One hundred push-ups: Week 3
I just finished Week 3 of the program. This was the toughest week I’ve had so far, much tougher than the first two. Week 1: total of 173 push-ups. Week 2: total of 200 push-ups. Week 3: total of 326 push-ups! Oofda.
I’ve wanted to stop several times this week, mostly as I lay in a sweaty heap on the floor between sets. But I realized that I had those thoughts because I was letting myself think too far ahead; I was thinking about the total number of push-ups I would have to do that day. So I changed my game mentally. I decided to focus on one set at a time, one push-up at a time. I wouldn’t have been able to get through each day (much less the entire week) otherwise.
I also focused on doing the best push-ups I can do. I have a tendency to drop my head and not keep my back straight when I’m tired. The important thing is to keep the head level with the body.
If you want to start the hundred push-ups program and you can only do one push-up at first, that’s fine. Just make it the best push-up you can do and keep trying for more. Doing a ton of reps won’t benefit you if you are not doing them well.
That’s what I keep telling myself, at any rate. Next week is going to be hard too. I wouldn’t be surprised if I have to repeat a week. That’s OK; it’ll build my strength.
Good work! Yesterday, I started week two. It was easier than I expected. Like you talked about, I think much of it had to do with my form. The first week, I let my head droop, and didn’t go as low as I could during the pushup. When I repeated week one, I made sure to use good form.
I think you’ve got the right idea about not looking too far down the road. In fact, that could be a mini sermon, applied to all aspects of life. I’m too lazy to check out the website…what is the daily goal you’re (I mean we’re) supposed to shoot for?
The ultimate goal is to be able to do one hundred push-ups in one sitting. Toward that goal, the number of daily push-ups keeps increasing. For example, on Day 3 of this week, I did a set of 30 push-ups, two sets of 22, a set of 20, and then my “max-out” set (the program required a minimum of 27 push-ups; I did 30, just barely). At this point I am not sure how many I can do in a row. I’m certainly not up to a hundred yet, but since I was able to do 40 in my last exhaustion test and my strength will have increased since then, maybe I will be able to do 50 or 60 at my next test.
I’m tired just reading about it! Don’t give up, sis! Keep striving for your goals!