suzyQlou Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 I've decided that push ups are going to be my focus for the next challenge. Fellow rebel Emerald_Dragonfly is a bit of an inspiration for this challenge. She has been rocking the push ups since we were recruits together. Now it's my turn to make them count. I've decided to shoot for 10 push ups. On my toes. In a row. All the way down. Wise rebels have shown me that it's best to make my challenge goals reflect my effort and let the results take care of themselves. So, instead of focusing on the big number ten (ha! you haven't seen me focusing on the number ten anywhere, have you?), I'm going to break my challenge down into three behavior changes: Goal 1 - Do more push upsMy strength workout is the the Bodyweight Level 3 workout from the NF Academy (with plenty of modifications since I can't do things like pull ups yet). Anyway, the workouts include push ups, but only every other workout. I haven't been progressing with my push ups as I'd like, so I'm going to add more. With every strength workout I do, I will do push ups. If they aren't listed on my plan, I will do them anyway. When I first started push ups, I walked myself down the stairs. Unfortunately, I'm too tall for my landing (or my landing is too short for me) and I don't fit on the last step. So, I switched to knee push ups, and have been adding toe push ups as I can. Progress has been slow, stalled, or negative. On my knees at first, I was been doing as many toe push ups as I could and then finishing the set of 10 on my knees. When that didn't show progress, I changed to doing as many toe push ups as I could, and then doing 15 knee push ups. I'm going to stick with this second method. Eventually, it should pay off. Since each strength workout is a circuit, I will be doing three sets of push ups for each workout. My baseline for toe push ups right now is about 4/3/1. If I can get that first set up to ten, I'm going to be a happy camper. Goal 2 - Do more push upsYeah. I know I already said that, but I'm SERIOUS. I am determined to do more push ups! For the first goal, I am adding push ups to workouts that didn't include them. For my second goal, I'm adding more strength workouts to my week. Instead of my old routine of cardio MWF and strength TTh, I'm going to do a switch-a-roo. I will do strength MWF and cardio TTh. Disclaimer: This goal will kick in after I run my first ever 5K on August 8th. I feel like I need to keep running three times a week until I get the race under my belt. Until then, I'm going to use Goal 2 as a place to track my running progress. Disclaimer 2. I considered adding cardio on Saturday to keep the heart going, but I'm just not willing to do that (yet). Since I've brought my running time up from 20 minutes to 30+ a day, I rationalize that two times a week is still going to be better than the old three times. 20 + 20 + 20 < 35 + 35 . Of course it is! Goal 3 - Push up lessThis is where I say that I'm going to lose weight. So...each week, I will be pushing up less weight. See how easy that's going to make my push ups? This is my standard lose-a-pound-a-week goal that I've been using for the past few challenges. I call it "healthy eating", and I used a daily checklist of good eating habits. I eat lots of vegetables, reasonable portion sizes, and limit snacks. If I do everything on my checklist, I lose about a pound a week. Yeah, that's the tricky part. I really need to do everything on my checklist. I blame summertime lack of routine for all my slip-ups lately I've decided to tweak my challenge for this go-around. I'm not going to base my weight loss goal completely on the scale. I am going to award myself points if I either lose a pound a week OR hit five perfect days on the checklist. In theory, they go hand-in-hand. In practice, I make up lots of excuses. Life Goal ?I may fill one in later this week. I haven't really thought about this too much. This challenge is tricky timing. It starts off the week I recover from vacation, and ends during the first week my kids are back in school. Both these weeks are times of transition for me, and I'm going to do my best to rock the challenge right through them. 7 Quote suzyQlou * Ranger Old Challenges: #1(2015) * #2 * #3(push ups) * #4 * #5(food) * #6 * #7(2016)* #8(nerdiversary) * #9 * 10(animal) * Battle Log * 11(2017) * 12(garden) * 13 * 14(biking) * 15 * 16 * 17 * 18 * 19(2018) * 20(2019) * 21 Link to comment
Terra Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 I love the focus of this challenge! It is simple but powerful, can't wait to see you smash your goals!!! 1 Quote Ranger-Monk Hybrid I am a strong little powerhouse Current Challenge: Slow is smooth Link to comment
aimless Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 Yay!!! One of my goals this challenge is to get my push-up count to 10-REAL-from-the-toes-with-good-form-no-cheating!!! YAY FOR PUSH-UPS!!!! 1 Quote Level 1 Centaur Scout / RangerSTR 2 | DEX 2 | STA 1 | CON 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 2Challenge 1 Challenge 2 Challenge 3 Accountability Spreadsheet Current challenge"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway."~Earl Nightingale Link to comment
