Author Topic: February Push Up Challenge  (Read 11357 times)

meerkat

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4214
February Push Up Challenge
« on: January 31, 2018, 05:16:23 PM »
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.

Quote
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

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 12124
  • Location: Tampa-ish
Re: February Push Up Challenge
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2018, 10:10:18 AM »
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

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 12124
  • Location: Tampa-ish
Re: February Push Up Challenge
« Reply #2 on: February 05, 2018, 08:40:49 AM »
@meerkat looks like it's just us for this gauntlet. How are you doing?

LifeHappens

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 12124
  • Location: Tampa-ish
Re: February Push Up Challenge
« Reply #3 on: February 05, 2018, 08:42:45 AM »
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
« Last Edit: February 13, 2018, 08:40:51 AM by LifeHappens »

meerkat

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4214
Re: February Push Up Challenge
« Reply #4 on: February 05, 2018, 08:54:49 AM »
There's a reason I made the initial post.

1/31 - Optimism! Good intentions!
2/1 - Exhaustion! Lack of sleep!
2/2, 2/3, 2/4 - Lying to myself that I'll do it "later".

I just tried doing push ups, not sure at all about my form but I'll have someone check me later. Right now I'm at one full push up in good form, then ten modified (knee) push ups. I suspect I wasn't doing them right based on the fact that they usually feel like more work but I'm not sure what I was doing wrong.

LifeHappens

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 12124
  • Location: Tampa-ish
Re: February Push Up Challenge
« Reply #5 on: February 05, 2018, 09:21:32 AM »
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.