Last year kicked my butt in many ways, but perhaps most distressingly, I became as unfit as I have ever been. Yes, yes. I was fighting for my life, and I emerged a winner. But now I'm facing a different battle.
The my-body-is-turning-into-a-matzoh-ball battle.
No, I am not fat. I am not flabby - well, not terribly. And people who know and love me think I look wonderful. But I'm ambitious. I want to look good AND feel good. But with moths having taken up residence in my wallet, joining a gym or taking a class is simply not possible right now. My two little dumbbells aren't cutting it, and my hiking and my twice weekly Tango (see, there IS a Tango angle in this post) are good for my heart and soul, but not so very good for my arms. Or shoulders. Or chest. Or...
So I did what I do best: surfed the net. And although that particular activity is not known for its buffing up qualities, it did lead me to this site. Push-ups "will develop the pectoral muscles and triceps, with ancillary benefits to the deltoids, serratus anterior, coracobrachialis and the midsection as a whole". Whatever those are.
Yes folks. I picked up the gauntlet and accepted the 100 Push-Up challenge. All excited, I took the "test" to determine my starting level and was thoroughly humbled. The girl who once curled 75 lbs. and leg-pressed 300 lbs. was barely able to complete one single push up. Not one. What the *!#)%#@&) happened to me???!!! Who is this [something-or-other] pound weakling!?
So I've decided to train for the program before actually starting the program by doing a week of "girl" push-ups. I can do up to 8 of those at a time... Sheesh! If necessary, I will pre-train for two weeks until I can do at least two clean, grown-up push-ups.
I am feeling very virtuous and invite any and all of you to join me in getting in shape. It only takes 30 minutes A WEEK. No gyms, no spandex. And it's FREE!!!! How can you beat that?!
So not only will I/we look good AND feel good, all this "core" strengthening can only be a bonus for my/our Tango.
31 comments:
Oh boy! I tried : 10! On your honor, to help you keep going (and help my tango-flabby arms), I'll follow you in the hundred pursuit.
90 to go, good luck to you, my tango-push-up friend! :-))
I'm in! I am sure I can't do one either, but you've inspired me (again).
This is going to bring back horrible memories of those tests they give you in gym class in the 8th grade, but I'm going to try really hard not to cry.
Thank you for the kick in the pants. And for the awesome photo.
Johanna,
Great! I will join your quest.
Almost 20 years ago, my old judo teacher said to me (in heavy heavy accent), "you want to be in great shape? do 500 push-ups a day. don't need expensive equipment."
J
Gosh, y'all!!! You bring tears to my eyes. We shall be BUFF!!!
10?? TEN??!!!!!! Tassili, I is very jealous, girlfriend. Here's to obliterating that chicken-wing thing...
TB, I hated that Jr. high test series too. Although I was stellar at the standing broad jump. Go figure. And speaking of figures, after 100 push-ups, ours will ROCK. In every sense of the word :-)
Jaime!!!! Thanks for the co-ed element! Hope you can put up with some girl locker-room trash talk! Of course, with such a wise judo master, I'm sure you'll be ok!
Let the huffing begin!!
Oh, fabulous! I have been slacking off on my strength training lately. This sounds like a useful and, given the company, FUN challenge! I'll have to sneak away from my desk at work to do the initial test ...
Welcome MT!! The more the merrier! This IS going to be fun.
I'd clap for joy but I'm too sore from yesterday's efforts to bring my hands together....
20 today! BUT, I shall confess ... they were "girl push-ups", which means with elongated feet and knees on the floor, instead of putting your weight on your hands and toes (does it make sense? I beg your pardon if I am not clear enough, bear in mind and forgive the fact that I am French, yes Your Honor)
Oh Tassili, if only my French was a fraction as good as your English...
There's nothing wrong with "girl" push-ups!!!! They're what I'm doing to train for "real" push-ups. I can do 8 girl push-ups in a row.
But if you see the schedule at that site, you have to do a series of 5 sets with 60 seconds in between. I managed a total of 40 on my first workout, and am VERY sore :-)
And in a couple of weeks, we'll be able to do REAL push-ups!!!!
Yipppeeee!!!
