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Right. Time for an affirmative action plan.
There were a good few of us who did this last year with varying degrees of success. I found it very motivating to know that others were sharing my pain. I never did quite make the "century" but I think I managed 72 in a single set.
Do the [url= http://hundredpushups.com/test.html ]initial test[/url] and then follow the instructions for week 1 to determine where to start. Some advice from last year's experience:
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Don't be too ambitious with your starting point. I went right in at week 3, column 2 last year and found it VERY punishing. I found I had to keep repeating days until I succeeded before moving on and the final set for each day was very tough. Better to build up a bit more slowly and avoid injury.
Concentrate on good form. I tended to resort to half-arsed push-ups towards the end of sets where I was only cheating myself and then failing woefully on the next day.
If you injure yourself, STOP and rest until the pain has gone completely.
Expect some "weeks" to take more than a week...
So - who's in?
I've started at Week 1, column 2 this year which will hopefully avoid injury to my dodgy right shoulder.
Just done day 1: sets of 6,6,4,4,22
This is a great way to improve core strength. It's great for the small muscles in the back as well as the shoulders. I found that it did wonders for the constant niggling back pain on the bike.
I'll do it
I'm in for it too- although whippets will tell you that extra bulk adds weight, I could probably do with a bit more!
Also i think if you do crash on the bike a bit as i do, stronger muscle around the shoulders/arms can reduce extent of injury.
Right, I'm in. Good discipline for the spring training program!
I'm in. As of tomorrow morning I shall be participating.
Just finished week 3. 😆
I'm in. But we all know I'm core so I started by just doing the hundred push ups. 😉 How about adding in the 200 sit ups and 200 squats thing too for a more rounded programme?
Just managed 20 on the 'initial test', so I think I ought to give it a go. I'm a bit unfit atm.
I'm in. But we all know I'm core
I thought you'd left us AGAIN! 😉
Last time I spoke to you, you were "broken".
I'm intending the sit-ups and pull-ups as well but I'm starting with this and I'll phase these in.
Stuartie_c - I still am broken. I have had the winter from hell health wise, so might just take this year off to sort my body out. 🙁
I'll start it, but not until Sunday. If I start before then, the cholesterol in my blood from the weekends bingeing would block most of my arteries before I finished the first set.
hmmm this sounds like a good idea. just done the inital test got 20 and it seems nice and easy to follow.
I'm in. Now will I forget and not follow the plan before the end? lets see!
I started tonight before I even saw this post - so I guess I am in.
Week 1 middle column - not being a hero
I'm in but it's 2.35am so I'm not going to start doing press ups now, will start tomorrow.....I mean later
good idea. Will do the test this evening.
I started this about 3 weeks ago as I am hopeless when it comes to push ups.
I started the initial test and it put me a the very bottom week one, column one. I did the test, then couldnt do the next set after a couple of days as the tendons connecting my arms ot my chest were utter agony. So i parked it up to let them heal. I'll start again tonight.
Just did the initial test and scraped into Rank 3 by ONE pushup! I'd be happier if I had just missed Rank 4 by one pushup tbh! 🙂
I'll have a think about which days best suit me and start the plan next week . . . . or the week after . . . . .
😉
I didn't do the initial test this time round because I'm fairly certain I can manage about 25-30 before failure (being of [i]wiry [/i]build).
Trouble is this compels me to start in week 3, column 3 which is a whole world of pain.
No heroics this time round...
I'm in - didn't finish it last time...
been at this since before christmas, started wk2 progressed easily to wk5 column1 then stuck on wk5 column2.
never manage three sessions a week, never managed over 50 in a set 🙁
Week 5 column 2 is where I got stuck too. I just found it too difficult to do the final set and I ran out of time before heading to the Alps for the summer.
I did manage a single set of 72 though, which was pretty impressive progress from the initial test of 25-ish.
Are you doing column 1, 2 and 3 every week? I just stuck to the column 2 regime all the way through.
Been stuck at week 5 column 3 for a couple of weeks now, what happens when you reach the hundred. Do you then try to build up to do sets of a hundred or just a hundred in 1 session?
ive been basing my column selection on the most recent test results, or where i havent managed a clear week, just repeated the same.
at one point i was going back to wk4 col3.
must try harder to find three sessions a week, every week.
didnt mean to put a downer on the thread - ooops
the plan certainly works and all of the steps were achieveable while i kept at it.
i feel stronger, i look better and im [s]better in bed[/s] more radcore on the bike.
