Today was day 2 of week 2 of the 100 pushup challenge. I was not feeling it today, and was not looking forward to doing my set of 11, 9, 7, 7, 10(max). I changed once I got home, and got to work.
It seems like the first set or two I’m usually pretty tense or stiff, and they’re a bit harder to push out. Once I get warmed up they feel a little better, but they start getting harder to do. The first set of 10 I got out, but my muscles were pulsing a bit. It wasn’t hard necessarily, but my muscles weren’t warm yet. The second set of 9 was a little easier. By the third set I was pushing them out no problem. By the fourth I was starting to get tired. And on the last set I really pushed myself.
On the last set I was able to keep going until I collapsed after doing 16 pushups. My new high! So today’s final numbers were 11, 9, 7, 7, 16 (max). 50 pushups!
Day three is just around the corner – could 17 or 18 pushups be the new high after today? Somehow I doubt that because the numbers of pushups on each rep go up next time. I think I’ll be lucky to reach the max on the final set of 10. We shall see!
If you’re doing the 100 Pushup Challenge right now, and you’re blogging about it – please let me know on the Quick to Fit Forums, I’m going to do a roundup in the next few days, and I’d love to link to you!
Age: 33
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I wish you the best of luck Peter. A few years ago, I too wanted to have a decent pushup number and worked to get to 100. I did a lot of functional training but my pushup and chinup numbers were always a benchmark for me. Long story short, I made the 100 pushup mark after lots of hard work. I didn’t stop at 100, I’m currently training to do 1,000 pushup in an hour. I’m currently averaging mid 700s. My goal is to do 20 sets of 50. Also, I’m currently 36 years old and I’m also training to accomplish 40 strict chin ups, non stop (hands at shoulder width, palms facing out, from a dead hang to chin above the bar) by my 40th birthday. I call it the 40 at 40 challenge. Currently, I’m my all time best is 16. My only word of advice, if you want to really jump your total is to drop any extra pounds. I found that when I took my weight from 183 to 170 my pushup total jumped from being stuck in the high 40s to easily low 70s. Also, don’t just concentrate on pushups. Do lots of other things as well, like chin ups. Train your core area also, abs, lower back are super important for high pushup numbers. Without training that mid section, you will find that you won’t have the strength to hold yourself ridge enough to get higher numbers. Your midsection will fatigue before your chest strength. Pushups totals north of 70 require a lot of overall strength to hold yourself together. Chest muscles will move you up and down but mid sectional strength will hold you ridged. I think one of the best core exercises to do in conjunction with the pushups would be “planks”. Lots of luck and don’t give up, even if you seem to get stuck some days.