Final Word on Pushup Challenge (I Promise)

32 Replies

OK, I mentioned the pushup challenge on several posts, including using that it is finally over as my Weekly Smile, but I really haven’t talked about it. What was it, how did I get into it, what were my experiences and what are my final thoughts? Well, if you were curious…

About a month ago my brother tagged me on FaceBook for the challenge. It was to do 25 pushups every day for 25 days, video it, and post on FaceBook with a little blurb about PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). I was also supposed to tag someone every day, but, just NO.

I’m in pretty good shape. I have been very consistent in my exercise routine through 2020, including a full body weight training that I do at least twice a week. I almost never do pushups, but it should not have been hard, right?

So I did the first 25, face into the camera. I hated the video, so tried again, but only reached 17. Half an hour later, I tried one more time, but only 20. On the other hand, I had done 62 pushups that first day! So the rest should have been a piece of cake, right?

On the second day I began to get sore abbot half way through and lost count. I did 27, to be safe. I looked at the video and, YUCK! I thought I was doing pretty good, but they were awful! (I started saying everyone who made fun of my form had to do the challenge ;) ).

Day three, my pectoral muscles were burning by umber 10. Day 4, by 8. My head was bobbing all over the place, and my body did a little wave on the way up.

I started to pick a spot on the floor and keeping my eyes on it, which helped the head bob, but it was difficult and I had to keep my mind on it. By day 8 the burn on my Pecs started to decrease.

I have done a ton of abdominal exercises in the past, working the “core”. Oh well, I discovered that my core was still weak. So I started to work on that, and keeping my body from flopping.

Yuck.

OK, quick numbers – After the first day, I ended up doing 50 three more times because I didn’t record the first 25. I did 26 on 9 days and 27 on 5. I did at least 725 pushups over those 25 days…

Every day I tried to do something different so people would know I wasn’t cheating. One day I pretended to be in high school gym class. Twice I had my kayak in the background. I went shirtless once (so embarrassing! (even though I am a guy, so nothing naughty)).

Take aways? First, I need to incorporate pushups in my normal exercise routine, at least twice a week. I need to start at 15 and make sure I go very deep and have perfect form. Maybe do two sets of 15 at different times in my routine.

Second, I wasn’t in as good of shape as I thought! I am looking at other exercises to do to mix up my routine and make sure I hit all major muscle groups.

Third, I am actually glad I participated. It was a good challenge. I got something out of it and I hope to continue to receive benefit.

Anyway, if you didn’t see it before and are curious, here is the video of the last day. I put my Piano Prelude #11 in Bb Major in the background so something would be interesting ;) I did a total of 26 here, including that half a push up at the end.

(Click here if you do not see the video below)

Yeah, my form is awful, but I finished. And, as I said, that last half pushup was really number 26, so it doesn’t count against me that it was totally awful ;)


(In the past, I have written a few posts about exercise and may someday do a series, but not yet…)

32 thoughts on “Final Word on Pushup Challenge (I Promise)”

  2. Prior...

    Congrats!!
    And love that Pink Floyd shirt! And the art to the right….
    —
    And I know what you mean about mixing up the muscle groups – and developing core strength is so different from other things –
    Congrats again – and what a nice cause

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks, Y. I chose a different shirt for most days and didn’t know what to wear. I had never worn this because it is a very small fit (I like a tight t-shirt, but the shoulders on this are a couple of inches short…) I have plateaued on many of my exercises, so I need to start mixing it up again…

      Liked by 2 people

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      1. Prior...

        Well push-ups are so hard so dude – you really developed that strength over the weeks ((did I tell you I am doing pull ups on the “over the door bar” and I can do almost four – went from just holding and hanging for 40 seconds to now about four – still jump up to start but progress))
        –
        And the funny think about t-shifts these days is that they can be all over the place with neckline – shoulder cut and length and a wrong fit is a wrong fit !
        Hope it was not too much of a waste of $

        Liked by 2 people

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        1. trentpmcd Post author

          Funny, I just ordered an over the door pull-up bar. I had been looking into it for a while, and decided to pull the trigger when I got back to NH.

          Yeah, I wish sizes were consistent. The shirt was in the men’s section, but I wonder if it was supposed to be youth or women. It wasn’t super expensive, and now that I wore it once, I will most likely wear it occasionally. I had originally planned on just using it for the video, but did my entire weight routine and it wasn’t uncomfortable after I started, so…

          Liked by 1 person

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  3. Chel Owens

    I have to do girl push-ups! I had your same experience with a friend inviting me to get aerobics class at the gym, though. I thought I was in shape because I would run a mile now and then – the instructor had just had a miscarriage and was leaving me in the dust!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      I think we all over estimate ourselves, but there is the thing about using different muscles in a different way. I run five miles at least twice a week, but there are some activities that quickly leave me winded! I’m sure that instructor would have left me in the dust if it was my first or second day as well…. It is good to challenge ourselves occasionally.

      Liked by 1 person

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  5. Ocean Bream

    This is actually so motivating. And certainly a wonderful achievement! I have been trying to do the squat challenge but man I always give up. You describing how hard it was yet still pushing through felt like those inspiring movie montages of the protagonist doing workouts and getting fitter and fitter as time went by, lol. This is awesome. I hope you’re proud of yourself, I would be!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks! Maybe I should make a movie about it. Wait I already did. Ugh, on watching it, no… ;) lol I’m glad you found it inspiring :) I haven’t seen the squat challenge, but since I already do squats as part of my normal routine, it might not be as much of a challenge for me as the pushup one was (famous last words ;) ). Not my biggest accomplishment, but, yes, I am proud of seeing it through to the end without any pauses or interruptions. Thanks again :)

      Liked by 1 person

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  6. RuthScribbles

    Well done!! I now ride my stationary bike 20 minutes every other day. I should add some days… or at least one, so that every week I am doing at minimum three a week. It has helped my back a lot, and my knees. Also to lose weight. I hate exercise, but this has been ok so far.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks!

      Pretty good. I hate, hate, the conventional home stationary bikes, but I used to do a spin class and liked those bikes. I try to run three times a week, though it doesn’t always work. With your bike work, any type of intense movement is good for you. Actual, any movement at all! As to knees and backs and things, the funny thing with me is that when I the habit of weight/strength exercises started to become more ingrained (about 5 years ago), I became much more flexible and my knee and back pains went away.

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Not quite your entire body weight, but very close! I think around 80% (I did a little research when I started to see what to do with the bad form). A lot of people on my FB can’t do more than 10, which is one reason I didn’t tag anyone (don’t want people hating me ;) ).

      Liked by 1 person

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        1. trentpmcd Post author

          My brother tagged someone every day for the first six days. I was the only one to respond ;) Yes, I think most people do ignore them… And I had fun with it :)

          Like

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  9. Dale

    Good for you,Trent!
    A friend of mine did the challenge and, being a natural comedian, had some silly blurb before each one. He did them face to the camera, so we’ll have to assume his form was good ;-)
    All for a good cause!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks, Dale! I did a silly blurb on a couple, but the one that stood out was the high school gym one. Nobody commented on it, so either they didn’t watch or I’m not as much of a natural comedian as your friend ;)

      Liked by 1 person

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