I'm in better shape than I thought. I just dropped and did 20. Military style. No resting. As I got up from my chair to go to the open spot in front of my desk, I was thinking I could pull off maybe 8 or 10.
But, I'm panting now like I just ran the hundred yard dash. I need cardio work, too.
I probably could have done 5 more, but I didn't want to pop a blood vessel and/or have a stroke....(grin)
Alex, you are such a show off! You're supposed to make it sound hard so that the rest of us don't feel like our pitiful muscles are made out of jellyfish.
Hey Alex, YOU can be our fearless leader! Show us the waaaaaay!!!!!!
On the other hand, TB. Is it any wonder? Did you see Mr. Muscles on top of his woodpile?
It's not fair. Guys just have muscles and they don't even need to do anything to get them.
I hate my arms. I hate push-ups. Not that I have started to do them yet. I just know I don't like them.
Heyheyhey!! This is a No Pout Zone, TB. NOBODY likes push-ups. Really. Not even guys with muscles.
But just think how much easier it will be to point and shoot that 500mm telephoto zoom lens you might get as a present :-)
I am sorry I pouted. Next time I will button it up. ;-)
Can I really have a lens? How about an HD camcorder? How do I sign up for my prize?
Sorry ladies. I was trying to be humble and I guess it didn't work. Shall I take a pic of my gut/lovehandles and post it to make up for it?
Yes.
You guys are scaring me. Or is that "scarring" me?
Unless we turn these into "before and after" shots!
Hmmmm. I'm not sure TB! But I want an HD camcorder too! Let me think on it.
But in the meantime, you bring up a great idea. We need an incentive. A prize incentive to stick with the program.
I mean, something other than visions of strength and rippling muscular beauty at the end of all that huffing and puffing.
Any ideas anyone?
I'm Joining up too...
and I'm starting with girly push-ups too. I would like to think it is merely a necessity borne of a broken toe, but I would need to start with girly ones anyway.
I love this idea, Johann...and the much needed strengthening is welcome too.
As for a prize, I will be looking for a pretty new shirt to highlight my newly toned and sexier arms.
I just joined one hundred push ups yesterday! Good luck!
Welcome Teena!! And YAAAAAAY!
We're going to be one buff bunch of tanguer@s!!!
MtM! I didn't see you comment until now. I want pictures of you in your new shirt.
I wonder if we can have at least one representative from each US state, and one from each country :-)
I decided to take your challenge, and I think you'll be surprised at how fast you develop muscle and move from girl form to military style.
I drop when I'm waiting for a Web page to load or some other menial task. Doing random sets throughout the day helps me. Besos~~
Hi Mindy,
Welcome to my blog, and to Tango! And thank you for accepting The Challenge, and your words of encouragement.
I can't wait to be able to "drop" and do any at all! Right now the shoulder continues to be a problem, but I have yet to miss a workout. We'll compare biceps when we meet :-)
How's the progress going? I'm also doing the one hundred push ups challenge :)
http://www.fivezerofive.com/main/?itemid=1461
I just finished week 2. I was able to do 9 more push ups during the exhaustion test than I did when starting the program!
Good luck to everyone trying this.
My 100 push up progress
Good for you, Greg. I'm still at it, progressing far more slowly than anticipated (probably due to the shoulder issue), but I've gone from girly push-ups to full out ones against the stairs! Yaaay.
Anonymous, I'm soooo jealous! I'm looking forward to being as good as you :-)
Get cracking everyone! I'm up to five sets of eight full push-ups against the stairs!
I'm in my second week of the 100 pushup challenge. Good luck!
Yaaaaay Dale!!!! Welcome to the group. I've made great progress, even if it's taken me longer than 6 weeks :-)
I got stuck on week 3 day 1 and had to do that for 2 weeks. Changed my diet and started eating better and Wham-o! I'm at week 4 day 3!
The other day I threw my 2 year old on my back and started doing push ups. I got up to 15 (before I could barely do 5 with her on my back) and could have done more, but didn't want to wear myself out and mess up my program :).
Rock on Johanna!
Yaaaay Nathan!!!! Go man, Go! That is so very cool.
My own training has been forced on hiatus from my shoulder therapy, but I still sneak in a couple every other day. To keep muscle memory, you know :-)
I'll be back on track in a week.
Yaaaaaay!!!!
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