CyclePUPs Week 2

[yellow]

Week 2 runs from today (Monday), September 8 to Sunday, September 14.

Below is the summary from week 1. Everyone who reported made their minimum goal! :D. Remember, these are for DAY 3 ONLY!
[B]

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1/tasdan/Just%20for%20Fun/PUP_090808.jpg

There are a few that didn't report the third day. If they report today, I can edit the spreadsheet tonight.

So how about week 2, all??? Happy pup-ing!

[SadieKate]

Hmm, I was going to do T-W-Sat this week but I just realized I'll be at Waves to Wine without a handy bench.

Guess I'll revert to M-W-F so I can guilt MP in person since she isn't doing her shoulder PT.

[limewave]

I got 21 1/1 for my day 3 from week 1.

[Jones]

I sent SadieKate a pm making excuses and apologizing for being late. I have been off the internet for a few days are you, Yellow, the new PUS? Anyway I did 21 total and am sorry for being late. Jones

[SadieKate]

I updated the stats for both of you. And, get with it, will you? :D

For Group One ---
I'm the PUS.
Yellow is the PUO (as in the Grand Poobette).
Oakleaf is the PUC.

For Group Two ---
Oakleaf is the PUS.

Sheesh, try to remember this, m'kay? :p

[ibcycling]

Last week turned into a blur with school back in session and traveling for soccer. I'm going to have to back out as I didn't get Day 2&3 in and see if I can join the 9/8 group and start over. Sorry. :o

Lora

[SadieKate]

No problemo. Just make sure you post on the other group's thread.

[Becky]

I did Day 1 last night, and felt great! For the first time, my arms hurt as much as my abs this morning, which I'll take to mean that my core is getting stronger.

Then I looked ahead at Week 3 :eek::eek::eek: They expect me to do 16-20 pushups during my exertion test this Saturday?? What if I only do 12? Anyone else worried about the week 2 to week 3 jump??

[OakLeaf]

Then I looked ahead at Week 3 :eek::eek::eek: They expect me to do 16-20 pushups during my exertion test this Saturday?? What if I only do 12? Anyone else worried about the week 2 to week 3 jump??

It's right on the website:


Some people will still be doing less than 16 consecutive push ups, but this is ok. Just repeat the week you struggled with until you're strong enough to move on to the next level - I promise it will be worth your while!

I think most of us will get to that point before the program's over. I fully expect it's going to take me longer than 6 weeks to get to 100, and I started in group 3. That's okay!!!! It's a training plan, not blueprints for a machine - everyone's going to grow stronger at a different rate.

Whether or not we have to repeat a week, or several weeks, we should all feel good about having committed to the program, and we should all be starting to see real strength gains. That's what's important here! Be proud of yourself.

[Aggie_Ama]

I did mine last night, it was hard because I had run in the heat first and was worn out. But I did them and that is the important part! I am having trouble believing I will do 100 in one go but that is why it is a challenge. :rolleyes:

[Becky]

It's right on the website:



I think most of us will get to that point before the program's over. I fully expect it's going to take me longer than 6 weeks to get to 100, and I started in group 3. That's okay!!!! It's a training plan, not blueprints for a machine - everyone's going to grow stronger at a different rate.

Whether or not we have to repeat a week, or several weeks, we should all feel good about having committed to the program, and we should all be starting to see real strength gains. That's what's important here! Be proud of yourself.

Thanks for pointing that out. I printed the program, and the printed version doesn't include a lot of the little notes and things... Thanks for the self-esteem boost, Coach- that's exactly what I needed to hear :)

[NoNo]

The way I see it, even if I can't doo 100, if I stick with it I'll be able to do more than I ever have, and that's a good thing. I, too, have a hard time believing I'll be able to do the 16 they're calling for next week. Last night (Day 2, Wk 2) I only managed 8 for my max:rolleyes: Still better than the zero I was doing two weeks ago!:D

[SouthernBelle]

Yeah, I'm pretty much planning on repeating the first two weeks based on what I can do in my last set. But I would much rather do that than push myself too hard and get too sore.

