. I do know, however, that high reps of the same movement on consecutive days without adequate rest is a recipe for disaster for most people.

Aha! I just figured out the disconnect we have here: you're 19. I'm not saying that's a problem and that your ideas on what is and isn't a good idea are irrelevant, but I *will* say that when I was 19, I could have done this challenge without any obvious repercussions too.

As for others who are attempting this who are closer to my age and further from OP's age, you might want to give this idea just a little more thought before you boldly jump into it.

+1

Body squats are a great place to start - it will train your body in balance for when you decide to add weights to your squat. I started that way last year, progressed to dumbbells and now to a barbell. However - you are not doing anything for your body other than flexing your knees. It's called resistance training for a reason.

As far as crunches - much better to do planks or push ups or "V"s as a core exercise. Those three actually target the core and the muscles that work with it. Another good one would be yoga poses Warrior 1, 2 and 3. Hold #3 for 60 seconds and tell me how you feel afterwards. Or better yet do what I do - #1 for 30, transition into #2 for 30, transition into Tree for 30 and then #3 for 60.........then repeat for the other side of your body.

One last thing - your body needs time to heal and build muscle between exercises - if you do something everyday for a month - you are just asking for an injury.

And just for the record, if the acronym loving poster was referring to me, I'm a guy. Not that it matters though.

cheers

superlilmomma

Day 6 way to go everyone. One day til the first week is done. Dont give up

conquertheself

Hows everyone doing? We are in week 2 now!! Almost half way through