Back in the saddle ...

Getting back up on the horse. Man it's tough. I've been off the push up training for a couple weeks now. The good news is that my elbow doesn't seem to be "paining" me at the time. The bad news is that I've slid all the way back to Week 3 again!!! Oh no!!!

I'm kinda bummed, but I realize that I only have so many choices, give up or keep on keepin' on. I'm bummed because I was making such good progress and really felt the difference.

Never give up, never surrender!!!

It's been a while

It's been a while since I've written because it's been a while since I've done push-ups. As some of you know, my left elbow starting hurting a little while back. For no reason, during the middle of a work day, my elbow started aching. By the time that I got home, it was hurting enough to take some Tylenol. I tried doing my workout set and couldn't manage even one push up. I was bummed because I had been making steady progress and I knew, I just KNEW that I would regress the moment I stopped working out. Sure enough, yesterday was the first time I tried and sure enough, I'm barely able to do Week 4, Day 1. ARGH!

But I haven't given up.

I need to build up to where I was and that's going to take some time, but I'll be putting it in.

I'm frustrated that I have to re-do days, but that's how it goes.

The annoying thing is that I didn't see it coming. It wasn't as though my elbow hurt a little bit one day, and then I pushed / abused it the next. It was all of a sudden.

Are you guys still sticking with me? Even through the discouragements? Even through the pain? Even through the hard work?

I'm sure it'll all be worth it. If nothing else a goal set and accomplished makes me believe that I can set another goal ... and accomplish it.

Here we go!

Injuries

I think I'm hurt. I'm not sure if it's related to doing push-ups or not. My left elbow started hurting yesterday while I was in the office for no apparent reason. It feels like a "stiff joint" and hurts when I push out with my arm. I was supposed to do another training session last night, but tried one push-up and couldn't do it without a lot of pain. This morning I took some ibuprofen and right now it feels okay. I'm feeling kinda bummed. I know that I can rest and take some days off, but I also know that I'm bound to slip in my abilities if I do so ... arg!

Week 4 ... again ...

Well I wont back down, no I wont back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I wont back down
- Tom Petty

So a couple days ago I tried Week 5, Day 1 and failed.

I was pretty discouraged.

It was the first time I actually couldn't do the minimum number on the last set. Just couldn't do it.

I was feeling pretty down yesterday.

So today I'm re-doing Week 4 for the 2nd time.

Just did Week 4, Day 1. No problem.

Here we go! Stick with me! Right now!

(Right now) Hey! It's your tomorrow
(Right now) Come on, it's everything
(Right now) Catch your magic moment
Do it right here and now
It means everything
- Van Halen

Week 4, Day 3

I would have NEVER thought that I would have been able to do this day for this week.

On the first test I barely got out 28.

The last time I did my exhaustion test I pushed out 40.

Today I did 29, 33, 29, 29 45. That's 165 push ups. Not consecutive mind you, but still.

Unbelievable.

It's all about progress. Slow progress, fast progress, but progress.

Keep on pushin'!!!

Week 4, Day 1: It's getting tough ...

Did my work out last night. A total of 123 push ups. Unbelievable. I have to admit, I didn't think I would make my final level based on how I felt on level 4.

Although I did it, I'm not sure how I'll do for the rest of week 4, especially if I try to stick to the prescribed rest times.

We'll see.

Keep on pushin'!!!

Week 3b, Day 3

Wake Up, Breakfast, Church, Lunch, Apple Store, Wash the Car, Record Show, Edit Show, Push Ups, Sleep.

I made it through Week 3 (this 2nd time)!!! This time with legitimate rest times.

A total of 122 push ups tonight.

Ug!

Keep on Pushin'!!!

Week 3b, Day 2

75 pushups in the first 4 levels, then "at least 25" on level 5. I did 35. That's a total of 110 pushups! All I could do at one time, 4 weeks ago, was 28 pushups.

I know most of us start at different levels. Some of you might have started off barely being able to do 5 "alternative" pushups, and there are those of you who started off being able to crank out 150 with one arm.

Personally, I was rather skeptical about the progress I could make in 6 weeks. To be honest, I think this is going to take me a lot more than 6 weeks to do 100 consecutive pushups. Some of these upcoming weeks look very ... "challenging". But that's just the thing, it is a challenge, and I'm taking it one step at a time. Without a doubt, I wouldn't have been able to do what I'm doing now, three weeks ago. No way, no how.

