EXPERIMENT #1: PUSH

[Darth Yoga]

Ah, I'm out of the top 3. That is okay. It means I can stop worrying exactly what constitutes "good form" and whether or not I'm a weasley little cheater.

 

I will just repeat my new mantra.

 

I am a legitimate data point.

[SymphonicDan]

Regarding One-Arm Pushups:  A strict One-Arm Pushup is feet next to each other, however there is some wiggle room for this challenge.  Wider foot placement does make the movement easier.  Use your judgement and add notes as necessary.

 

Okay cool - I've done a straddled 1-arm push-up with full range of motion, and input it as a half-rep.

 

Also, does anyone find that the uneven hands variation is no harder than the normal ones? I did it with one hand on a 42cm (17 inch) chair and got about what I'd get for standard ones

[dancezwithkittehz]

Okay cool - I've done a straddled 1-arm push-up with full range of motion, and input it as a half-rep.

 

Also, does anyone find that the uneven hands variation is no harder than the normal ones? I did it with one hand on a 42cm (17 inch) chair and got about what I'd get for standard ones

 

I was about to post this very same thing! They feel pretty much identical to me in difficulty. Might just be due to my particular background? I dunno!

[dancezwithkittehz]

Also, apparently the muscles used for typewriter push ups are something I am lacking in. These were a definite lol NOPE fall.

[Lightning]

Pretty sure I managed 2 typewriter push ups although my midsection started to sink a little inbetween.  I'll try them again in a couple of days and have someone watch me just to be sure.  Really liked the uneven hands variation but one side is way stronger than the other.  Going to try to get my weak side to match my stronger side before I add any more AMRAP numbers.    And it doesn't matter where I place my legs... one-armed push-ups are out of range for this challenge!

[zeroh13]

This is a very interesting experiment. I can do one armed push ups, but I haven't been near 100 wall push ups, and my table and knee push ups are fairly low, if we should expect a similar increase in number from standard to wall, as from one armed to standard.

I feel like I have lots of explosive power and can do a few very hard push ups, but less stamina and I can't do very many (as in >50) even on the easier variations.

I seem to be at the opposite of that, where I can crank out a ton of wall push-ups, but the amount I can do with other variations falls exponentially as the difficulty increases.

[Asuka]

I seem to be at the opposite of that, where I can crank out a ton of wall push-ups, but the amount I can do with other variations falls exponentially as the difficulty increases.

 

Completely agree with this! I pushed a little to get to a high number of wall pushups, but I can't manage more than 1 standard with good form...

 

So proud of how many pushups overall we did during this mini!

[SymphonicDan]

Maybe in general, people have similar numbers of reps for variations that they consider easy, but then when they get to variations that are hard for them, the number of reps drops markèdly. And people with better muscular endurance will have bigger number for their easier variations.

 

Absolute strength (being able to do hard variations) and muscular endurance (getting high reps on easier variations) are reasonably separate abilities.

 

Also, some of these exercises can be done in different ways, and that will affect which exercises each individual gets high/low numbers in:

• height of table
• distance between feet and wall
• diamond/close grip
• allowing breaks in push-up support
• amount hand is raised
• good/bad form

I like this experimentation we're doing

[annyshay]

Dear Annyshay, if you leave everything to Sunday night... you will shred your arms too much to put up big numbers.  Let this be a lesson for next week.  

[idealistinfire]

I'm just excited my shoulder is strong enough to handle 36 wall push-ups I tried about 10 a few months ago and got the nasty burning sensation of injury. It's now been 5 days after my wall push-ups and still no injury. Soreness the couple days after, but no injury. So happy.

Reading y'alls posts makes me want to to try at least a few more variations, but I don't think I'll tempt the Dispenser of Injuries today. Sticking to my rehab exercises since they are apparently working

[karinajean]

Fun new party trick: "hey guys! Check out me trying to do one arm push ups!" My brain is like: no no no don't bend your elbow. You will fall on your face. But! I overcame my brain and was able to bend my elbow the tiniest of amounts.

Sent from my iPhone while riding a unicorn through the cosmos.

[Nnimn]

I have

Maybe in general, people have similar numbers of reps for variations that they consider easy, but then when they get to variations that are hard for them, the number of reps drops markèdly. And people with better muscular endurance will have bigger number for their easier variations.

Absolute strength (being able to do hard variations) and muscular endurance (getting high reps on easier variations) are reasonably separate abilities.

Also, some of these exercises can be done in different ways.

I like this experimentation we're doing

I think this is very true. I have noticed also a lot for me is mental endurance more than physical. If I see someone else do it then it becomes possible and I want to top it. If it is an open number then I get bored/lazy and just do whatever number I feel like is a "good amount". That's why I tend to do things in even rounded numbers +1 or 2 cause it's my predetermined ability plus a couple. This has been cool -I'm learning a lot about my own abilities and motivation....also I've discovered I can't do endurance anything without epic music. I have to borrow it's willpower to keep going. :/

And agreed on the uneven push-up not being harder. I found I could do them almost easier -tho again, maybe they were more mentally engaging also.

Anyone else's arms gonna fall off? Mine are shaking as I type....

[Nnimn]

I will just repeat my new mantra.

 

I am a legitimate data point.

Dude I tried to match your 300 and decided to call it quits at 251- I have no freaking idea how you made yourself go to 300. You. Are. Insane. And I'm a little jealous....

[Elennare]

Shoot, missed the deadline to try a regular push up.  I have been meaning to give those a shot for the last couple of days (because I bet I can manage at least one now), but kept running out of time.  I may try one tomorrow anyway, even though it won't count for the mini, just to see if I can do them.

[raptron]

Yeah, I didn't get to try uneven push-ups or typewriter, but uneven I've played with before in various conditioning exercises and don't find them all that much harder than regular push-ups. Typewriter were just confusing to me.

 

One-armed partial reps, sure. Chest to ground and back? Lol, no.

[starsapart]

Results and next experiment by end of day!

[Asuka]

I tend to do things in even rounded numbers +1 or 2 cause it's my predetermined ability plus a couple. This has been cool -I'm learning a lot about my own abilities and motivation....also I've discovered I can't do endurance anything without epic music. I have to borrow it's willpower to keep going. :/

Agree! Even when I'm done with my normal numbers I add a couple just to say I could!

And agree 200% on the epic music! I recently discovered that on youtube and now I can't push hard on anything without it! Also very good when you are sick and still have to be in the office! If heroes can do it, so can I!

[starsapart]

EXPERIMENT COMPLETE!

 

Congratulations, test subjects, for avoiding all non-mantis-man-related causes of dismemberment!

Results for the top 3 scorers:

1. The ComebackKid: 109.5 points
2. Toxophilite: 101 points
3. Trewest: 92.7 points

Your initial prizes have been delivered.

 

Winners may also receive cake when the test is complete!

 

Now hurry along to Experiment 2!

[Trewest]

oh goody CAKE!

[Spear Warrior]

I got fifth! Awesome. Now, off to kill my legs.