[Becky]

Hmmm....if we're repeating weeks as needed (and believe me, I need!), how does that work with the spreadsheet? PUS, please pick up the nearest courtesy phone ;)

[OakLeaf]

We already talked about that. :) We're just going to report by calendar week for six weeks, even if we're on a different week of the program. Beyond six weeks...??

[SadieKate]

Yep, adjust as needed. Repeat weeks, change groups, change type of push-ups, whatever. At the end of the 6 weeks, we'll decide if we want to start another 6 week spreadsheet and try again.

I could probably get through 100 wall pushups right now, but I want to strive for more full body core work so I'm in Group 1 and won't make 100. But I'll fer darn sure see a lot of improvement in 6 weeks no matter what.

[cherinyc]

oooh - this looks fun. can others join? I am getting married in 6 weeks so this would be a lofty goal.

[SadieKate]

This thread is for 9/1 starters so you need to go here and jump on with this week's starters.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=26488

[SouthernBelle]

I'm sorta planning on trying to complete this at L1, take a week easy, then repeat at a higher level.

I have been wondering about how to maintain after I complete, but I think that will help me continue to improve.

Chicks doing pups is so cool.

[jesvetmed]

Is this where I go?
Quote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by jesvetmed
I got all 3 days in last week:
1) 10/10/8/6/10
2) 12/12/10/10/12
3) 15/13/10/10/15 My arms were shaking after these!
I'll hopefully find the time this week to do all 3 again!
Jes

TOTAL: 163
Your third day total would be 63, then. Good job! We're only summing the third day. And since you're in the 9/1 start group, if you want to be on that spreadsheet, post that total in the 9/1 thread so SK can add you in.
Here's my totals for last week... apparently I had NO idea where to post everything! Hopefully this is where I belong!?
Must get more sleep!:rolleyes:
J
__________________

[SadieKate]

Nope, you already got it right in the other thread. This is is the week 2 thread but we can cheer you on from both places.

[yellow]

I guess too long of of a time has passed and I can't edit my first post, so jes, rest assured that we have your day 3 from last week in the master spreadsheet.

[Grog]

Week 2, now in Column 1, Day 1:
4 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 10

Technique is much better now.

:)

[limewave]

Week 2, column 1, Day 1

4, 4, 3, 3, 6

[OakLeaf]

Well, I was hoping to be able to report today that I'd done the most consecutive pups I'd ever done in my life.

It didn't happen. Too early in the morning I think, too cold (46° F when we woke up!), not enough warmup (it consisted of my CPR recertification... well that's some upper body work right?).

I can still hope for Friday. It'll be soon enough. I'm still doing more than I have since I was in college.

[NoNo]

Week 2, Day 3 results: 5-5-4-4-10. I was hoping the max would be more, but I fell in a heap to the floor. I have a middle ear infection, my right eye is swollen half-shut, I was up sick half the night, and slept on the couch. I'll take 10 pups.

[Aggie_Ama]

Week 2, Day 3 results: 5-5-4-4-10. I was hoping the max would be more, but I fell in a heap to the floor. I have a middle ear infection, my right eye is swollen half-shut, I was up sick half the night, and slept on the couch. I'll take 10 pups.


And a medal! I wouldn't have wanted to do those pushups.

Last night I did the bare minimum for Week 2, Day 2, including the max of 10 at the end and oh my that was hard. I didn't think I would make it to 10.

[SadieKate]

Week 2, Day 3 results: 5-5-4-4-10. I was hoping the max would be more, but I fell in a heap to the floor. I have a middle ear infection, my right eye is swollen half-shut, I was up sick half the night, and slept on the couch. I'll take 10 pups.I'm taking pity on you this time because you're obviously a sad, sad case. Normally, I only post Day 3 totals cuz I don't do math.

I have to give you credit for even trying these. Try a little rest now.

[NoNo]

:p A sad case, ideed. Thank you for your pity. In my infirmed state I'd completely forgotten that it was totals only. As for rest, I doubt my boss would take too kindly to me sleeping at my desk. Why do I feel guilty about taking time off when I'm actually sick?

[SadieKate]

Not total only, just make sure you provide the total also.

It's our stupid culture that makes us go to work when we should be home. One day of missed work is probably less lost productivity than several days of dragging yourself around -- not to mention spreading the germs to others. Do you have to be there?