suzyQlou Posted July 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 Yay!!! One of my goals this challenge is to get my push-up count to 10-REAL-from-the-toes-with-good-form-no-cheating!!! YAY FOR PUSH-UPS!!!! Oh goody! Someone with which I can share the pain joy! But I see you have oh so much more to work towards in your own challenge. I'm following you for the fun, aimless. We can cheer each other along! 1 Quote suzyQlou * Ranger Old Challenges: #1(2015) * #2 * #3(push ups) * #4 * #5(food) * #6 * #7(2016)* #8(nerdiversary) * #9 * 10(animal) * Battle Log * 11(2017) * 12(garden) * 13 * 14(biking) * 15 * 16 * 17 * 18 * 19(2018) * 20(2019) * 21 Link to comment
RoxyFreefall Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 Love it. Can't wait to see your progress. 1 Quote MFP: https://www.myfitnesspal.com/profile/rkonie Name: RKonie Link to comment
aimless Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 Oh goody! Someone with which I can share the pain joy! But I see you have oh so much more to work towards in your own challenge. I'm following you for the fun, aimless. We can cheer each other along!Absolutely!!! Following you back!! We can DO it!!!! 1 Quote Level 1 Centaur Scout / RangerSTR 2 | DEX 2 | STA 1 | CON 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 2Challenge 1 Challenge 2 Challenge 3 Accountability Spreadsheet Current challenge"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway."~Earl Nightingale Link to comment
Tanktimus the Encourager Posted July 23, 2015 Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 You most certainly can do 10 pushups by the end of the challenge. I'm putting $10 NerDollars on late week 4 to early week 5. It's pretty cool Steve's pushup article came out after you posted your thread. Coincidence? 2 Quote Current Challenge "By the Most-Righteous-and-Blessed Beard of Sir Tanktimus the Encourager!" - Jarl Rurik Harrgath Link to comment
suzyQlou Posted July 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 Thanks for the vote of confidence, Tanktimus. My jaw totally dropped when I read the push up blog post yesterday. Push ups are everywhere around the rebellion. There's no way I can fail now. 😀 2 Quote suzyQlou * Ranger Old Challenges: #1(2015) * #2 * #3(push ups) * #4 * #5(food) * #6 * #7(2016)* #8(nerdiversary) * #9 * 10(animal) * Battle Log * 11(2017) * 12(garden) * 13 * 14(biking) * 15 * 16 * 17 * 18 * 19(2018) * 20(2019) * 21 Link to comment
Emerald_Dragonfly Posted July 23, 2015 Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 Your challenge is P E R F E C T ! You can totally reach 10 push ups - and I am so flattered to be on this journey with you! I'm working on my push ups (still), too.We CAN DO IT!Us, in 6 weeks. 2 Quote ~Emerald_Dragonfly Level 13 Warrior Link to comment
Tanktimus the Encourager Posted July 24, 2015 Report Share Posted July 24, 2015 Your challenge is P E R F E C T ! You can totally reach 10 push ups - and I am so flattered to be on this journey with you! I'm working on my push ups (still), too.We CAN DO IT!Us, in 6 weeks. Wait, which one of you is going to be Milhouse? I feel like that is an important distinction to make early on. 2 Quote Current Challenge "By the Most-Righteous-and-Blessed Beard of Sir Tanktimus the Encourager!" - Jarl Rurik Harrgath Link to comment
Emerald_Dragonfly Posted July 24, 2015 Report Share Posted July 24, 2015 One of us is cleverly disguised in a Milhouse suit. 1 Quote ~Emerald_Dragonfly Level 13 Warrior Link to comment
suzyQlou Posted July 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2015 Not so sure my disguise is clever enough. I'm nerd enough to be Milhouse any day. 😜Having a great beach trip so far. Figured out how to read the message boards on my phone, had an awesome run this morning (on the streets, though, the sand was too much), hit the fitness room for stretching, and have been eating remarkably well. It helps knowing the challenge is waiting for me on Monday! 1 Quote suzyQlou * Ranger Old Challenges: #1(2015) * #2 * #3(push ups) * #4 * #5(food) * #6 * #7(2016)* #8(nerdiversary) * #9 * 10(animal) * Battle Log * 11(2017) * 12(garden) * 13 * 14(biking) * 15 * 16 * 17 * 18 * 19(2018) * 20(2019) * 21 Link to comment
Tanktimus the Encourager Posted July 24, 2015 Report Share Posted July 24, 2015 Good for you! 1 Quote Current Challenge "By the Most-Righteous-and-Blessed Beard of Sir Tanktimus the Encourager!" - Jarl Rurik Harrgath Link to comment
suzyQlou Posted July 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 Feeling over-the-top excited that my dear husband is joining the fun in the recruit 6 week challenge. He's been so supportive of all my sweaty socks and other fitness perils over the past few months. His habit of running through the neighborhood all the time got me started. Plus, he's the real expert on anything nerd in our house. Mando Baxter's recruit challenge Ha! I knew you wouldn't be able to resist a Simpsons based thread, Mando. It's gonna be a fun ride 4 Quote suzyQlou * Ranger Old Challenges: #1(2015) * #2 * #3(push ups) * #4 * #5(food) * #6 * #7(2016)* #8(nerdiversary) * #9 * 10(animal) * Battle Log * 11(2017) * 12(garden) * 13 * 14(biking) * 15 * 16 * 17 * 18 * 19(2018) * 20(2019) * 21 Link to comment
