One hundred push ups

[OakLeaf]

Any good resources on technique?? I tried what I thought was correct, and didn't really feel any resistance. I'm also doing light arm weights - but I don't think that will be enough to seriously help the lack of push up ability.

As Snap said, try standing farther away from the wall. Because your body will actually be moving in an arc, be sure you place your hands where they will be under your shoulders when you're closest to the wall, not when you're standing up to begin the movement. Don't bring your shoulders closer to the wall than your elbows.

Most of the form tips for wall push-ups are the same as for doing them horizontally. Practice plank position - with a mirror or an observer - to strengthen your core and get the idea of how your body should feel while doing push-ups.

You can also do push-ups with your legs on a stability ball. This gives you the ability to micro-adjust your fulcrum and gradually roll out to a longer lever as you get stronger. Again, as with any type of decline push-up, don't bring your shoulders below your elbow level (unless you've been cleared to do that by a PT or a qualified trainer, and you can do it without pain or instability in your shoulders).

Of course the weight work will help, as long as you keep increasing the weights. The main difference between bench presses and push-ups is the secondary muscles that get used (more central core in push-ups, more shoulder stabilizers and obliques in bench presses, particularly dumbbell presses) - the load on the triceps and pecs is very similar. There's a slight difference because of the way your body becomes the radius of an arc during a push-up, so a mix of regular and decline bench presses would be the best simulation.

I use small dumbbells so I can keep my wrists fairly straight during push ups. I figure that riding plus computers has given me a fairly significant case of carpal tunnel. Bending the wrist back (as in normal push ups) is tough on the nerves.

That works, or with a lesser case of weak wrists, try splaying your fingers out and using your whole hands to distribute the weight, rather than putting it all in the heel of your hand.


Geez, I'm hanging around this thread so much I apparently have a secret desire to do the program Okay, okay, provided I don't go through with the surgery (which I'm making a final decision later this week after talking to a couple more people), I'm in. Start tomorrow

[jobob]

Geez, I'm hanging around this thread so much I apparently have a secret desire to do the program

You're doing very nicely as our coach.

(And best wishes on the surgery decision.)

[Grog]

Did week 1, day 1 today.

Initial test result = 8

So I did
7-7-5-4-7 = 30

It is not easy (euphemism).

My wrists hurt a little but they will toughen up as they have in the past (although I might repeat week 1 to make sure I don't hurt myself.

This makes running an interval session attractive.

[sundial]

Ok, I did the test and did 20. My elbow pops each time I dip down and it always has--even in gym class in grade school. Should I do the wall push-ups? The elbow thing is kinda uncomfortable.

[SadieKate]

Week 1, day 1, Level 1 (using @15" high bench)
Initial test result = 5
2-2-2-2-6 = 14

[SadieKate]

For those of you using SportTracks, just thought I'd share. I set up categories under "My Friends' Activities" for "core work: pushups" and "core work: yoga" to track these. The pushup count goes in mileage and the yoga practice time is recorded manually.

By using "My Friends'" the numbers don't interfere with the cycling or running stats, and you can still run activity reports.

[SouthernBelle]

For those of you using SportTracks, just thought I'd share. I set up categories under "My Friends' Activities" for "core work: pushups" and "core work: pushups" to track these. The pushup count goes in mileage and the yoga practice time is recorded manually.

By using "My Friends'" the numbers don't interferewith the cycling or running stats, and you can still run activity reports.

I'll be darned. I was just thinking about this.

[Pedal Wench]

I can only do one regular one, and 8 knee ones. Is there a way to do the program using knee pushups but work in regular ones?

[Aggie_Ama]

I got home real late last night so I will start tonight. Gives me a warm up before my planned run tonight.

[SouthernBelle]

I can only do one regular one, and 8 knee ones. Is there a way to do the program using knee pushups but work in regular ones?

You could try the first set with 2 regular and the rest of the sets with knee ones. Increase from there. Then at the end of the first 2 weeks, when you re-test, try the test with the regular ones. At that point you would probably be at a point where you could re-do the first 2 weeks with all regular.

[Pedal Wench]

You could try the first set with 2 regular and the rest of the sets with knee ones. Increase from there. Then at the end of the first 2 weeks, when you re-test, try the test with the regular ones. At that point you would probably be at a point where you could re-do the first 2 weeks with all regular.

I'll start tonight

[SouthernBelle]

Let us know how it works out!

[GLC1968]

How did I miss this thread? I've had the 100 pushups logo on my blog for awhile now, but I haven't even done the initial test yet!

I wanted to do it last Friday so that I could start this week, but I forgot and then spend the weekend doing a lot of HEAVY lifting. Today I could barely pull up my pants, never mind do a push up! I'll do my self test later this week and join you all on Sunday.

I used to be pretty good at pushups - it's been so long since I lifted a proper weight that I'm a little scared that I'll be embarassed by my starting numbers.

[yellow]

OK all, I think we need a way to keep track of all the goings on!

So.....my good friend and Push Up Statistician SadieKate has offered to create a spreadsheet to track everyone's progress (and, well, she's a lot smarter than me, so it makes sense that she's do this Very Hard Task). Her offer is to track those who start this week. If there is a group that wants to start NEXT week, and someone from that group wants to volunteer to be the Statistician, then SadieKate will gladly share her spreadsheet. PM her if you are plan to be in that group and are Excel savvy.

Anyhoo, to keep it all straight, we need confirmation of those who are in week 1 this week and what group you are in. To stay connected to the spreadsheet, you will need to PM SadieKate your weekly results by Sunday morning, or you can post them on the weekly thread if you aren't shy. If you don't want to be tracked but still want to play along, that's fine...just let us know your status so we know how to set up the spreadsheet.

The list I created last night was based on those who DEFINITELY said "I'm in" for this week. It appears that there are some folks that seem to be in but never really confirmed. So, it would help the 100PUS (100 Push Up Statistician) if you would provide to either her (SadieKate) or me (the 100PUO, 100 Push Up Organizer):

1. Confirmation that you are definitely in with this week (9/1) as week 1
2. Your starting group

Example: my name is yellow, I am definitely in for starting week 1 on 9/1, and I am in column 3.


The 100PUS will create the masterpiece spreadsheet and we will post an image of the week's summary on a weekly thread that will (1) summarize the previous week's activity and (2) be geared toward discussing the current week's activity. So, fer instance, on Monday 9/8 we will start a Week 1 summary/Week 2 Activity thread.

So, if you're definitely in this week, please respond accordingly (including if you are in but don't want to be part of the tracking option)!

SK, did I get all of that right??!!

100PUO

P.S. Oakleaf is the 100PUC (100 Push Up Coach)

[Pedal Wench]

Example: my name is yellow, I am definitely in for starting week 1 on 9/1, and I am in column 3.

My name is Pedal Wench, I am definitely in for starting week 1 on 9/1, and I am embarassed to be in column 1.