[NoNo]

No, I definitely don't have to be here. I guess I feel a little better knowing that ear infections (as far as I can tell) aren't contagious, so I'm not going to make my coworkers sick. I'm currently trying to decide if my stomach can handle the salad I brought for lunch.

/thread hijack

[SadieKate]

Checking out for a few days. Going down to Kahleefonia for the Waves to Wine, heavy on the Wine please.

I probably won't be updating anything until Sunday night at the earliest though yellow may update as she can.

Got my PUPs schedule with me so I should be able to stay on track. I'm very happy to say that my arms are already showing the results. Firming up the wings. :rolleyes:

[Kvixen23]

I forgot to report....

Week #1 - Day 1: 7,7,5,4,6 - Day 2: 9,8,6,5,10 (:)) - Day 3: 10,8,8,5 ,10

Week #2 - Day 1: 9,8,6,4,9 - Day 2: 11, 9, 7,7,10 (:mad:)

It's really hard for me. I'm not sure why. I work with small children and have to lift, carry, hold and play all day long. I thought I had decent upper body strength.....this is proving me very sadly wrong :(

I'm going to keep on trucking though.....

[yellow]

Kvixen, we'll get you updated at the end of the week.

NoNo, congrats on being the first totaler for week 2! Now, go rest before you do your exhaustion test!

My week 2, day 1 was 12-12-9-7-26. Day 2 (yesterday) was 16-13-22-11-32. Day 1 was tough; I was all-over fatigued from my long and arduous trail run the day before (4400' of climbing in about 7 miles). Felt better yesterday. So far, my day 2s seem to be the best.

SadieKate, have fun in the sun!

[Flur]

Week 2, Day 3, column 2 - 50 pups total for Day 3! Woohoo!

I'm looking forward to testing on Saturday. I bet I can do a lot more than the 10 that I started with.

[Grog]

Switching column has proven great for me.

Today I did Week 2, Day 2, Column 1, so:

6 / 5 / 3 / 3 / 12 (minimum requested was 6 I think)

With lots of dancing to some tacky music in between. :)

I am feeling confident that I will be able to do at least 16 on the weekend.

Next week looks interesting. No matter what the result of the test, I'm going to stay in column 1. Week 3, day 1 looks like this: 15/12/12/10/max at least 15. Wait... that means...

That's at least 64 pushups. I'm currently doing 29 in one session.

Hummmmmm. :eek: Speaking of an intensive program..........

[OakLeaf]

Man, I woke up with pain in the extensor muscles of my right forearm yesterday, it only got worse as the day went on, and it doesn't seem to be any better this morning :(:mad: I don't think doing the pups had anything to do with it, but I don't know whether I ought to do them today. See how it goes later in the day. I have no idea what I did to it.

[Grits]

Week 2, Day 3: 76!!

[Becky]

Week 2, Day 3, column 1:

5+5+4+4+11 = 29!

I'm actually looking forward to my pups test tomorrow. I've never been able to do this many before :)

[OakLeaf]

Week 2, day 3:

15+15+12+12+35 = 89


My forearm's better tonight after slathering it alternately with Traumeel and White Tiger Balm throughout the day. Not nearly 100%, but I went ahead and did my pups. Now a couple days off. I'm going to skip the Week 2 exhaustion test since I'm already over 25 pups in the last set.

Next week's the big jump, though :eek:

[aka_kim]

Week 2 Day 3 = 15+15+12+12+25=79

[jobob]

You slacker! :p

[aka_kim]

You slacker! :p
Ha! It shall be swords at dawn. If not swords, then maybe spatulas. But still at dawn.

[Grog]

Week 2, Day 3, Column 1:

5 / 5 / 4 / 4 / 14. I wanted to make it to 16 because I won't be able to test myself tomorrow but I couldn't. I figure that if I had not done the other push ups before I would have made it to 16 easily, and perhaps more.

So total achieved week 3 day 3: 33.

My parents will be living at my place for the next week so I have no idea if I'll be able to do the next sets. I'm too shy to do push ups in public and our place is fairly small!!!

