I have made up my mind. I am going to do the 100 push ups in 7 weeks challenge. Meaning in 7 weeks I should be able to do 100 consecutive push ups (not doing 100 push ups during the next 7 weeks, anyone can do that)! 100! That’s quite a big number for push ups now that I see it black on white. And I have never been good at push ups. My wrists also usually hurts when doing too many of them (got that from my previous job where we did push ups for just anything – drop down and do 20 sort of thing), so this time I am going to learn how to do them on my knuckles, not on my hands. Even more of a challenge, but I think the last one is more of a mental challenge than a physical, it just looks so much more hardcore on the knuckles than the hands (or is that just me?).
So, yesterday I did the initial test. 10! Did I mention I haven’t done push ups in probably half a year and never done them on my knuckles? From tomorrow I will do 5 sets of push ups, 3 times a week for the next 7 weeks, slowly building up the numbers and (fingers crossed) reaching 100 in week 7! There will (hopefully) be a video (I won’t be in particularly ashamed if I only get to 99 or even 80, because that’s pretty awesome)! Who’s with me?
Why a push up you may ask? It’s such a humble, basic exercise? And yes, that is why. Many don’t think of the push up as more than that, simple, basic, no big deal. But the push up is one of the best exercises you can do and it doesn’t require any equipment and you can do it wherever you are (you know I am a big fan of the office, the park, the bus stop etc). It also works an amazing amount of muscle all in one go; triceps and chest (obviously), you will use a lot of core muscle to keep your back straight, you will automatically use your thighs and glutes to keep your form and you will probably also use your shoulders, neck and lower back somehow during the push up. The push up is like a moving plank (you know the plank? Everyone knows the plank!) and you will get the same benefits from the push up as you do from the plank, plus a little more from the effort of pushing yourself up again and again.
Old picture, same exercise. You can do the push up wherever you are, even on top of a mountain in Bergen, Norway 🙂
So, who’s with me? All you need to do today is do as many push ups as you can in one go. With good form (that means abs on tight, butt down, straight body, hands shoulder width apart, elbows 45 degree angle from your body, look down in front of you with your neck in a neutral position and so on ~ as long as your abs are on and your lower back doesn’t hurt and your butt isn’t up towards the ceiling like you are an upside down V, I am pretty happy with that). Write that number down. Now pick 3 days a week that will work for you to do push ups. Like Monday, Wednesday and Friday (they shouldn’t be two days in a row, that’s all) or anything else that suits you. It doesn’t take long and it doesn’t require anything else than you getting down on the floor, mat, grass or whatever you have around you to do some push ups (I will fill you in on the program tomorrow). Today all you do is the number of push ups you can do. Don’t cheat, you’re only cheating yourself. And hey, if you can’t do 1, consider doing them on your knees. That’s just fine. You’re only competing with yourself here, not anyone else. You don’t even need to share your number with anyone (but I would be happy if you did), and it’s just a challenge between yourself and your mind.
Are you in?
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I got the idea to do the challenge from here.
Awesome Åshild 
I LOVE PUSH-UPS!!! Good luck with your goal!!! I am sure you can reach it!
Thank you! Are you in??
Well, I can try! I can do about 40 push-ups currently…so maybe 100 is reachable…… 🙂
Doing them all in a row will be QUITE a feat!!!!
Yep! Just do it!
More power to you!
Are you in Beate?
NO ever way on earth! 5 pushups will be my death from exhaustion. hahaha
I am in for cheering you on, ok!
Be blessed!
Lol, You can only beat your last record 🙂 Come on, it will be fun 🙂
I’m in 🙂
I am not even sure how many full proper press ups I can do but it is something I have wanted to get better at for ages so why not! I will do my initial test tomorrow morning and let you know 🙂
I may not get to 100…but I will give it my best shot 🙂
Awesome!!! Are you challenging someone else to do it too? I have shared the link on my Facebook page (Awesome Ashild) feel free to share it too and tag people you want to do it with! 🙂
I will think up someone to challenge overnight and I will definitely share it! 🙂
Awesome 🙂
PS ip will write about it on my blog tomorrow then I can’t back out 🙂
Yes!!!!!
there is no going back now!
http://midsummer365project.wordpress.com/2013/09/26/challenge-3-100-press-ups-in-7-weeks/
😀
Awesome!
Whoa! Good luck! I will provide moral support from the side lines~
Cheers! You should join in though 🙂
Oh I’m in!! 🙂 did alooot of push ups during my karate career. we always did it on the knuckles. And the arms along with the body to get a strong punch. (Was that understandable…?) I’ve been doing push ups this way ever since
Awesome!! Share on your Facebook and challenge someone else to do it too!
totally in!
Awesome! Who’s doing it with you?
i am on my own. pushing myself every morning! 😀
Good work!
I’m in!
Great!! Are you challenging someone to do it with you?
I’m not sure. I do a rangers workout every Monday – Friday and we often do 100 push ups in one of our sessions. Try doing some running and burpees in between!
Sprints, burpees and push ups, sounds like a great workout 🙂
Legend! Will consider being in when I’m over this flu – hopefully over the weekend. Nice
Awesome! Join in, should be fun 🙂
I love push-ups and I am totally in on this challenge! I think it’s the best way to really work your upper body with one type of exercise. I have a hard time with my wrists hurting so I tend to use small hand weights for support. On your knuckles though?! Haven’t tried that one yet! Good luck!
Are you joining? It will be my first real effort on knuckles, so we will see how I go 😉
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I am in… Go TEAM!
Awesome!! Just posted week 1! Go, go go!!! 🙂
That reminds me that I once won a challenge with 42 push ups. Now, 15 years later, I count 10 (what a shame). So I guess, I am in! 😉
Awesome! This time you will get more than 42! 😉
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