Xena Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 Awesome! I'm working on push-ups too. Not sure how far I'll get....had a set-back and haven't tried full pushups in several months, but hoping to build back into them. Will look forward to following this! 1 Quote Xena, Level 14+ Valkyrie Ranger January 2017 December 2016 Oct/Nov 2016 Link to comment
suzyQlou Posted July 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 Happy to be officially kicking off the challenge this morning. My run was slow today, but I made it for my 3 miles. It reminded me that Pennsylvania has hills and humidity. No wonder I felt so great running on the beach last week. Flat with cool breezes! Starting weight for this challenge is 192.5 (up 1/2 a pound since the end of last challenge) which is close to where I wanted to be. Only one night of emotional eating (ummmm drinking?) so I feel good about most of my vacation eating choices. Tomorrow starts the first of the official push ups. I'm strangely excited to get them under way. WooHoo! 4 Quote suzyQlou * Ranger Old Challenges: #1(2015) * #2 * #3(push ups) * #4 * #5(food) * #6 * #7(2016)* #8(nerdiversary) * #9 * 10(animal) * Battle Log * 11(2017) * 12(garden) * 13 * 14(biking) * 15 * 16 * 17 * 18 * 19(2018) * 20(2019) * 21 Link to comment
Tanktimus the Encourager Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 Pushups? More like Earthdowns! 3 Quote Current Challenge "By the Most-Righteous-and-Blessed Beard of Sir Tanktimus the Encourager!" - Jarl Rurik Harrgath Link to comment
Emerald_Dragonfly Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 Pushups? More like Earthdowns! Yup, replacing the term "pushup" with "Earthdown" in my workout log. 1 Quote ~Emerald_Dragonfly Level 13 Warrior Link to comment
Emerald_Dragonfly Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 Tomorrow starts the first of the official push ups. I'm strangely excited to get them under way. WooHoo! Woohoo indeed! 1 Quote ~Emerald_Dragonfly Level 13 Warrior Link to comment
Peace Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 3 miles?! Great! When you train on the hilly terrain, you get stronger faster. Keep it up! 1 Quote Quest 1, Quest 2, Quest 3, Quest 4, Quest 5, Quest 6, Quest 7, Quest 8, Quest 9, Quest 10, Quest 11, Quest 12 Current Quest If diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. If diet is correct, medicine is of no need.- Ancient Ayurvedic Proverb Link to comment
Xena Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 Good job putting in the miles under tough conditions. It all pays off eventually. 1 Quote Xena, Level 14+ Valkyrie Ranger January 2017 December 2016 Oct/Nov 2016 Link to comment
suzyQlou Posted July 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 Well, I'm a little bummed at my push up starting point. Three sets on my toes at 3/2/0. But I decided I'm going to do a grand count-up over the course of the challenge to help me stay focused on the positive. I bet I can do a whole bunch of push ups in six weeks. Here we go: 4 Quote suzyQlou * Ranger Old Challenges: #1(2015) * #2 * #3(push ups) * #4 * #5(food) * #6 * #7(2016)* #8(nerdiversary) * #9 * 10(animal) * Battle Log * 11(2017) * 12(garden) * 13 * 14(biking) * 15 * 16 * 17 * 18 * 19(2018) * 20(2019) * 21 Link to comment
Emerald_Dragonfly Posted July 28, 2015 Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 Well, I'm a little bummed at my push up starting point. Three sets on my toes at 3/2/0. But I decided I'm going to do a grand count-up over the course of the challenge to help me stay focused on the positive. I bet I can do a whole bunch of push ups in six weeks. Here we go: Dude. You are ALREADY higher than my starting point. I did a grand total of TWO floor push ups when I tested myself the day before the last challenge. YOU. GOT. THIS. Edited to add: Not to compare us (I'm really not at all competitive), I just wanted to let you know that your starting point is really good! 1 Quote ~Emerald_Dragonfly Level 13 Warrior Link to comment
Tanktimus the Encourager Posted July 28, 2015 Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 Totally admiring the positivity in your starting point assessment. Quote Current Challenge "By the Most-Righteous-and-Blessed Beard of Sir Tanktimus the Encourager!" - Jarl Rurik Harrgath Link to comment
suzyQlou Posted July 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 Dude. You are ALREADY higher than my starting point. I did a grand total of TWO floor push ups when I tested myself the day before the last challenge. YOU. GOT. THIS. Edited to add: Not to compare us (I'm really not at all competitive), I just wanted to let you know that your starting point is really good! Oh, Emerald_D, you are the best kind of competitive. The kind that is inspirational and encouraging. Thanks (yet again) for the vote of confidence! Totally admiring the positivity in your starting point assessment. Positivity! Yep, I think I'm learning some of that from you, Tanktimus 2 Quote suzyQlou * Ranger Old Challenges: #1(2015) * #2 * #3(push ups) * #4 * #5(food) * #6 * #7(2016)* #8(nerdiversary) * #9 * 10(animal) * Battle Log * 11(2017) * 12(garden) * 13 * 14(biking) * 15 * 16 * 17 * 18 * 19(2018) * 20(2019) * 21 Link to comment
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