[Kvixen23]

Day 1: 9,8,6,4,9 = 36

Day 2: 11,9,7,7,10 = 44

Day 3: 10,10,8,8,11 = 47

I'll have to test tomorrow b/c I got a day behind and it probably won't be that great since I just did day 3 today :(

[Kvixen23]

My place is small and I don't like my husband watching me or my dogs helping me.....so, I shut myself in a room and do a set then come out to wait the 1 - 2 minutes. You could give it a try....

[Flur]

I just barely did 21 pushups today in my test, so I'll still be in group 2 starting week 3. Wow! That's twice as many as I did 2 weeks ago!

[Flybye]

Here are my stats for the second week:

Group 2, Column 2, Week 2, Day 1=9/8/6/4/8=35
Group 2, Column 2, Week 2, Day 2=11/9/7/7/12=46
Group 2, Column 2, Week 2, Day 3=10/10/8/8/10=46
Total = 127

One of my biceps has been in a muscle spasm for 24+hours. It is really getting annoying. Any advice? Should I back off the pups or keep going? I finally got so irritated with the twitching that I put an ace bandage on it.

[spindizzy]

Day 3 - 54.

Will do fatigue test prior to week 3 starting..I guess that would be tomorrow.

[yellow]

Wow...collectively during week 1 the ground did 883 PUPs on day 3!!! So far we're up to 620 with only 52.4% reporting for week 2 day 3!!!

[Pedal Wench]

Week 2, Day 3, Column 1. 5+5+4+4+6=24

I can still barely do a really good "good-form" one, so I'm sticking with Column 1.

[Jones]

Week 2, Day 3, column 1. 5+5+4+4+6=24. I can barely do 6 pus, I may have to change styles for the next 4 weeks and then try again. Jones

[bluebug32]

Checking in for week 2, group 2 with 10,10,8,8, 15

[Aggie_Ama]

My dog fan club likes to get in the middle of my pushups, they don't help! :p

Week 2, Group 2= 10/10/8/8/11=47

[OakLeaf]

Flyebye, how's your arm? Did you try the pups or are you still trying to work the spasm out?

[ridebikeme]

Completed week two here are my stats
Day 1 9-8-6-4-10
Day 2 11-9-7-7-10
Day 3 10-10-8-8-14On to Week 3

[yellow]

Attention Cyclepups! I don't have day 3 totals from the following:


jesvetmed
firenze11
jobob
limewave (might be injured?)
Sadiekate (I know, traveling...)
Southernbelle


(And I need a confirmation of a confirmation from Grog...check your PMs!)

I won't start the week 3 thread and post the updated spreadsheet until tonight (Monday).

[yellow]

Completed week two here are my stats
Day 1 9-8-6-4-10
Day 2 11-9-7-7-10
Day 3 10-10-8-8-14On to Week 3

I don't have your week 1 (last week), day 3 total...can you let me know what that was, please? Day 3 only.

PUO, filling in for the PUS

[NoNo]

My dog fan club likes to get in the middle of my pushups, they don't help! :p

So does Ruthie! If she's not right under my face (so I can't lower), she's laying on the papers or the stopwatch:rolleyes:

Count me amongst those who will repeat week 2. I did not make 16, and even if I did, I doubt I'd be able to do the 15-12-12-10-10 required of day one. The good news is that on day one of my week 2 repeat, my max was higher than last week. I'm not giving up!

[Becky]

So does Ruthie! If she's not right under my face (so I can't lower), she's laying on the papers or the stopwatch:rolleyes:

Count me amongst those who will repeat week 2. I did not make 16, and even if I did, I doubt I'd be able to do the 15-12-12-10-10 required of day one. The good news is that on day one of my week 2 repeat, my max was higher than last week. I'm not giving up!

I only did 13 in my exertion test :( I think I'll either repeat week 2 (which didn't seem hard enough to me) or do knee-style pups for week 3 and then repeat week 3 with full pups.

[SouthernBelle]

I'm out for a week. :mad: I strained my right shoulder rather badly drilling 4 holes for new chains on the tongue of my trailer. Over an hour of leaning into a drill going into 3/4 inch of steel will do that.

