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

[yellow]

Well, I suck!

ummmmm, that sort of 'tude is NOT ALLOWED! Drop and give me 10!

Seriously, give yourself time. I feel like I broke through some sort of a plateau this week, after 6 weeks of following the program pretty closely (I repeated week 5). It was really tough at times, but I stuck with it and the payoff has been worth it. I think the keys for me have been the 3x a week and regular progression, not necessarily the set configuration. I popped off the 8 sets of week 6 day 2 tonight like it was nothin'. Shocked myself. I'll be doing day 3 on Saturday (I have a dinner date with friends Friday so won't even THINK about doing pups after wine), so we'll see if I still feel good. And then...the next max test...

I have no idea if my arms and chest are more muscley or not...I have kind of bulky arms to begin with (ask SadieKate about my problems with the arm bands on short sleeved jerseys), so it's hard to tell. DH is out of town this week; I'll ask him if he notices a difference when he gets back.

[Smilie]

Thanks Oakleaf for the suggestions. Every time I feel a twinge of pain, I stop or modify what I am doing. So will start very easy, and do the everyday plan twice to strengthen slowly. Thanks for the links, they are a lot of help.

[mayanorange]

Glad we're keeping this thread going! I had wanted to join in but with the impending vacation, knew I wouldn't stick to it. Finally kicking the vacation cold (evil planes and/or cold damp England), so ready to get going!

Emily and those still struggling a little- you will all see an improvement after week 6 guaranteed. That's how long it takes for muscle memory to kick in so you're body understands what the movement is. In the meantime, comfort yourself with the thought that novel movements burn more energy (ie: fat) and help to build a good, strong muscle.

[jesvetmed]

So there I was, doing my umpteenth push up yesterday, when DH looks over and says, "You aren't doing those right!". Mind you he's on the couch with a beer at that time.

His point, which he eventually was persuaded to demonstrate, was that my arms are out too wide. He says I should keep them in farther towards shoulder width. So I tried this, and it feels completely awkward -- as if I were trying to do tricep pushups. I couldn't do but 4 his way (of course I'd done over 100 my way already).

What form do you all use? My elbows hurt if I don't go wider with my hands. But I'm not pushing my elbows behind me, rather more out to the side. When I'm down, my arms make one large part of a square -- 90 degree bends at the elbow. Does that make sense? Am I making it too easy?

[OakLeaf]

Wide vs. narrow stance are VARIATIONS, not errors.

As long as you're not stressing your shoulders, elbows or wrists, and as long as you're keeping your core engaged so you've got a nice straight line from your head all the way down to your fulcrum (whether that's toes, knees or somewhere else on a stability ball), do whatever variation you like.

I'm doing mine with a fairly wide stance, personally. I just measured about 21" between my thumbs - which I keep all my fingers somewhat splayed to distribute the load - vs. the 15" (38 cm) between the bony protrusions of my shoulders when I was measured for handlebars.

But maybe that can be another challenge - once we've done 100, go back and do it again with a different stance. yeah right

[OakLeaf]

or plateaux - I've definitely hit one.

I'm on my second run through week 5, column 2 and I'm still not making the last set minimum. Maybe I should step down to column 1.

Still, I'm doing more than I did last week. DH has the right attitude. "See? You're making progress!"

And since he's a photographer and incessantly taking my picture anyhow, I asked him to shoot me doing pups. My form actually looks pretty good to me! way better than I was afraid of, in those later sets when I'm getting tired

[katluvr]

I dont' even know what week I am on....of program or even doing program.
I messed up last week and only did one day.
I have done 2 days of this weeks....final day this weekend.
I have managed so far but barely...so I MAY repeat this week YET AGAIN!
So I understand. Yes, I am stronger...but 100 seems impossible.
To complete this week I have to eek out 35 in my last set. I do great set 1 and 2, weeken in the 3 & 4 set and then last one I am rubber arms. I could probably do a max in the 2nd set, but not after 3& 4.
But I plan to keep doing my pups!