February Push Up Challenge

[meerkat]

Stealing the idea from a LifeHacker article before I forget and/or talk myself out of it - a push up challenge to do at least one push up every day in February.

So here’s what we’re doing this month:

* A baseline test. I can do 10 excellent form push-ups without stopping. Do whatever type of pushups you can do with good form, even if that means you’re doing them with your hands on a wall.

* At least one push-up per day, again at whatever level works for you. You’re welcome to do as many as you like, but if you’re feeling sore, just do a single wall push-up to keep the streak going.

* A test at the end to see how much you improved.

Who's with me?

[LifeHappens]

I'm in! I have a workout planned later today that includes 5 sets of 9 pushups on a bench. My eventual goal is 5 sets of 10 full pushups, but that won't happen by the end of the month.

[LifeHappens]

@meerkat looks like it's just us for this gauntlet. How are you doing?

[LifeHappens]

This is my progress post. I'll update it as the month goes on.

2/1 - 5 sets of 9 pushups on a weight bench
2/2 - 1 full pushup
2/3 - 1 full pushup
2/4 - 5 full pushups. I could have gotten 1 maaaaybe 2 more. I'll call 6 my working max and re-test at the end of the month.
2/5 - Overhead Press, 3 sets of 5 w/ 40lbs
2/6 - 20 wall pushups. Part of my shoulder rehab exercises
2/7 - 5 sets of 10 pushups on a weight bench
2/8 - 1 pushup
2/9 - 1 pushup
2/10 - Ooops
2/11 - Overhead Press, 3 sets of 5 w/ 45lbs
2/12 -  1 pushup

[LifeHappens]

A while ago (on a now deleted journal) Sailor Sam wrote a great push up progression for women. You might want to PM her. I'm using a simple progression that goes Wall Push ups -> Push ups to a bench/stair/table/etc -> Full Push ups

You start with 5 sets of 1 (or however many you can do without killing yourself) and work up to 5 sets of 10 before moving to the next hardest variation. From what I understand, knee push ups don't require as much core strength, so they don't prepare you for full push ups on the floor as well.