[Grits]

Week 3, day 1. Today was tough! I could barely do the final set, which I know is the way it is supposed to be, but, still. Hope I can progress on schedule, but might end up repeating this week. We're up to almost 100 now. No wonder it is getting hard.

[OakLeaf]

I only did 13 in my exertion test :( I think I'll either repeat week 2 (which didn't seem hard enough to me) or do knee-style pups for week 3 and then repeat week 3 with full pups.

I think if your ultimate goal is to do as many full-length pups as you can, you're better off not switching to nothing but knee pups for a whole week. But if your goal is to get to 100 of whatever type of pups you can do, then knee pups are fine. Whichever you choose, you're getting stronger.

Two things to think about:

(1) make sure you're really maxing out in your last set every workout (I only mention this because you said week 2 seemed too easy), and

(2) for everyone in group 1, and probably some in group 2, if you want to do a combination of knee pups and full-length ones to continue adding reps, then try step-down sets. Each workout, do the first two or three sets full-length, and the rest on your knees. Or, each set, do the first 75% of the reps full-length, and the rest on your knees. Then you can either move on to the next week the same way, or repeat the week doing all the reps, or more of them, full-length.

It is difficult to add on when you're starting from sets of fewer than 8-10, just because each rep takes such a high percentage of your strength. You're strong enough to do something else to bring you along, but not another full rep. That's where step-down sets can help.

Week 2 to week 3 is a big jump, and it's going to be tough. That's a lot of the way the plan works - consolidate your gains in week 2, to get your body ready to go to the next level in week 3. Now's probably a good time for all of us to start thinking about exactly what our ultimate goal is in this plan (if we haven't already) and what type of pups will be the best way to get there.

[Aggie_Ama]

So does Ruthie! If she's not right under my face (so I can't lower), she's laying on the papers or the stopwatch:rolleyes:



One of my girls is blind so she likes to plop herself near our scents, which is right under my chest when doing these. The other one is constantly acting like she is on speed so she will bounce around in circles if anyone gets on the floor. I should do these in the bedroom with the door closed. Crazy dogs!

I just realized I need to do my exhaustion test tonight, grumble, grumble. Onward we go! :p

[OakLeaf]

I'm out for a week. :mad: I strained my right shoulder rather badly drilling 4 holes for new chains on the tongue of my trailer. Over an hour of leaning into a drill going into 3/4 inch of steel will do that.

Ouch - take care of it! Plenty of stretching and just moving the arm around in ways that don't hurt, to keep it mobile. If you do aerobics at all, that's usually the best thing for me when my shoulders go crazy - going through all the various arm movements with no weight, and keeping it up for the length of a class, really helps me keep them mobile. Or EASY, slow swimming.

[Flybye]

Flyebye, how's your arm? Did you try the pups or are you still trying to work the spasm out?

Thanks for asking - my bicep it is STILL twitching, but not like it was. It pretty much only does it first thing in the morning and right before bed. I hurt my wrist on the same arm when we went hiking a week ago. I fell in the river on slick, flat rock and caught myself with the same arm. I *almost* went in for an xray Friday, thinking that I had broken or cracked a bone. It is feeling much better, too, thanks to an ACE bandage.

With both of those things happening on the same arm, pups don't seem to bother my arm. I do think that the pups are the reason for the muscle spasms, though. Sheesh, arm, get over it already!! :D

I did my day three on Saturday and so I have a break until tomorrow.

Thanks for asking.

[Kvixen23]

I was only able to do 16....

This puts me in column 1. I looked at this week, week 3, I'm scared!!!:eek: Is anyone else feeling a little apprehensive about moving forward?? I'm going to give it my all......

OakLeaf - Thanks for the tips on backing down a little.

My goal in participating in this sometimes excruciatingly painful experience is just to say I did it. I don't feel like I have to complete it or be the best at it. I just needed a new motivator to continue working out since I haven't been motivated to go to the gym and lift weights lately. I'm sure with the days becoming shorter and the weather getting colder that I will head back inside for my workouts. The PUPS are a quick albeit challenging way for me to get in some upper body strengthening workouts.

