100 pushup challenge: update 1

As you recall, along with zillions of J.D.-fearing minions, I recently challenged myself to doing 100 pushups in 6 weeks, which would be somewhere at the end of July for me. In my original post I didn't go so far as to scoff at the challenge, because I knew it would be tough! But I did suggest that the comparison between doing 100 pushups and running a marathon was not quite the right comparison, because while 100 pushups will be hard, running a marathon is freaking harder, OK? Even seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong said that running the New York Marathon in 2006 "was without a doubt the hardest physical thing I have ever done". (Of course Lance finished in under 3 hours, while my marathon took me 4:28. But I ride my bike only ~600 miles a year.) So all I was saying was, pushups and marathons aren't the same.

But I must say, I'm having a hard time. First off, my biggest problem is my ab muscles. I went into this challenge with both my pushup muscles and my core muscles being way out of condition. I am not familiar with a way to do pushups without tightening my core muscles, and so the result of my very first day of pushups was several days of sore abs.

Week 1 recap:
So the first day of the challenge I performed according to schedule, and did 5 sets of the following numbers of pushups: 2-2-2-2-3. The next two days of the pushup challenge I could not do a single regular pushup due to ab pain, so instead I modified my schedule and performed increased repetitions of modified (knee) pushups. So instead of performing 4-3-2-2-4 and 5-4-4-3-5 on days 2 and 3, I performed more like 12-12-12-12-12 and 15-15-15-15-15 modified pushups. In the past, completing huge messes of knee pushups really helped my regular pushups improve, so I'm going with that theory this time, as well.

Week 2 recap:
A similar thing happened during the second week. I performed according to schedule on day 1 (4-4-3-3-5) and day 2 (6-5-3-3-6), but on day 3 my abs were holding me back from performing my pushups in acceptable form so instead I did something like 5 regular pushups followed by 15-20-20-15 knee pushups.

I really think I can hit the goal of 100 pushups, but I'm not sure I can do so according to the schedule at one hundred pushups. When I previously reached 50 pushups within 4 weeks I was doing pushups 5 days per week, and more repetitions. So, will I be "cheating" if I do extra? Can I say I'm participating in the same challenge if I modify my schedule? I think the challenge is just to complete 100 pushups, and not necessarily do so according to any particular plan, right?

That's what I'm going to go with. Because we're already 1/3 finished with the challenge and I can't even do 10 regular pushups. I need to pick up the pace.

Personal fitness challenge: 100 pushups

Inspired by J.D. at Get Fit Slowly and a whole mess of other people who were also inspired by J.D., today I embark on a challenge to be able to do 100 pushups -- yes, all at one time -- within six weeks.

We are following the guide at one hundred pushups. The program is on the side of less-intense in that we only need to practice three days per week. An initial test establishes the number of pushups we do during each session and at what rate we progress. For my initial test I could do 5 pushups, so for my first session -- today's session -- I completed a total of 11 pushups. It wasn't easy; despite using free weights a few times a week, these particular muscles are out of shape. And my initial test placed me in the remedial pushup group.

So this particular group of internet pusher-uppers started today, and will train on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Get Fit Slowly will post a reminder on each of those days, which will certainly help me stay motivated. I imagine I'll report here once a week or so, to keep you apprised of my progress.

In his initial post, J.D. compares this challenge with completing a marathon. I've run a marathon, and I predict that a marathon, plus all the training that goes along with it, is tougher. I've never done 100 pushups but once I did go from 0 to 50 in 4 weeks, and those 4 weeks were nothing even remotely like 4 weeks of marathon training. And the marathon itself, well, that's a lot of hours on one's feet. The 50 pushups were over in a few minutes. The training was less intense and the feat itself was less intense. I really do not mean to dismiss this challenge at all, and I won't even bet that I will accomplish it in the end. I'm just telling you my prediction, my opinion, at the outset. We'll see how wrong or right I am ... in 4 weeks!

My first fitness reward

This road to weight loss is going slowly, and I think that's the best way for me to do it. (Not surprisingly, others agree! The theory is particularly glorified in the blog Get Fit Slowly, which is a part of my daily reading list.) In the past, I typically got so charged up when starting a new fitness plan that for the first several days I'd eat very little and end up losing 5 or 6 lbs. almost instantly, only to be faced with a frustrating plateau and a grumbling belly. Now, I'm just exercising and eating sensibly. I don't have a calorie deficit every day, but as long as I hit a deficit more days than not, I'll eventually get to where I want to be. Wherever that is.

Back in February I began this journey to fitness, and you'll recall that I set up a rewards system for myself. The system was to be one of the more tangible motivators for my fitness regime. The system is: for every 4 lbs. I lose, I get to spend $50 on exercise apparel for myself. You see, most of my workout gear dates back to my college days (which were quite a while ago) and need to be updated for ... many reasons. I'm quite utilitarian and I run all my clothing into the ground before discarding it. (Unless it no longer fits or is 100% out of style, in which case I donate it. What lucky recipients.) But it's getting to the point where some items are going to need replacing soon. So! Out with the old, and in with the rewards system!

