100 Pushup Challenge (Page 3)

Your idea does work, and you might get quicker results, but I don't think it's the point of the program, especially for a beginner.  It's all about getting your stabilizers, assisters, and your core involved.

OK funny story for all you pushup challengers!

Did a race (sprint) on Saturday night down here in FL.  Before the awards ceremony (which I actually got to stay for this time!!) they decided to do a pushup challenge.  2 minutes, max reps, largest number wins.  Rules were chest to the floor and all the way up to lockout.

There were about 6 of us.  I figured I could probably at least get in the top three.  When the "GO" sounded I just started bangin' out reps at a good pace...everyone else was going really fast.  After 1 minute or so...everyone started slowing down...'cept me.  At 1:30, they were all stopping and taking a break...'cept me.  I kept going.  At 2 minutes, some guys had either stopped or were just about to, I was still bangin' em out, shaking alot thru my core, but I ended up doing 68 in two minutes.  A couple guys had 67, one guy had 60, I had one more rep than the closest competitor.  Unfortunately, some kid who was doing half-down, half-up did 88, and even though he didn't follow the rules, they gave him the prize.  The cool part of the story is that the crowd booed and said I should have gotten it cuz I was the only one doing them right.  So even though I didn't win, I felt good about it...the crowd had my back. 

So...big thanks to this pushup challenge and all you guys doing it!!!    It was a lot of fun doing the contest.

Mine was on the outside of the elbow ("tennis elbow". Yours sounds like "golf elbow." Both are forms of tendinitis. In my case a little rest, some Aleve and ice (I way overworked my triceps--too eager, i guess) really helped. Also, I found that getting the area warmed up and then giving my triceps a gentle stretch helped--just don't do it after or during icing.

For inside of the elbow... are you "deathgripping" on the pull-ups?  I think overworked forearm tendons are usually the inside of the elbow.  Might want to try giving the forearm muscles a gentle stretch before you do the pullups..

I would like to join everyone in the pushup challenge.  I am taking the initial test tonight.

Question though.  Are all of you mixing this workout with your cardio workout?  It would be tough to have a days rest in between push up workouts if you are doing cardio as well.

Wow, we're getting quite a little group here!

I just started over (skipping week one) so I could incorporate the pullups and thrusters.  I am doing a four to one ratio of pushups to pullups and one to one ratio of pushups to thrusters.  I am using your suggestion Q.  Pull/Push Mon/Wed/Fri and thrusters Tue/Thurs/Sat.  Trail running in the morning and then thrusters tomorrow.  That's gonna feel niiiice.

Really?  I've never heard that before.  Do you have anything (link) to back that up.  I do not really dout you and I'm not looking for a debate, just a little education.

Stay tuned I'll find some articles...

EDIT:
Found some...

This is the info I was speaking of.  I've read similar statements in a bunch of different places.  This one is from Muscle And Fitness...

17. Save cardio for after your weight workout

>> Researchers from Japan found that when subjects did cardio before weights, their GH response to the weight workout was blunted by about 1,100% compared to when they lifted first and ended with cardio. Try to do your cardio either after weights or on a different day.
The link to the article is here...
http://www.muscleandfitness.com/training/102

Another quote from M&F
5. Do cardio after weights. Research confirms that when cardio is done before weights, GH levels following the workout are three times lower than if the cardio was done after lifting. This applies to both moderate-intensity cardio done for longer periods and high-intensity sprints for very short bursts.
Link... http://www.muscleandfitness.com/training/110

This one is a blog thread about an argument a guy had with a trainer...trainer said weights first.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080208113619AALez4X 

This one illustrates the higher growth hormone, fat burning, and oxidized fatty acids in doing weights first.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Should-You-Do-Cardio-Before-Or-After-Your-Weight-Training-Workout?&id=695696

This one weighs the benefits of both. 
http://www.musculardevelopment.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=223

Now...on the flip side...I have found one that says the OPPOSITE of what I stated.

This one says cardio before weights is better...
http://weighttraining.about.com/od/techniquesandstrategies/a/cardio_weights_2.htm

OK, so...I guess it all depends on what you want to achieve, really.  I guess I should have worded my statement differently.  "If you want to build a little more muscle, then do your cardio after, because the cardio before the ST will bring down your GH levels and make the weight training session less effective at building muscle than if the cardio were done after the ST."

Thanks for that though...it's good to challenge things you're not sure are right!  Usually both will learn something!

OK, back to the pushups challenge...
I was able to do 54 in my max set last night after my 15, 12, 9, 7 sets.  This is fun!

Q, thanks for the links.

Back to the pushup challenge....week 4, day 1 just about killed me last night.

50?  Great work!

Thanks for the info and the links Q!

I was able to do 17 push ups for the initial test last night.  Not bad concidering I havn't lifted a weight is probably 3 years.

Is this a good exercise for those, ie me, that are just getting back into strength training after a long time off, 3+ years?  It sounds like a lot.  Also, whats a thruster?  (Sorry for all of the rookie questions)

I would say YES...since pushups are a basic movement, yet have been proven to increase strength, muscular endurance, and even build mass, I would say it's a GREAT way to get back into lifting weights. 

The pushups will strengthen your chest and triceps mainly...but your shoulders do a fair amount of work as well...and your back (lats work at stopping the downward movement).  So they're a great upper body workout all around!  Pushups rock.

Thanks but I was refering to the additional exercises, pull ups and Thursters, that you and rcberto are doing along with the pushups.

I'm not sure what a thruster is.

I wouldn't personally recommend doing everything I'm doing.  This is just my little thing that I thought of doing and Rob jumped on it with me, but I doubt it's beneficial to the masses...we are just a little insane.  It's my typical goal-inflation syndrome that I succumb to all too often.

Thrusters...a front squat into a push press.  You hold the weight in front of you at shoulder level as if you were about to do regular front squats.  You squat down into the front squat position.  As you stand up you push the weight over your head into a push press until  your arms are fully extended and the weight is over your shoulders.  As you return to the squat position, the weight comes back to the start position. 

Basically your arms and legs extend at the same time, and then contract at the same time.  Does that help at all? 

Here's a video, with my CrossFit idol Greg...doing Heavy Fran, one of the toughest workouts CrossFit does.  Watch him do the thrusters, he's pretty inspiring...lots of strength.
http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/CrossFit_AmundsonHeavyFran.wmv

Thanks for the explaination.   I think starting out, I should stick to push ups and maybe add pull ups if I have time.

Monday is my first day.  Looking forward to it.

Definitely don't do everything that Q is doing.  You will be curled up in a fetal position 24 hours a day.  I'm doing the combo of the three exercises without a steady dose of the other Crossfit WODs.  I found that I'm just not ready for the pain Crossfit WODs put me through while trying to train for triathlon.  Once I get a better base down I may get into a steady dose of the WODs.  For now a WOD here and there and this three exercise challenge is a great way to introduce strength training which a) takes VERY little time, b) hits every body part, and c) doesn't sacrifice tri training due to muscle fatigue or time suck.

Don't be afraid of the thrusters.  Maybe drop the weight to two 15lb dumbells or something and limit the pullups to 1/4 (or 1/8) of the pushups.  It would only take 10-15 minutes per day and you'll see and feel a huge difference.  Thrusters rock.

Nice work!!  Great way to get started!

I was able to get 28 in last night after 15, 12, 9, 7.   Tonight is pushups and pullups for me, so it should be a good workout!