For me, it's about progress, accomplishment, personal gain, and persistence. I'm going to stick with it. Just like me recent climb up to the top of Half Dome: I had some doubts, and seriously didn't know if I had it in me. It took mental toughness and persistence. I did have it in me, but it wasn't has easy as I would have liked it to have been. In the end I did make it and what a sense of accomplishment I felt! I took longer than the other guys, but never gave up. It was worth it.

Keep on pushin'!!!

Week 3b, Day 1

Several things to mention today.

I was made aware (from some other in our PodCacher Forums http://tinyurl.com/62cv7k) that there has been some modifications made to the push up program at the 100 pushups website (http://hundredpushups.com/). I had already planned to re-do Week 3, but these modifications made it seem even more reasonable. It seems that on many of the days, you start off with a lower level 1, to "warm up".

I wrote the guy who runs the site and he explained the reasons for the modifications. He also agreed to do a short interview that we may post in a future show.

So today was the re-do of Week 3: Week 3b in my naming convention. Hopefully I won't have to go to Week 3c or 3d ...

One of my goals was to do it "clean", no extra resting time between the levels. Well I can proudly say that I did it!

17
19
15
15
Then maxed out at 25

Seriously, I could have NEVER done that 4 weeks ago. My best back then was 28 and I was DONE! Now I can pump out 66 pushups and THEN do 25!?

It's all about personal progress man!

Weakness is leaving the body!!!

Keep on pushin'!!!

Week 3, Day 3

I just completed Week 3, Day 3. My arms feel like Jello. My arms feel huge and bulky. My arms feel like bulky Jello.

Although I made it, I've decided I'm going to do Week 3 again. I didn't feel that I did it "good enough". I put more rest time in between and, on the week that I'm going for the consecutive 100, there's not going to be much time for "rest". So, I'm redoing Week 3.

My goal is to reduce the amount of rest time, this time through Week 3. I'm going to try and stick to the prescribed rest times.

I do feel that my first few pushups each time are really hard, almost discouraging me to quit. But by the 4th or 5th level, I've warmed up. This time I tried to warm up beforehand without burning out the muscles prematurely.

Maybe the trick is to really rest my arms all day beforehand. Could you imagine at work: "Uh, Sonny, why are your arms duct taped to your body?!" ...

Keep on pushin'!!!

Week 3, Day 1

Today is a day of rest for me. Yesterday I did Week 3, Day 1. I didn't write here before I actually attempted it because I was concerned that it would have sounded a bit too self-defeatist and negative. My thoughts: I don't know if I going to be able to do this.

Let me share with you some solid numbers to put things in perspective. On my initial test I was able to barely eek out 28 good form push ups. On my last exhaustion test, I was able to do 40. On Week 3, Day 1, I was supposed to do:

25
17
17
15
25 and max out

Are you kidding me?! Two weeks ago I was barely able to do 28 and I'm supposed to do that!!!

Well I did it.

Yup, I did make one modification though to get through it. Instead of only resting 60 seconds in between, I rested 90 seconds.

It just goes to show, that sometimes, just sometime you have much more in you than you think you do. And if you convince yourself that you can't, you're probably right ...

Exhaustion #1

Just finished my exhaustion test #1 and was able to do 12 more pushups than my first test maximum 2 weeks ago.

Ug, my arms are JELLO, JELLO I SAY!

Realignment and Adjustments

I've made some adjustments to my schedule to work this out. I did not do the exhaustion test on Monday, but will do that tonight. I think I needed the day in between to rest and recuperate. I'm going to skip tomorrow and do Week 3, Day 1 on Thursday. My plan is to only skip one day in between any workout or exhaustion test. If I am able to stay on track I should finish Week 6, Day 3 on Sunday, October 5th. Should ... I'll then take a couple days off and go for the 100 consecutive a couple days after that.

... This is the "plan" anyway. We'll see what really happens. Obviously I'll have to make adjustments and more Realigments if I have to redo any of the weeks.

Back from Yosemite

I'm not sure what day it is, I'm it a bit of a haze.

On the night going up to Yosemite, at "The Ranch" I ripped through my training set and went to bed. The next day was a long drive, then a hike into the backcountry. Friday morning was a, shall we say, "rigorous" summit of Half Dome. By the time we got back to base camp on Friday night, I simply didn't have it in me to do my training set. The next day Saturday, was a, shall we say, "rigorous" hike back down to the valley. This was over 6.5 miles of knee-joint popping downhill. By the time we got to the valley floor, after food and showers ... I didn't have it in me to do my training set. SOOO... the next day, Sunday, we drove home, 9.5 hours. Got home, had dinner and a beer, felt like a shower and sleep ... BUT FIRST, convince myself that I need to finish up the final day (that I missed on Friday) of week 2.

