Go Team October - Hundred Push-up Challenge

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  • stuartme123
    stuartme123 Posts: 210 Member
    Just tried the Day 1 sets. (Planning on starting for real on Sunday, but no reason why I can't practice now!)

    But, boy the Day 1 sets were pretty humbling. Did most of them on my knees, and my the end I could really feel my form breaking. I foresee a fair number of repeated weeks just so I can build up strength... but as long as I can feel improvement, I don't care how many times I need to repeat them :bigsmile:
  • Fit4Vet
    Fit4Vet Posts: 610 Member
    Was thinking about y'all this morning while doing my yoga -every chaturanga just hurt!! It's from the dang push ups! Today is W1D2 - the plan is for after work. Hope everyone else is feeling it too! (hey, it's the good kind of sore - let's me know I've done something!:laugh: )

    Meag: nahh, not busy at all. I'll come spot 'cha! :bigsmile: I had a tough time with form when I first started too. That's why I posted the tips. That's the stuff that helps me & my form still suffers when I get too tired!
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    You know what's funny Vet? I did the exhaustion test Wed and the first W1D1 yesterday (I'm going to redo on monday, I just wanted to try it) and today my arms are a little sore...but my stomach KILLS. I spent so much time doing them and concentrating on keepimg my butt up- I can feel it in my lower abs like nobody's business.
  • lostalykat
    lostalykat Posts: 683 Member
    Hey guys, this week has been nuts so I am going to start this monday. Good luck to everyone :)
  • Fit4Vet
    Fit4Vet Posts: 610 Member
    You know what's funny Vet? I did the exhaustion test Wed and the first W1D1 yesterday (I'm going to redo on monday, I just wanted to try it) and today my arms are a little sore...but my stomach KILLS. I spent so much time doing them and concentrating on keepimg my butt up- I can feel it in my lower abs like nobody's business.

    Oh, I know what you mean! :noway: I feel it in my sides & low abs & well, really everywhere from my diaphram (yeah, sounds better than boobs) to my hips! :laugh: Also in my pecs - my pecs are really sore too!

    :blushing: Okay, maybe I'm just sore all over! :bigsmile:
  • meagalayne
    meagalayne Posts: 3,382 Member
    You know what's funny Vet? I did the exhaustion test Wed and the first W1D1 yesterday (I'm going to redo on monday, I just wanted to try it) and today my arms are a little sore...but my stomach KILLS. I spent so much time doing them and concentrating on keepimg my butt up- I can feel it in my lower abs like nobody's business.

    Oh, I know what you mean! :noway: I feel it in my sides & low abs & well, really everywhere from my diaphram (yeah, sounds better than boobs) to my hips! :laugh: Also in my pecs - my pecs are really sore too!

    :blushing: Okay, maybe I'm just sore all over! :bigsmile:
    Hehe Same here! Ive been doing calisthenics for the last few days (yesterday I did my nerdfitness CT, with 120 crunches, 3 planks and 20 pushups) and my abs are KILLING me. No idea how I'm going to fare with these push-ups today, but I am committed! W1D3 today, but I am going to max out on my knees and then start W1 again properly on Monday.

    Good luck on your Friday push-up challenge everyone! Push yourself and make it count - It's only a few mins and then it's over!
    -Meag
  • tjradd73
    tjradd73 Posts: 3,495 Member
    k...day 1 done!!! 10-12-7-7-10!!! yikes! harder than i thought!! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!! :)
  • Hoosiermomma
    Hoosiermomma Posts: 877 Member
    Did my exhaustion test - 17. I was up to 25!! I can feel the muscles between my ribs ache! :tongue: Definitely going to get me where my running cant! Tomorrow i will begin with the sets and see how this progresses! Keep it up everyone (and down, and up...!!) :laugh: .
  • halobender
    halobender Posts: 780 Member
    Just finished week three day three earlier. I don't think that doing push-ups has ever gotten me so exhausted and sweaty.

    That said, I couldn't do the 21 necessary at the end.

    Whatever, it'll happen for me eventually ... If this week doesn't shape up I might go back to week two, column three and see what that gets me.
  • Fit4Vet
    Fit4Vet Posts: 610 Member
    I realized just now that I left out a set last night (the max set) :noway: but since I did my exhaustion test right before, I'm still just going to count it. Although that means that I did one less tonight than I did last night. I didn't realize it or I'd have just tried to get in another even though it would have meant taking a breather first, but oh well. I got in my 50 tonight. :bigsmile: Feels good but I can certainly tell I've been doing them!
  • meagalayne
    meagalayne Posts: 3,382 Member
    Awesome job guys! Forgot to update on how my challenge actually went...