[NoNo]

Ouch - take care of it! Plenty of stretching and just moving the arm around in ways that don't hurt, to keep it mobile. If you do aerobics at all, that's usually the best thing for me when my shoulders go crazy - going through all the various arm movements with no weight, and keeping it up for the length of a class, really helps me keep them mobile. Or EASY, slow swimming.

Last week, work offered a free 1-hr yoga class to see if anyone would be interested in something more regular. I thought "I've been doing push-ups for 2 weeks, I cycle, I stretch, I'll be fine." While I was fine during the class, I couldn't believe how sore my shoulders were the next day! I'm looking forward to future classes.

[Pedal Wench]

Question for the coach.

I'm column 1, can hardly do a full one. I'm getting to the point that I can do the full ones until my nose is about 6 inches from the ground. Can I do these 'halfway' fulls?
And, sometimes when I just don't think I can push back up, I lower my knees just for a second to get me moving back up. Can i do these 'halfway' fulls?

[Becky]

(1) make sure you're really maxing out in your last set every workout (I only mention this because you said week 2 seemed too easy), and

(2) for everyone in group 1, and probably some in group 2, if you want to do a combination of knee pups and full-length ones to continue adding reps, then try step-down sets. Each workout, do the first two or three sets full-length, and the rest on your knees. Or, each set, do the first 75% of the reps full-length, and the rest on your knees. Then you can either move on to the next week the same way, or repeat the week doing all the reps, or more of them, full-length.

It is difficult to add on when you're starting from sets of fewer than 8-10, just because each rep takes such a high percentage of your strength. You're strong enough to do something else to bring you along, but not another full rep. That's where step-down sets can help.

Week 2 to week 3 is a big jump, and it's going to be tough. That's a lot of the way the plan works - consolidate your gains in week 2, to get your body ready to go to the next level in week 3. Now's probably a good time for all of us to start thinking about exactly what our ultimate goal is in this plan (if we haven't already) and what type of pups will be the best way to get there.

Really good point about maxing out. I don't think I was doing that early on, as I discovered when I did my test last night and found out what exhaustion really felt like. Would it be crazy to move on to week 3 and hope that my strength catches up enough to pull it off (maybe do step-down sets)? Or should I repeat week 2 and work harder?

[Flur]

Wow, week 3 is HARD! I had to take a few breaths in the middle of the sets for all the sets except the first, and I did the last set in groups of 5 with one breath rests in down dog. I hope that still counts :o In any case, I'm sure I'm still getting stronger b/c I feel maxed out and will probably be sore tomorrow.

[jobob]

I think I wrenched my shoulder a bit on Saturday lugging stuff around at the W2W rest stop, and I didn't help it riding up Mt Tam yesterday.

It's not bad, but just not up to massive numbers of pushups - or, at least, the paltry number I'd be capable of doing on a good day :D

So I'm going to give it a rest. Have fun, gang!

[ridebikeme]

Week 1 Day 1 7-7-5-4-5
Day 2 9-8-6-5-7
Day 3 10-8-8-5-10

[OakLeaf]

wow, what is that, four on IR now :(

Heal up quick jobob!

[OakLeaf]

Would it be crazy to move on to week 3 and hope that my strength catches up enough to pull it off (maybe do step-down sets)? Or should I repeat week 2 and work harder?

I don't really have an intelligent answer for that (maybe someone else does)? My inclination would be to repeat week 2, but do column 2. So you're still moving up, but not by as much.

[yellow]

OK, start reporting week 3 PUPs on the week 3 thread (http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=26691)!

:D

[Jones]

I wasn't going down far enough doing full length pups so have switched to knee style but will be staying in column 1. I just tried column 1 week 3 and couldn't get to "at least 15 max," I fell flat on my face after ten. This is such a challenge and yet still fun. I love it. Jones

[yellow]

This is such a challenge and yet still fun. I love it.

http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Happy/happy-102.gif

I feel the same way. In a sick way, I kind of look forward to it!

[NoNo]

Initially, I don't think I was going down far enough, either. But last night I realized that my chin was darn-near the floor! It's working! I don't care if I have to repeat week 2 20 times, at least I'm seeing progress and that makes me happy.:D

[kelownagirl]

Have you seen this? Steve has created an online "logger" now.

http://www.cymru66.com/fitness/hundred-push-ups-logger/