CyclePups: 6 weeks completed, on to the extended play version

[yellow]

How do you compare now to 6 weeks ago?
yellow: initial test=24, exhaustion test 10/12=63

Well, we've completed 6 weeks. Most of us are repeating weeks or are striking out on our own programs, and I don't think anyone did the 6-week program in 6 weeks (Grits was close!).

To use Grog's suggestion, I think we should switch to a weekly (or simply ongoing) pushup motivation thread for the CyclePups and the PowerPups (CyclePowerPups?) and folks can post what they want when they want or ask for motivation. We'll try it for a few weeks and see how it goes.

So, PowerPups and everyone else out there, here's your invite! No spreadsheets, just support from other members. If you want to follow the hundred pushups program, great. If not, just keep on doing pups. Just do them!

FWIW, after 6 weeks, I'm of the mind that the program really does work. I am substantially stronger now than I was 6 weeks ago and while I'm not close to doing 100 in one shot, I'm getting there (I am ever closer to 200 in my sets...I can see the light)! I plan to try to stay with the program; it works for me, so I'm not going to mess with it.

[SadieKate]

You want to be stronger so you can what, stand on your head forever? I wonder how long a video I can make.

[yellow]

Any longer than about 3-4 minutes, and your frend's head will essplode.

[emily_in_nc]

I'm all for this, since I started a few weeks later than the rest of you -- just completed week 2. I'd like to be able to join in. Maybe some other latecomers will join in too!

One question -- as I said, I just finished week 2. I took a quick peek at week 3, and it talks about determining your column based on your most recent exhaustion test. Are we supposed to do an exhaustion test between each week? I did one only before starting the program but didn't see that we were supposed to do this weekly. Perhaps I missed that somewhere in the general instructions?

Thanks!

[OakLeaf]

It's in the instructions. Weeks 2 and 4, you're supposed to stay in the same column as Weeks 1 and 3. Exhaustion tests after 2, 4 and 5. That's according to the website.

In reality, I think all of us here are finding that we're moving down columns and/or back and forth between columns as the weeks go on. And that the ability to do the column assignments in week 5 doesn't correlate well with the exhaustion test results after week 4.


Myself, I'm taking an extra day "off" today - off pups, anyhow. Pretty hilly 65 miler, then my cardio/strength class, and my delts are still a teeny bit sore from last week's pups, so completing the column 2 minimum probably wasn't going to happen today. Hopefully I'll feel stronger tomorrow (if not I'll still do them).


ETA: my personal strength gain is harder to quantify since I haven't done an exhaustion test at all, yet What I could do before I started was probably between 25 and 30. What I'm guessing I can probably do now - based on doing 40 on a 5th set in week 4 - is something between 45 and 50. So yeah - it's working for me too. I can definitely see the difference in my triceps, shoulders and chest.

[emily_in_nc]

Thanks, Oakleaf!

I already demoted myself from column 2 (which I tested at in the "before" exhaustion test) to column 1 in week 2, since I was having a difficult time with column 2 in the last couple of sets, and my form was suffering. I never did anything but knee pushups prior to this challenge, so it's a big step up for me, even though I'm still way behind everyone else!

I'm feeling stronger now, end of week 2, than when I started. And I know I can do more than 9 pups now, so am looking forward to the 2nd exhaustion test to see what I can do now. I can't imagine doing 40+ at once like you are - congratulations!