    OK - It was HARD! haha My abs were so tense from other workouts during the week and it was very difficult to maintain my form. I did half the sets from my knees and the other half full. My max set was on my knees and I did 14 before collapsing to the floor. So 4-5-4-4-14 and 3 sets of 4 were full-ies! hehe Good enough. Starting W1D1 again on Mon and going to do it properly if I can! Baby steps...

    Who is starting tomorrow? Can't wait to hear about your first days! GOOD LUCK!! :bigsmile:
    -Meag
  • Is this for Ladies Only or can Guys welcome.

    Cheers,
  • meagalayne
    meagalayne Posts: 3,382 Member
    Is this for Ladies Only or can Guys welcome.

    Cheers,
    Of course you're welcome! Halo is here too so you can both hold down for the men on MFP! Good luck on the challenge and let us know when you start, your rank, and whatever else you wish to share!
  • Hello All,

    I started my journey in January 2010.

    42 Year Old Male

    December 2009 - 217 lbs.
    March 24, 2010 - 170 lbs.
    October 23, 2010 - 166.2 lbs.

    Rank * number of pushups performed
    40 - 55 years
    Ranked 4 = 41 Pushups

    They State I should start on Week 3
    I will start on Monday October 25, 2010
  • stuartme123
    stuartme123 Posts: 210 Member
    I'm a Sunday Starter - and I just did my Week 1 Set 1. I may have been imagining things, but it felt easier than my practice set did on Thursday. Did them all on my knees - and I'm still a little awkward with good knee push-up form. Maxed out at 7, so that's 2+3+2+2+7 = 16!
  • halobender
    halobender Posts: 780 Member
    Ugh, Week four Day one ... 91 total push-ups, fell short of my last set by like 5 or 6 ... I wish that I could keep up with this challenge better!

    I'm still soft. I wish that firming up was coming more quickly.
  • Fit4Vet
    Fit4Vet Posts: 610 Member
    57 push ups in before bed last night. Last few were pretty rough. Cute story though...my 4 y.o. is now wanting to do her pushups before prayers every night. :love: And, DH even chimed in & got on the mat. :noway:
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    So I think I am going to go S/T/T for this challenge as it keeps me opposite my running days.

    Last night I redid W1D1- 6-6-4-4-7(max). Then big run this morning, so I'm feeling accomplished but kind of drained.

    D2 here I come.
  • meagalayne
    meagalayne Posts: 3,382 Member
    57 push ups in before bed last night. Last few were pretty rough. Cute story though...my 4 y.o. is now wanting to do her pushups before prayers every night. :love: And, DH even chimed in & got on the mat. :noway:
    Hah! You are setting SUCH a great example for your family Vet :happy: Brilliant! Good job on your push-ups too!

    Great progress Halo and Meggon - No worries if you aren't feeling 100% strong and firm on your push-ups yet. That's what the challenge is all about. You'll get there :bigsmile:
  • Hoosiermomma
    Hoosiermomma Posts: 877 Member
    Level 1 day 2 Got it done!! Finished the set with a max of 16. These are tough! Gonna' keep going!
  • meagalayne
    meagalayne Posts: 3,382 Member
    Finally found time to do my challenge today... W1D1 again. And still incredibly difficult. Maxed out at 5 regular push-ups, the most I have ever been able to do. Trying REALLY hard to keep my core strong, but my lower back is still screaming. No idea what else to do. Practice practice practice I guess. Total push-ups: 14 (2-3-2-2-5)
  • halobender
    halobender Posts: 780 Member
    Today I did 26 push-ups just to see how many I could do in a row. It's better than my previous max of 16 or 17 ... Maybe this training will pay off in a few weeks after all ;)

    Megalayne - make sure that you're keeping your back straight. My lower back doesn't have problems after push-ups, but my abs do from clenching them tightly to keep my body straight. I would think that, typically, if your back hurts you're probably arching it down a little bit, maybe. Either way, keep up the good work and before you know it you'll be up to 10 good form push-ups ;)
  • tjradd73
    tjradd73 Posts: 3,495 Member
    OK I DID WEEK1 DAY 2 AND BARELY MADE IT THROUGH!!! 10-12-8-8-13(PUSHED OUT AN EXTRA ON THE LAST SET). SHOULD I GO BACK TO WK1 DAY 1 SINCE IT WAS SO HARD OR SHOULD I STAY HERE TIL IT GETS EASIER...THAT IS THE QUESTION?!?!?

