100 Push Up Challenge

Mommy-Momo turned me on to this 100 Push Ups in 6 weeks Challenge going around the blogging world.

At first I thought, "yeah, right." But then I was curious to see how many I could do. I was able to complete 15 regular style. I was bummed. 15? How would I ever be able to do 100? When I read the challenge from onehundredpushups.com more completely, I discovered that using a variety of push-up methods still counted. I found that if I did them with the knees down and using fists instead of palms (I have a wrist injury from awhile back), I could do 30! That's twice as many as the regular style. From that point on, I was hooked. I can do this! I think.

I've noticed that quite a few people have been videotaping their push-ups, so I thought it'd be fun to do the same...



(OK, not really. This is Parker, of course, aiming for 100 push-ups as well). ;)

Doing more reading on the website, I discovered there were also programs for two-hundred sit-ups and two-hundred squats. Whoa boy, you'd better believe I'm trying those as well!

My initial squat testing surprised me. I did 70 and only stopped because my knees hurt a little. I suspected I might be doing them incorrectly, but I double-checked my form and I'm pretty sure I was doing them right? Not too shabby, I think (for me anyway).

My initial sit-up testing also surprised me, but in the respect that I could only do 25 in a row! Yikes! I thought with all my pilates work that my stomach muscles would be pretty strong. Looks like I have some more work to do!

This work out program couldn't have come around at a better time. It's much easier to do than work out videos when Parker's awake (although I'm still trying to do those as well). Parker's sleep schedule has changed and he's been going to bed later so it hasn't been feasible for me to do my night walk/runs. I don't have a jogging stroller so I can't run with Parker during the day, and really, it's usually been way too hot to even just walk during the day. So I've mostly been doing videos in the morning before the true heat hits, but even that's difficult with Parker around. He usually wants to do them too, which would be fine if he weren't always right where I needed to be. If I'm doing any type of cardio requiring me to move around, he's always right there. If I take out a mat to do pilates floor work/yoga, forget it! He wants to be on it, too. He's so cute though; how could I be upset? Watch him do his own work-out below!



But after yesterday and realizing that exercising first thing in the morning messes up my day, I'm going to have to try moving my exercise to a different time of day again. Too bad I'm usually pooped and just want to veg out by the time P's nap comes around. Oh well, if it happens, it happens. If it doesn't - well it's better to be happy and a little out of shape than thin and cranky!

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"Be happy and shout to God who makes us strong!" - Psalm 81:1