100 Pushups Challenge

questionablemethods
questionablemethods Posts: 2,174 Member
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm going to start incorporating the 100 Pushups Challenge into my routine for the next six weeks. Anyone interested in joining me? You can find the information about the program here: http://hundredpushups.com/

I completed 20 good form pushups for the initial test, so I'll be starting out in column 3 for week 1.
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Replies

  • sassydot
    sassydot Posts: 141
    I'll join you! I was just sitting here thinking about how to do body resistance training because I don't want to join a gym.

    I'll see how many I can do when I get home from work.

    I might so dome of the other plans alongside the pushups - eg the 200 squats
  • questionablemethods
    questionablemethods Posts: 2,174 Member
    Great! I do primarily bodyweight resistance work (plus a bit with some bands and dumbbells that I have at home). I found that I just wasn't going to my campus rec center and I didn't have the money to join a gym with the variety of classes that I wanted, so I mostly do calisthenics/circuit training workouts as my cardio and my resistance workouts. I am loving it and seeing pretty great results so far.
  • fitzio1015
    fitzio1015 Posts: 168
    Im in....ill start tomorrow
  • leannadkins77
    leannadkins77 Posts: 14 Member
    I'm going to give it a try to. I have not tried the initial test but i am pretty sure i will be starting with something like the pushups from the knees. i have plenty of time to work up to the regular ones though, so here goes...
  • laughing_fire
    laughing_fire Posts: 27
    Oh! Interesting! I've checked out all the other sites it links to (for squats and situps), and I think I'll work that in too! I mean, if I do the push ups (which I suck at!) and the sit ups (which I rock at!) plus half an hour walking around the pond, there'll be my work outs for the week! I'm totally in!
  • questionablemethods
    questionablemethods Posts: 2,174 Member
    I'm going to give it a try to. I have not tried the initial test but i am pretty sure i will be starting with something like the pushups from the knees. i have plenty of time to work up to the regular ones though, so here goes...

    Not to worry. One of the great things about pushups is that you can see improvement in strength relatively quickly. At one point in time, banging out 30 pushups was easy for me. I lost that strength when I started slacking off with my resistance work and this fall I could barely manage 10. I started adding them back into my routine (following no real program) and now I can see my strength is coming back.
  • sassydot
    sassydot Posts: 141
    Cool I managed 11 knee-pushups. (I ran my right foot over with a lawnmower when I was 14 so can't so the full ones:wink: )

    I could have kept doing squats all day.... so will try doing squats where I hold the squat rather than just doing down and up again

    And 27 crunches

    I'll do the middle column for all 3 challenges I think


    ETA: doing all that was actually quite hard work now that I've stopped! I can feel it.
  • questionablemethods
    questionablemethods Posts: 2,174 Member
    So, I did Wk 1 - Day 1 of the program today: 10, 12, 7, 7 & max (I completed 18).

    Now, it says to rest 60 seconds "or longer if necessary" between sets. I worked the pushups into an 18-minute bodyweight circuit that I did, meaning there was 3-4 minutes between each set I did. I don't know if that is too long to weight. I'm guessing it isn't ideal, but I also don't care too much. It is a way for me to add some structure and make sure that I am constantly challenging myself in terms of reps of pushups and that's what I'm really looking for most of all.

    Good luck everyone!
  • questionablemethods
    questionablemethods Posts: 2,174 Member
    How's it going?

    I just completed Day 2 of Week 1: 10, 12, 8, 8 and I maxed at 25.

    Whew!
  • sassydot
    sassydot Posts: 141
    Hi Kaitlin, I'm starting the proper program this afternoon : ) I really needed those couple of days to recover from the initial tests that they said! I generally don't get online much on weekends, either.

    What do you think - do I put this under cardiovascular exercise as calisthenics, or under strength training? I'm leaning towards the former because while it is going to be improving my strength, it really gets my heart rate up.
  • MrsTupp05
    MrsTupp05 Posts: 7
    I'm definitely in! I don't want to pay for a gym membership anymore and I'm trying to find ways to tone at home! :-)
  • questionablemethods
    questionablemethods Posts: 2,174 Member
    @sassydot Great! Yeah, I probably should have waited before starting the program proper, but I was excited to get started. I guess I might log it under calisthenics. If you are resting only the minimum amounts, your heart rate will definitely go up. The first day, I put the pushups in my regular calisthenics circuit, so that's how I logged it. Today, I just did them while I was watching TV and I haven't logged them. Oh well. I'll get in a full workout later today, so I'm not too worried.

    @MrsTupp05 Welcome!
  • sassydot
    sassydot Posts: 141
    w1d1

    I maxed out today after my 4 sets of each, on 30 crunches, 30 squats and 7 pushups.