    MEAG-MY BACK HASN'T BEEN HURTING BUT I TRY TO SUCK IN MY CORE AND I REALLY CAN FEEL IT IN MY ABS!!! I'M JUST ASSUMING THAT IS OK?? MAYBE TRYING "SUCKING IT IN" WHILE YOU ARE DOING IT TO TAKE THE FOCUS OFF YOUR BACK!
  • meagalayne
    meagalayne Posts: 3,382 Member
    As I said, I am really trying to keep my core solid. I *know* that's why my back is hurting, but I can't seem to relieve the pressure. I try desperately to keep my back as straight as possible while I'm completing them and once my form is sacrificed, I stop. It doesn't seem to help - even with only 2 or 3 push-ups, my back is still really hurting. I have some back problems to begin with, that are aggravated with my job (I'm a bouncer at a night club, despite my complete lack of upper body strength -- I know!), and so I imagine that isn't helping. I just need to build up a tolerance, I think. I'll keep pushing. It isn't going to kill me.

    Great job everyone on your Monday start! Keep it up!
  • stuartme123
    stuartme123 Posts: 210 Member
    I'm finding this program really rough - not rough enough to throw in the towel just yet, but it's definitely slamming me pretty hard into my limits. Usually my body and mind are in sync about when to stop pushing, but my body is giving up way before my mind is in this challenge.

    I start every time trying to do one good-form pushup, but I can never push myself back up without bending my back. I don't think I'm doing them wrong... I think my arms are just too weak at the moment. So I've been doing the sets on my knees, which is still pretty tough on me - which makes me think that that is where my strength level is at right now.

    So, today was W1D2 - and I maxed out at 5. 3 + 4 + 2 + 3 + 5 = 17 (hey, one more than W1D1!!! maybe there is hope for me and my arms afterall!)
  • tjradd73
    tjradd73 Posts: 3,495 Member
    Meag- it will only get better!! you know you best :) keep pushing as will we all and we will all have great results within the 6 weeks...i know it!!

    Stuart-i def feel what you are saying! i have zero upper body strength either :P i think that i am going to keep on doing them on my knees until that is more tolerable, then maybe i will switch it over to the "right way" when i feel that i can handle it a little better!! don't give up though, you can do it and it will get easier :)
  • Fit4Vet
    Fit4Vet Posts: 610 Member
    I probably did knee pushups during the first 6 weeks of P90X. It's really a good thing to know your level & push your body just a tad over that line. I'd say if you are having difficulties doing one good form push up off on the toes, then do them all on your knees until you build up the arm strength to keep your back straight. I have low back issues too & it's killer for me when my form suffers. Really, y'all, there is no reason to push to do too many on your toes. :flowerforyou:
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    I agree with Vet- I only just started doing push ups on my toes- and that's only cuz I can do about 20-25 on my knees (not a lot, but enough it seems). I definitely had trouble with my back doing toes push ups, and so I stuck to the knee ones for quite some time. I mean part of the reason they are so difficult for women has nothing to do with strength perse so much as balance distribution- so no shame in knees push-ups! It all takes you to the jacked arms place!
  • Hey Guys missed starting yesterday will be starting later this evening.

    Got to get into the groove.

    Cheers,

    Joel
  • halobender
    halobender Posts: 780 Member
    As I said, I am really trying to keep my core solid. I *know* that's why my back is hurting, but I can't seem to relieve the pressure.
    Maybe it's just because I'm a guy and push-ups kinda come second-nature to us (I think so because ... well, that's just one of those things that boys and teenagers like to challenge each other with) but I've just never really had a problem because as soon as my back starts to slope at all my abs tighten automatically--like a machine, it would be cool if only you could see the muscle there ...

    So I'm sure you know to do that and stuff, but maybe you need to more consciously think about it? I don't know how your abs are, either; if they're weak that could aid in your back hurting, I'm sure.

    Or maybe you just need to get a few weeks of this program under your belt and it will be second nature :) Either way, you'll pull through, I'm sure.

    I'm going to be doing Week four Day two a little later ... wish me luck!
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