I can find all the excuses in the world to explain why I’ve not been keeping fit. Too busy. Too much work.
How about: Too lazy?
That’s probably the most truthful.
When I was surfing instead of being too busy doing work or instead of taking the time out to get in a bit of a walk, I found a link to this website: One Hundred Push Ups.
I took a look and I was hooked.
Here was a pleasantly designed website, that wasn’t trying to sell some funny diet and 6 pack ab programme and was offering something that was cheap and do-able, and doesn’t require a lot of sweating it out at the gym on a treadmill, or lifting weights in front of a mirror for hours.
Perfect.
In this programme, you “work out” 3 times a week, for 15 minuntes or so. After six weeks, you should be able to do 100 push ups. It’s very simple and very clear.
The important thing here is to do good form push ups.
So for my initial test, I did 8 push ups. According to the chart, this puts me in the “low” rank of fitness. But the rank isn’t important. The number of good form push ups performed in this test indicates which starting point you use in Week 1 – in this case, I went with the middle column of 6 – 10 push ups.
I started this programme 2 weeks ago and didn’t think of documenting it, so I don’t have the details of Week 1 or Week 2’s progress.
One thing I did notice though, is that after you do 4 sets that you may struggle through, the fifth set target is actually quite easy to beat.
Week 2 was a bit of a struggle on the last day, but I proceeded with the exhaustion test that would help me decide which column I’ll continue to work out with in Week 3.
As an indication of how much I’d progressed, at the end of Week 2, I managed to do 22 push ups.
Yes, initial tests, I could do 8. After two weeks, I can do 22. In neither test did I end up in a sweaty pile. Rather, I did end up in a breathless pile. And it could be due to incorrect breathing.
My arms don’t ache, even though I am sure to put all my weight on them and lift myself with my arms only. They do feel less flabby though. My stomach muscles actually do ache some and I think this is in effort to keep my body in a straight line.
I will continue to monitor and write about my progress as I enter Week 3.
I believe this is my first entry under exercise or fitness. Haha!
keep documenting! I wanna hear your progress.
Will this leave you with giant, strong, Hulk-like arms?
blog wrote
I don’t know. You be the judge of that when you see me.
I’ve always had bulky arms anyway. I always attributed it to swimming. Many of the muscles that hurt along the way seem to be the same once as the ones used for swimming the butterfly stroke.
I have the same bunch of muscles on the back like many swimmers that gives the Hunchback of Notredame look. Of course mine is made worse by layers of fat enhanced by snacking, fast food-ing and general poor posture.