I did so.

I have to say that a good deal of my motivation comes from knowing that there are quite a few people watching me do, or not do my workouts. There are several determined people who have inspired ME to keep on going, so that's just what I'm gonna do.

Now my predicament: It's Monday. I was supposed to do my exhaustion test this weekend ... but I ran out of weekend. I could do my exhaustion set today, and then do week 3 starting tomorrow on Tues then Thurs and Saturday, have 1 day of rest and start week 4 on Monday. But that would mean a set last night, today and tomorrow ... no rest day ...

Ah what the heck, why not!

I'll let you know if my arms fall off ...

Stay safe and keep on pushin'

Day 4, Week 2

Yesterday I did my 4th day (the first day of Week 2) of push up training. Sandy joined me and did a fine job. I have to tell you, I DID NOT feel like doing my set. I was tired, it was the end of the day, and I REALLY, REALLY felt like sitting there on the sofa and watch TV till it was time for bed. BUT, I got up, swung my arms around, warmed up and got busy.

One good motivator for me was YOU GUYS! I could not bring myself to have to write that I bailed out on doing my set because I simply didn't feel like it. On my last set, I pushed myself hard and felt good about it! Cooled down and felt better about myself before going to bed.

My next day of training is on Wedneday, the day we drive out towards Yosemite. Not sure when I'll find the time to squeeze in my training, but I'm going to have to ... otherwise I know I'll about it from you!

The next morning

Okay, it's the morning of the next day and I don't feel too bad at all. One week down and, theoretically, 5 more to go. I've got to be honest with you all, I will totally impress and surprise myself if can actually do 100 consecutive push ups. To be honest, even though they say it can be done, I wonder "Can I actually condition myself to do this?" I don't think, even in my top shape, inline skate racing, mountain biking, snowboarding, that I EVER was capable of doing more than 30 pushups at one time. If I can even do, say 40, I will have accomplished my own personal best.

I'm glad that I announced that I was going to do this on the show. It's keeping me accountable and motivated. Kinda like telling someone you'll meet them at the gym. You don't wanna let 'em down AND you wanna make sure they show up too.

Thanks for your support!

Stay safe and keep on pushin'!

-Sonny

Day 3, Week 1

Oh man, I don't know what's gotten into me, but I ROCKED my training set today. I know how it is, having done other forms of training in the past: Some days are good and some days, not so good. No matter what you do to psyche yourself up, your body is just down.

Not today my friends. I rode my bike to work and back. Got home and began my training set. Pushed past level 5 easily today and rocked the last, "max set" 10 push ups beyond the minimum, "at least" number.

I might just need to get a license for these guns!!! :)

(Ya, let's see if he's still talking trash next week ...)

I'll probably pay for this tomorrow ...

Day 2, Week 1

Wow, that was tough. I just finished my second training set. I can barely lift my arms. In fact, I'm typing this entry with my nose. DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO TYPE WITH A FILIPINO NOSE!??. (well it's easier than doing those push ups ...) But I'm going to stick with it!!!

Day 1, Week 1

It's Monday, I've finished my first training day and my arms are JELLO!!! The next day for the training is on Wednesday. Hope I'm not too sore by then. It's great to see many of you willing to give it a try and take the challenge with me! It's not a competition and it wouldn't matter if it takes 7, 8, 9 or more weeks to git 'er done, I just wanna see if I can!!!

Stay safe and keep on pushin'

Sonny

100 PushUps!

In Show #180, I announced that I was going to start a program that would condition me enough to be able to do 100 consecutive push ups.

Here's a link to the website that claims that they can get you there! From the website:

"If you're serious about increasing your strength, follow this six week training program and you'll soon be on your way to completing 100 consecutive push ups!

No doubt some of you can already do 50 consecutive push ups, but let's face it, you're in a big minority. Most of you reading this won't even be able to manage 20 pushups. Actually, I'm sure many of you can't even do 10.

However, it really doesn't matter which group you fall into. If you follow the progressive push ups training program, I'm positive you'll soon be able to do 100 push ups!"

Here's the intial test or evaluation.

For my age group, I ranked 4. That means if I follow this schedule, today I will need to do 10, 10, 8, 6, then max out with 60 seconds of rest in between each.

Here's a link to this week's schedule. I plan to do these on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Here's a link to the PDF with the entire program.

So, I invite you to come along and join me on my personal challenge. Regardless of when you choose to start YOUR program, or how well you are progressing, REPLY and COMMENT here to join in on this challenge.