And now ... it's time for my first reward! I've officially lost my first 4 lbs., and I've visited Road Runner Sports and purchased a basic little outfit that I'm quite enjoying.

The Shirt:


The Shorts:


Both items are currently on sale for many, many dollars off.

So, here are my stats:
Beginning weight: 154 lbs.
Current weight: 150 lbs.
Goal weight: 138-142 lbs. (negotiable, depending on how I feel.)
Height: 5'9"
Gender: Female

I keep track of both what I eat and when I exercise using FitDay. It helps me keep my good days good. I can look at a day and say, "OK, I've eaten my goal number of calories and I feel pretty good, so I really don't need to eat this extra blankety-blank." I still have bad days when all bets are off (due to stress or social functions), but I figure if I can keep my good days good, and have fewer bad days, that will help my reach my goal.

I still don't know exactly how far I will want to go with the weight loss. I think I won't be satisfied until I drop a pants size, and then that will be enough. Right now, I just have my eye focused on the next 4 lbs.

4 pounds at a time

Like many people, I gained some weight over the holidays. I doubt the reasons for my weight gain were the most popular reasons, which I assume to be holiday parties, holiday get togethers, and more holiday parties. The truth is, I had a lot of free time on my hands. December is almost always a slow month in my line of work, and that was compounded with the problem that my client list had been dwindling, slowly but consistently, over the course of 2007. (That is a topic for another day!)

And you know what they say about idle minds and the devil's playground: they are one and the same. With all this free time on my hands, did I take the opportunity to exercise? To cook healthy meals? To buck the norm? Why, no. I spent that time wallowing in my worries, rather than concentrating on any kind of personal development. I was insecure about my situation, I got myself caught in a rut, and it was a mistake. Once 2008 rolled around, I took the opportunity to try to kick myself in the pants and turn things around.

I have been doing many things on my personal development road (including concentrating on getting this blog up and running), not just dieting. This entry will focus on the way I'm going about taking off those devil pounds. Here is a list of the things I'm focusing on to achieve my goal:

1) I don't have a goal weight. I started this process at 154 lbs. I know how I looked and felt the last time I weighed 132 lbs, which is the least I've weighed during my adult life. It felt great. But I am far more athletic and have more muscle mass now than I did then, so I really don't have a solid idea of what weight will make me most comfortable. I think somewhere around 140 will feel about right (maybe ... 135?), but we'll see when we get there. So I'm playing it by ear.

2) I do have a goal pants size: 8. (According to Banana Republic it's 6, bless their heart, but every other brand I wear runs smaller.) It's only one size down from where I am now. But I *barely* fit into my current pants, so let's call my goal size one and a half sizes down from where I am currently. My height is 5'9" and I know enough about my body to know that I would need to starve myself to fit into a 6. (Size 4, according to BR ... 4?! I don't think I wore a 4 even when I was in fifth grade.) So, size 8 it is.

3) I have motivation. Several things to motivate me, in fact. One is that I'm participating in Hustle up the Hancock on February 24, and the better shape I'm in for that, the better off I'll be. Another motivating factor is the stack of size 8 jeans in my closet. I don't think I need to expound there. My health is my most important motivating factor. I like to feel good, and I want to live a long, healthy life. Exercising will help achieve that end, as will eating less. Eating *better* is also something I am trying to do, but simply decreasing my calorie intake (and cutting out much of the junk food) is an excellent step as well.

But I also have a motivating factor that is much more instantly gratifying, is tangible, and is material: I am using a rewards system. One sad truth in my life is that my drawer of workout gear is filled with spandex and nylon that I have accumulated over the past, oh, twenty years. I haven't bought anything new in literally years. Things are falling apart, things have built-in odors, things have deteriorating elastic. But exercise gear is so darn expensive that I've long considered it a luxury that I don't need to indulge in. I have become completely utilitarian in that area. Which I think is a good thing, but the fact is, I'm running out of comfortable and useful clothing to exercise in, and I think this is the perfect opportunity to buy some new togs.

So here's the system: for every 4 lbs. I lose, I get to spend $50 on exercise clothing. I chose 4 lbs. because, well, 5 is too many, and 3 is too few. I'm pretty darn sure I won't lose over 16 lbs, so that's a maximum $200 I'm spending on myself, and that seems like a good, heavy but not crippling, rewarding number of dollars. (And if it turns out to be only $150, all the better for my bank account.)

If you've ever shopped for exercise wear, you know that $50 won't buy you a hell of a lot. So for this type of attire, I shop sales. I am currently making my way through several dog-eared pages in a recent Athleta catalog, creating my wish list. I also have a Champion catalog whose line tends to be lower-priced to begin with. And after that, perhaps I'll actually (gasp) go out and hit some local stores to peruse their sales racks.

So here I go. When I reach my first goal of 150, you'll be hearing from me again, and getting a look at my first reward. I can't wait to post about it!