Yup - it's all these things and more. 🙂
Unfortunately I've just sliced the top off my finger with a ****ing bread knife... May put the plan on hold for a few days.
Like the look of this - I'm in...
So legs are okay, shoulders and arms should be good in 4-5 weeks - but what about this roll of blubber around my middle that my missus keeps staring at??? 😕
I've tried it twice and both times my left elbow has started hurting quite considerably after a week or three. Anyone got any ideas how to avoid this?
Just did my initial test and week-one day-one... My recovery regime is currently a nice glass of wine... This could be fun...
Started yesterday.Ache today. have more to do tomorrow. I hate pushups.
Should really do this. Will do the initial test tonight.
edit. Managed 10, this could be slow and painful.
i will have a go at this managed 62 in a minute as a kid so be interested to see how i get on.
Just did the second session.
I still ache from the first session
I hate pushups.
In the second group, shameful performance 🙁
Ha 🙂
Despite being 40 years and 5 months old this is the first time I've encountered [i]any[/i] tangible 'benefit' of being "40+"
ie. I'm now at the bottom of a higher rank as opposed to being at the top of a lower rank.
Fool!
Managed 14 so I'll se how I get on
I'm up for this, will try the test tonight once I get home from work.
That's Week 1, Day 2 done.
Sets of 6, 8, 6, 6 and 20
Still feeling the effects of Day 1, but the muscles should get used to the effort soon enough.
I am due to do day 2 of week 1 today and I am putting it off for as long as possible - I am still really sore from Tuesdays effort. 🙁
I'll try it. 19 on first test, stupid overlong monkey arms...
Gonna start tonight, also the situp thingy!
I'm giving this a go as well, first day today. I'm doing the 200 situps one as well. The iphone apps are useful for keeping track.
I am also a tad tight after doing the test (30) and my day 1 on Tuesday (14 - 18 - 14 - 14 - 30).
Not too bad for a 42 yr old hefty but not looking forward to tonights session (post bike ride) !
I did this last year and just reached a point where i just stayed for ages. Still do a set from week 4 3x a week but doubt i will ever see it through to conclusion tho.
I managed to get to week 6, column 2, day 1... but I haven't done more than a couple of sets for about 8 weeks. I found that I had to do three sessions a week to make any progress and that it took me about 3 months to get from week 3 to week 6.
Right, I just bit the bullet and did week 1 day 2 and it wasn't as bad as I feared. I managed to do 25% more than last time.
I am going to hurt like hell tomorrow though, I just know it.
Anyone still sticking to this? I just did my 22-30-20-20 & 38 today...
...also started the sit-up plan to get rid of the auld gut 😕
I've just finished week one after taking a a fortnight over it; being ultra-cautious to avoid injury and build up the strength slowly - overdid things last year.
Week two starts tomorrow.
Started it last week in week 3, column 1. So tonight start week 4.
Not wishing to sound a complete sack but I'm finding it reasonably easy so far (the last set of the last day last week I managed 26). Am pessimistically guessing that won't last.
I am doing week 3 day 1 today. When I did my 'recalibration' test yesterday I was really surprised to find I could move up to the next level too. It's (currently) going better than I expected.
Going to start the situp thing this week too, I think...
Just finished week 4 column 1, and the progress test has put me into week 5 column 2. Looking at the jump in numbers I think this may be where the real pain begins.
I'm about to embark on wk 4 col 2. I think I am going to start struggling now and depending how tomorrow goes I may choose to repeat week 3 instead - the dodgy shoulder has been grumbling a bit so I reckon I should take it steady.
Still, I'm pleased I've got this far AND that I've stuck with it...
my shoulder got a bit upset after one session and I decided to give it a rest for a while before it felt better. I've not really started again 🙁
I've just injured my back in an SXC race which will set things back a bit. Hadn't progressed beyond week 2 anyway, though I'm determined to make progress with it once the back is ok again.
Week 2 was feeling quite easy; I'm not really pushing myself because I'd been concerned about the dodgy shoulder.
I think I've got to that stage in life when there is ALWAYS something that hurts... 😥
That's a good program - impressed.
I used to teach the circuits/exercise side of a kickboxing class and we used similar technique but that's more refined.
Be really careful with bad shoulders - mine used to dislocate all the time (30+ times) and press ups didn't help when it went - however after it healed a bit, they helped strengthen my rotator cuffs (the supporting muscles that keep your shoulder "in")
Should anyone be struggling, let me know - I've spent almost 20 years training like a nutter in the gym and at home so have become pretty good at press ups/pull ups/sit ups/etc.