    I'd done 10 mins on my elliptical about 20 minutes before though, which works my arms pretty well, so I can understand the low pushups number! Still, that's 27 total, which I am pleased enough with.
  • sassydot
    sassydot Posts: 141
    Oh, and a handy warning: sneezing, after doing 50+ crunches, is painful! :tongue:
  • martyfen
    martyfen Posts: 22
    bump
  • teetee1281
    teetee1281 Posts: 1,076 Member
    May I join the challenge? Wish I found this site about a month or 2 ago. I am required to do push-up for my fitness readiness test, and I only did 35, maxing out at my age is 46. I really want to be able to do that next time.
  • kwardklinck
    kwardklinck Posts: 1,601
    I love this. I'm doing the pushups, situps, and squat challenges all at once. I actually did 45 pushups the other day. They weren't from my knees either. I couldn't believe it. It hurt like crazy but I was so proud.
  • questionablemethods
    questionablemethods Posts: 2,174 Member
    Great job everyone and welcome to the newcomers! Pushups really are a good full-body exercise. I was realizing this when I felt it in my THIGHS after the ones yesterday!
  • teetee1281
    teetee1281 Posts: 1,076 Member
    My biggest problem when I do push-ups is stopping before I am at failure. For my fitness test, I did 35. Today, I did the test twice, first time I only did 15 but I stopped. The second time I continued until I was tired but did not push myself. I completed 25. So, my starting number for this challenge is 25.

    I really have to say thank you for posting this on the board. I shared it with people at work and a lot of people are going to attempt the challenge.
  • questionablemethods
    questionablemethods Posts: 2,174 Member
    My biggest problem when I do push-ups is stopping before I am at failure. For my fitness test, I did 35. Today, I did the test twice, first time I only did 15 but I stopped. The second time I continued until I was tired but did not push myself. I completed 25. So, my starting number for this challenge is 25.

    I really have to say thank you for posting this on the board. I shared it with people at work and a lot of people are going to attempt the challenge.

    I totally hear you with the stopping before failure. I am pretty sure I probably could have pushed more for my initial test. I think it might help if I did the pushups with my boyfriend counting because he is very good at getting me to eek out one or two more when I don't think I have it in me. Maybe try doing them with a buddy, if you can?
  • joleciamichelle
    joleciamichelle Posts: 139 Member
    I hope it's not too late to join yall! I really need to whip my upper body into shape!
  • questionablemethods
    questionablemethods Posts: 2,174 Member
    I hope it's not too late to join yall! I really need to whip my upper body into shape!

    Join any time! Welcome.
  • questionablemethods
    questionablemethods Posts: 2,174 Member
    Day 3 Week 1, maxed at 15 today. Don't know why it was harder for me today than two days ago, but oh well.
  • kwaters7
    kwaters7 Posts: 129
    This really works!!!! Guys, I completed it a few weeks back and have kept going because I feel so energized whenever I crank them out now. It's so addictive that I'm planning on doing a new weeks worth every day next week and finishing on the 100 on Sunday - my initial test wasnt impressive at all btw.

    Thought I might share a couple of thoughts, hints, and tips just you you guys know whats in store for you - I guess that's the MFP way?

    OK here goes -

    1 / Don't focus on the 100, just worry about the day and the week. The 100 will take care of itself when the time comes and is actually not that difficult when the time comes.

    2 / If you find a week tough, repeat it and you will be amazed at how much stronger you are. I had a wobble in week 4 and then killed it the next week and was SOOO glad I didnt quit or attempt week 5, fail and quit then

    3 / The hardest thing probably the psychological aspect. Thats why you should never think of a hundred when 30 feels tough as it is. Dont give up, the actual exercise is never as bad as the worry about the step up in weeks.

    4 / It becomes partially anaerobic after a while - you're not losing strength the whole time and definitely recover as you work out

    5 / Break it down in your head, 30 is 3 sets of ten as you count, 100 is only 10 then 10 then 10 etc. That worked for me as once I hit numbers where i felt in deep water, it kinda freaked me out...

    6 / Get a good workout tape that you associate with the exercise - it pushes you along. For me, Boom Boom Pow by the Black Eyed Peas and Soulja Boy Travis barker remix got me over the line a couple of times ;-)

    7 / Dont do it on a full stomach.

    8 / If a day feels good, do it again later - recovery time is quick and it makes the next one easier somehow. If you arent feeling great about your prospects, repeat an earlier day after your actual day and it'll remind you how far you've come.

    Hope this helps!

    All the best guys, i hope you all stick at it......

    KW
  • questionablemethods
    questionablemethods Posts: 2,174 Member
    Thanks for the encouragement and tips! My boyfriend did this a year ago or so (before I knew him) and says that he made it through all 100 too.

    What's up next for you? The 100 burpee challenge. :tongue:
  • bstamps12
    bstamps12 Posts: 1,184
    I'm a little late, but i"m in! I'm starting in column 2.
  • kwaters7
    kwaters7 Posts: 129
    haha. 50 chin ups maybe,.. today i'm trying to do 500 pressups, 300 down so far then i might even treat myself to a beer after work. Well done for starting the thread!
  • lcouterm
    lcouterm Posts: 138 Member
    Funny but on my Wii fit plus it has a pushup challenge (pushups with a 3--5 second hold at the top) the first time I did it the Wii quit after 10, the second time after 20 the 3rd time (i'm thinking I can do 30) but it does not quite till you hit 100 (almost killed me)
  • questionablemethods
    questionablemethods Posts: 2,174 Member
    Hey everyone! Hope you've had a good weekend. I just did Day 4 (Week 2, Day 1) and maxed at 25 pushups.
  • sassydot
    sassydot Posts: 141
    Only today has the top of my boobs stopped hurting from these darned pushups!
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