Monday, January 18, 2010

Hundred Pushups


Having struggled all my life trying to do 5 continuous pushups(for someone aspired to become a footballer, hands didn't matter I thought), doing hundred pushups is something unthinkable. The hundredpushups plan is a program that takes you to 100 continuous pushups in 6 weeks even if you can do less than 5 continuous pushups. The plan has 3 different columns for people with different capacities. While I don't have any hopes of getting to a 100 this lifetime, a 25 looked like a practical target for me. My initial attempt didn't last beyond the first two weeks where I improved my number to around 10.

By the time I started again when I was recovering from my knee problem, my number had dropped again in the 0-5 range. But this time I persisted and finished the first 2 weeks program, but could only muster only 12 continuous pushups after that and hence couldn't qualify for the third week. You need to hit at least 16 continuous pushups.

So I started from beginning and moved to the next column(5-10) now that I could do 10 pushups continously. The first week went well with one or two repetition of some days, but the second week looked like a steep climb. First workout of the second week itself took a week and the second one took more than a month. And this seems like a real wall that I can't climb without some steroids to beef up my puny arms(I have to remind you that I do have a pair of powerful legs btw, especially the left leg:).

But this was great progress anyway from what I could do before. So I am keeping at it and I guess things are improving, but at a very slow pace that may not be observable in a day or two or even weeks or months! But my continuous pushups went up to within striking distance of my target of 25, to 20, which is a descent number I guess. So I could get onto the third week's program, but I am planning to complete the second week's second column(for 5-10) before that.

But it is a very simple exercise using your body instead of any weights that can be done anywhere anytime without any extra gadgets. So I am going to keep doing the program and would let you know how it goes. I am wondering if anyone got to 100 from just 5 ever - that could have been a long drawn out program, not surely within 6 weeks! But the program looks well crafted to make some good progress and keep it interesting!

Update on 21Feb10: I did the 25! I am planning to continue the program, but the drive isn't that great though!

2 comments:

  1. Wow. That sounds interesting. As someone who can't do more than 3 push-ups in one go, I did hear about the 100 push ups program. But somehow, never got going. I should draw inspiration from you and start off!
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  2. Hey! I'm on the 2nd week myself. I tried it before and got up to 42. Stopped for a long time and now I'm trying again.

    Keep working at it! You've already improved 400%!
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