This is an account of my 100 pushup a day for 30 days challenge. This article was written during those days. I know that this is a last year’s meme, but I’m not doing this for views, I’m doing it for myself.
Back when I was in the Coast Guard I could definitely do more than now, not to mention that I did way more than 100 push-ups a day during my time in bootcamp. To be honest, I’m ashamed of myself. I don’t know what to expect since I have really not done any resistance excercice since I started the ketogenic lifestyle the only thing that I’m certain of is that it’s going to hurt.
My Rules
- I will not get out of my house without doing at least one set 25 push-ups. I know that if I don’t start in the early morning, I’m going to keep pushing it further and further until it’s 2359 and I haven’t done a single push-up. If after a few mornings I feel like it gets easier to do 25 (and really I hope it does), I’ll definitely up the number.
- I’ll do my best to do some push-ups at work, but that would mean doing push-ups in the street, or in someone else’s house as I am now working as a pool technician. Yup, I’ll look like a weirdo. I’ll do some after I go back home, and the last few right before going to bed.
- I will follow the Coast Guard standards for my push-ups because I know that is the correct form, and honestly, I’m used to it:
Perform by placing hands shoulder-width apart, your feet together and your body forming a generally straight line from the shoulders to the ankles. Keep your body straight throughout the exercise. Lower your body until your chest touches the pad, then push up to the initial position by completely straightening the arms. Source: www.gocoastguard.com/…/physical-fitness
Preparation
I didn’t take pictures, or weighted myself. I’m taking a break from the scale (it broke), but I estimate that I’m right under 180 lbs. I did take measures:
- Height: 69″
- Waist: 37″
- Neck: 16.25″
- Biceps: 13.5″
Body mass Index: 21% (as per the USCG tables).
Let’s begin!
Week 1
Day 1:
Morning 1: 15 reps.
Morning 2: 10 reps.
First day was a failure as I came back home at 0200 AM.
Day 2:
Afternoon 1: 25 reps.
Afternoon 2: 25 reps.
Evening 1: 25 reps.
Evening 2: 25 reps.
Starting to feel the heat. I was doubting myself doing 100 before the night ended.
Day 3:
Morning: 25 reps.
Afternoon: 25 reps.
Evening 1: 25 reps.
Evening 2: 25 reps.
I totally forgot that push-ups work not only for your arms, but for your back, abs, and legs too. I can definitely feel it, and the feeling is hurt. It’s hard and it hurts, but I still haven’t got to muscle failure.
Day 4:
Morning: 25 reps.
Afternoon: 30 reps.
Evening: 25 reps.
Today’s total: 75, I failed again.
Day 5:
Morning: 25 reps.
Afternoon: 25 reps.
Evening 1: 25 reps.
Evening 2: 25 reps.
I felt like I could push a little bit more, but I wasn’t sure that was a good idea. I need to research why am I hearing a popping sound in my right shoulder. It doesn’t hurt or anything. I’m probably just getting old.
Day 6:
Morning: 30 reps.
Afternoon: 30 reps.
Evening 1: 20 reps.
Evening 2: 20 reps.
Day 7
Morning: 34 reps.
Evening 1: 33 reps.
Evening 2: 33 reps.
I couldn’t do them before getting out of my house, so I did it at my job, on the gravel. I’m going to try to do thirds (34/33/33) instead of quarters (25/25/25/25). It sure made it easier.
Week 2
Day 8
Morning: 34 reps.
Afternoon: 33 reps.
Evening: 33 reps.
It feels a lot easier to do on an empty stomach. The reason I do them after eating my breakfast is because I want to make sure that I have something to eat and that I’m not going to be late.
Day 9
Morning: 40 reps.
Evening 1: 40 reps.
Evening 2: 40 reps.
I have to confess, it’s really getting easier to do. Maybe is because I’m well rested? The second set was not as easy as the first one. I did a total of 120 today. I won’t celebrate because I still count many negative push-ups.
Day 10
Morning: 40 reps.
Afternoon: 45 reps.
Evening: 15 reps.
I’ve been trying to do a few reps. at one of the places I stop for work. It’s a place where I am by myself for about a whole hour.
Day 11
Morning: 34 reps.
Afternoon: 33 reps.
Evening: 33 reps.
I didn’t sleep very well last night. Unusual, because I’m sleeping like a baby since I switched to keto.
Day 12
Morning: 34 reps.
Afternoon: 33 reps.
Evening: 33 reps.
I’m debating if I should just try to do more push-ups every day or add crunches to my training. I’m afraid that I’m going to get bored of this challenge if I don’t make it more interesting. I thought that it was going to be tougher.
Day 13
Morning: 34 reps.
Evening 1: 33 reps.
Evening 2: 33 reps.
My hands hurt for some reason. Maybe because I pretty much started doing push-ups as soon as I got out of my bed? By the evening, only my right hand hurts when I do push-ups. I wonder what am I doing wrong.
Week 3
Day 14
Morning: 55
Afternoon: 33
Evening: 22
To commemorate that I’m half way done with this challenge, I tested something. I was curious to see how would I do if I was to take a Coast Guard PT Test for push-ups. It’s my weekend, so I didn’t care if I get sore anyways. I was able to do 55 push-ups before the minute ended. Its OK I guess.
Day 15
Morning: 50 reps.
Today I’m starting to do 2 sets of 50 per day instead of dividing them in thirds.
Day 16
Morning: 50 reps.
Afternoon: 50 reps.
Day 17
Morning: 50 reps.
Afternoon: 50 reps.
Day 18
Morning: 50 reps.
Afternoon: 50 reps.
Day 19
Morning: 50 reps.
Evening: 50 reps.
Day 20
Evening 1: 70 reps.
Evening 2: 30 reps.
I totally forgot I was still doing this challenge! It was the first time that I’ve been able to do 70 reps. in a long time.
Week 4
Day 21
Morning: 50 reps.
Evening: 50 reps.
Day 22
Afternoon: 60 reps.
Evening: 40 reps.
Day 23
Morning: 34 reps.
Afternoon: 33 reps.
Evening: 33 reps.
Today was not the best day for me, I woke up late and didn’t feel that good. I’ve been eating too much protein, so I reduced my intake.
Day 24
Afternoon: 60 reps.
Evening: 40 reps.
Day 25
Afternoon: 60 reps.
Evening: 40 reps.
Day 26
Afternoon: 60 reps.
Evening: 40 reps.
Day 27
Afternoon: 60 reps.
Evening: 40 reps.
Day 28
Morning: 65 reps.
Evening: 35 reps.
Day: 29
Morning: 34 reps.
Afternoon: 33 reps.
Evening: 33 reps.
Day: 30!
Afternoon: 70 reps.
Evening: 30 reps.
There was nothing different about this week. That’s it!
Conclusion
I was not able to be able to do 100 reps. in a single sitting, but I felt like I went from zero to hero. At the beginning it hurt a lot, but that lasted only a few days. It became part of my daily routine as it became easier and easier. I am planning to keep doing at least 100 push ups a day from now on, especially since I am now used to it. It doesn’t take much time to do 50 push ups before going to work, so there’s no excuse.
My next personal challenge will be to be able to do 100 reps. in a single set. After that, I would like to be able to do 200 a day. Let’s see…