My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: "O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!"

30 July 2008

Aloha-or, how Hawaii kills push ups

While many of our friends went to the RP conference at Calvin college, we went to Hawaii. They're back and we're back. But we're more tan. Plus, we swam with sea turtles. The downside, though, is twofold: I hear we missed a lot of great preaching and fellowship. And it turns out that it is physically impossible to stay on the push up routine in Hawaii. So, for all my push up buddies, I'm a week behind, maybe two. I'll let you know.

16 comments:

Daniel said...

Apparently, so does the International Conference. We're on the same page. So your cred is not shot. Or ... both of ours is.

Joshua said...

done with week four and I'm so sore. did the scheduled every day and my maxes were 30, 44, 30 and my big test put me at 58, so I'm up one from two weeks ago, but having 42 more to gain and looking over next week's schedule makes me think I might have to do it a couple times.

Brad said...

The program for pushups does not seem to be too intelligently conceived. Mostly it's just unrealistic to make the number jumps that the program prescribes. But I'll keep with it as much as possible. I've completed the third week and have not been able to get the minimum on all the final maxes of the workout. I'll just do the weeks over again until I can. But my number of total push-ups seems to always go up, so progress is definitely being made. And popping out the first 20 of the first set of a workout has become much easier.

BamFam said...

Level 5 (maxes): 35, 51 and 50.
Exhaustion test: 82

I have to agree with Brad on the unrealistic nature of the six week plan. I'd like to see someone who started out at 10-20 push-ups get to 100 in just six weeks but doesn't seem possible to me with this plan. I reckon I'll get there but I started out at 78.

Brad said...

What's this exhaustion test you speak of Brandon? I don't see that mentioned in the program. Oh, just looked, I see it. Oops, didn't do it after the second week. But it doesn't say where to put it in the schedule.

In other words, you're supposed to max out on reps on a single exercise 7 times every two weeks. That's just dumb. A sure-fire recipe for over-training, or at least giving you reason to think exercising must always be hell(soreness doesn't equate with gains in strength).

It's still a lot better than nothing, which is what I was doing at the time I started the program. And despite all the above I might do the above if I don't manage 100 push-ups this time.

Brad said...

I meant "might do it again," not "might do the above..."

Joshua said...

ugh. First day of week five and I failed at 18 on the third set. the next two days look easier, but I'll be doing this week again.

Lisa said...

Pep talk! I went to Hawaii too. I swam with sea turtles, AND stayed on track with the push ups. I started at 8, so if the plan works for me, then that makes the rest of you sissy-men. Only time will tell. Now: Down! Down! Down!

Jared said...

Well, let's all hope the plan doesn't work for my beautiful bride, lest we all earn the label sissy-men. :)

BamFam said...

week 5:
41, 61 and 70 making for 2106 pushups in total through the 5 weeks.

Bring it on, Lisa!

Joshua said...

well here's my week five:
day 1 failed at 18 on third set and 25 on max set~ gave em an extra break and finished.
days 2&3 did all the normal and minimum max.
Today I took on Lisa's challenge and decided to modify the schedule a little so I didn't max out like I was supposed to. Instead I'm doing the weakest set of week six. Monday I'm going to do the middle set and Tuesday I'm on to the hardest set. Then I'll let my body recover and try for the 100 on Saturday!

Joshua said...

It was ugly. Very very ugly, BUT I DID 100!!!!

I died at 70 and had to power through the next 30 with 1 or 2 push-ups at a time. By the end my legs were shaking so much that I thought they would collapse. But I did it! If the fat lazy pilot guy can do it then you can too! Keep it up guys.

BamFam said...

week 5 exhaustion test: 95 (I thought I would get it but then my arms buckled)

Week 6 maxes 56, 56 and 56

Final test: 106

Brad said...

I don't know how you guys are doing it, still doing the exhaustion test in a week of three full workouts. I need to catch up. I've started doing some stuff in the morning to help me wake up. Hopefully it will help me get to 100 sooner too.

I wonder how the others who started out with lower numbers are making out. Maybe we lost them.

Jared said...

Well, I tried to post last night, but it didn't work.

First off, congratulations to Josh & Brandon! That's impressive stuff.

I am definitely one of the ones who started with a lower count (somewhere in the high 30s, if I remember correctly). Due to various factors--vacation, starting to run again, more physical labor than normal, laziness and forgetfulness--I'm way behind you guys. Last night I started week 4, but it's probably too far ahead of where I am. I'm really having a hard time making the jumps from week to week. Alas.

But I will persevere for the time being.

Alicia said...

I got to week three, and kept forgetting, then Ryan got the chicken pox. My maxes each day were only a few above the minimum required, but I do feel stronger. I'm doing the girly style, too. My initial test was 25 at the beginning.