If anyone here gets really good, I can show them a very evil press up variation. Very few people can do them.
No thanks mate, I can handle this one myself.
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Errmmmm....
Surf mat, what is this demon pressup technique? I know a few hard ones... And I'm in, but injured my wrist again yesterday so will start tomorow or Wednesday. I'm intruiged where I'll have to start...0
Lyons - got some pics but will avoid posting them if I can help it...!
Basically kneel down with feet touching a wall (behind you). Put your hands in a diamond shape no more than 8 inches from your knees. Put your head "in" this diamond. Straighten your legs (you'll now be in an inverted "V" shape). Now push up from this position - very intense on your triceps. Not many can do them properly.
There's also "gecko" press ups and a few others.
If the text doesn't help, I will resort to pics.
Trying to do "planche" press ups but they are VERY hard. Getting there.
Can do around 150 press ups, 25 pull ups, etc, etc blah blah and weird gymnastic "stunts" using upper body strength (free standing handstand press ups, etc). All a bit pointless but kind of fun.
Just did week 2 day 1 (I am in group 3 having done 15 on my initial test) - 14, 14, 10, 10, 15
The last set were extremely hard and I now feel battered.
I'm starting on monday, managed 27 on the initial test. Got my plan on my door, I'm starting on week one and hopefully ready to. How are you guys finding it?
Just noticed this thread, so joined in. Did 13 on initial test, but no way can I do column 3! 2 sets of 10 was my limit.
So will continue on Weds with column 2.
Just completed wk6 col3, when you actually complete the programme what's next do you try to build up to sets of 100 or solely 100 every other day?
Just started week 5 now having started the programme last month (at wk3) I am chuffed to have doubled my capability to 55 - todays session being 36, 40, 30, 24, 55 which felt like a lot!
The next phase looks intense though, bit worried!
I must be a big ponce as as usual i hit week 4 and just get stuck for ages.
I've been doing a week every 10-14 days as a result of distractions etc - no rush, but I can definitely do more now than when I started.
I'll put out the flags when my better half spots any difference...
I think the person who came up with the original completely unachievable plan must be pissing themselves with laughter 🙂
150 push ups - yes but not easy
25 pull ups - yep.
200 sit ups - yep
200 squats - hard but doable.
Not all one after the other but can definitely do level 7 on all if done individually. Been at this kind of stuff for almost 20 years though (now 34).
grtdkad - MemberI've been doing a week every 10-14 days as a result of distractions etc - no rush, but I can definitely do more now than when I started.
I'll put out the flags when my better half spots any difference...
Mine did the other day... and I'm only on week 4... But having said that I'm built like an anorexic pipe cleaner that has just suffered from a nasty bout of dysentry after a month-long fast... So improvements are fairly obvious...
150 push ups - yes but not easy
No shit. 
As said up there, I was concerned at the jump from Week 4 column 1 to Week 5 column 2. And rightly so - I failed spectacularly on day 1.
Ignored days 2 and 3 and went on a drinking/smoking/cake-eating binge instead.
Am now repeating Week 5 but doing column 1 instead.
Started week 3 column 3 yesterday. Completed all of it and pushed out 30 for the last set. No aches today.
LOL at Helios...
I long for a bout of dysentry! but will just have to go out on my bike instead...
I'm still haunted by the comments I overheard at Mayhem a few years ago.."...look there's a hefty one..." (rider)
ooh me too beamers, managed to push 40 though on the last set - god knows how 😯 . been nowhere near that before!
Oh man, I wish I hadn't seen this thread.
I did it last year and got up to about 68-ish before going on holiday and abandoning it.
Really should get back on it again...
: P
Week 3, Day 2, Column 3 completed this morning. 40 press ups in the last set. (trying to match dirtbikers final set figure above)
ha ha ha beamers i don't want to make this a competition! congrats though, just about to get mine done...
40 on the last set and it nearly killed me ha ha ha
after 2 weeks of a lack of motivation as I was on "holiday" I am on week 3 for the 3rd time.
I think I am probably going to have to repeat week 3 again next week as well as I am struggling to hit the goal for the final max set.
But I can certainly do more than I could when i started - even if doing it in 6 weeks was a little optimistic
I only managed 9 (level 2) on my initial test. WHAT A WIMP!
I think therefore I should join up
I can only improve from that and those muscles (that feel worked now) don't feel like they've ever been used....
Is anyone else having difficulty getting access to the 'logger' part of their website?