I’ve had questions – people want answers. ‘What happened in week 6?’ they ask.
Well as you know week 6 came and went about 2 weeks ago (sorry if my days are off but I don’t know whether I’m coming or going lately). Basically the challenge was about being able to do 100 consecutive pushups by the end of 6 weeks.
Want to know my professional opinion on this?
Bollocks!
I’m what I consider a fit person. I cycle around 30 miles per week and run about 15 miles per week. For the last 8 weeks I have put every effort into being able to do the 100 pushups. I’ve trained most days leaving an odd day out each week for a rest. I really have given it my full effort.
OK, so the last week is a far cry from my first attempts of not even being able to push myself off the floor at all so I have made good progress. I also accepted that because of my damaged shoulder I wasn’t going to be able to be as quick or as strong as someone of similar fitness with a perfect shoulder might be which led me to stick with the girly pushups as opposed to the full on toes and hands stance which hurt my shoulder.
I think for many, many people this challenge is unattainable. I looked on the hundred pushup website and found more than three or four hundred people have registered as taking the challenge. You want to know how many have written in to say they did it?
Six.
Six people claim to have done the challenge and I don’t know what their physical background was when the started but I’m sure they weren’t as pathetic as me!
NOW – I’m not totally down on this whole pushup malarky because there is a fantastic side to this. My arms are definately more shapely and toned because of my efforts. Cracking down on the floor for 2 minutes each night is NO sacrifice at all to be able to get great looking arms that don’t ache when you have to hold your hairdryer above your head for 15 minutes like I do. It doesn’t cost anything, you don’t need special kit to do it, you don’t need a lot of space and you can do it anywhere… pushups don’t have to stop when you go on holiday. 2 minutes is all you need to do out a set of pushups – perhaps a few minutes more if you start counting near the 100’s.
I’ve also found my stomach is more toned which in turn has strengthened my back. Some of this is probably due to the plank position I’ve been holding regularly in an attempt to make my arms strong enough to do a pushup. Either way I’m benefitting in many more ways by having taken on this challenge.
And it doesn’t end there. Although I think the 100 pushups in 6 weeks is not possibe for most people (including the guy who wrote the program – because at last contact I believe he said he’d needed to repeat a week himself) I do think it’s a great idea and it’s inspired loads of people who are now, like me, enjoying the benefits I’d otherwise never have had.
I know there are three people that read this site who have been inspired enough by my effort to start doing pushups themselves and that makes me feel brilliant. It’s a great feeling to inspire someone else to do something, so good luck to you.
Right – here is what should have been week 6’s video, although it’s been done on week 8 but for the sake of being orderly I’m going to overlook that and lie. It’s a quicky because we’re off tomorrow night for THE OUTER HEBRIDES and I have loads to do.
So…… how many did I manage? You’ll have to watch the video.
Following this video I’m going to continue with the pushups and update you periodically when I reach milestones that I think are worth shouting about. I’ll get there if it throws my shoulder out! (and then I’ll have the perfect excuse to stop). I’m kidding!
Fox's Den 