My Push Up Challenge: 10 Military Push Ups By 31st May, 2012

I think it’s a good time to write about my new fitness challenge in detail. As you may recall, a month ago I announced my new fitness goal: being able to do 10 consecutive military style push ups (i.e. male push ups) by 31^st May, 2012.

This is what I aim for - I'm going to leave out the neck crane though.

Why push ups, why not running or walking a half-marathon or something?

I really don’t know, but for me, being able to do 10 military push ups is an epitome of cool. It would make me an absolute badass!!  It  would also be a breakthrough goal, because it would mean a tremendous increase in both core and  upper body strength. It would probably also have a positive effect on my hanging underarms, because push ups are supposed to be good for your triceps…

And besides, how many female, middle aged, 43-44 year-old office workers you know who can do even one real push up?

My Push Up Training Plan

I’ve decided to follow a push up training plan as it is laid out in  Steve Speirs’ book Hundred Pushups in 7 weeks (I bought the book, but Speirs also has a website). Regardless of the book title, I don’t really except to complete the program in a couple of months.

I want to leave some room for the unexpected and still be able to complete the program. And my goal is doing 10 pushups – not 100 – by 31^st May.

I’m going to start training at “rock bottom”, meaning I start with wall push ups, continue with table push ups, chair push ups, knee push ups and finally real push ups. I’m sure you get the idea. I will be training three times a week, doing five sets of variable repetitions.

My Current Fitness Level

I have some good news!

I tested my upper body strength about a year ago and decided I need to test it again before I start Speirs’  plan. A year ago I was able to do only 7  modified push ups,  which meant that my upper body strength was poor. When I tested myself again one hour ago, I was able to do 19 push ups in 60 seconds, which means my upper body strength is now average for a woman of my age.

I’ve increased my upper body strength from poor to average.

I honestyly didn’t expect much because my efforts at strength training have been sporadic. Walking has been my #1 physical activity.  I’ve spiced up my routine with various upper body moves,  then I tried doing Flavia’s program for some time, and lately I’ve focused on kettlebell training).  But it’s obvious I’ve been doing something right.

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P.S. Are there any (female) middle aged wannabe badasses there who’d want to join my push up challenge?

Best Wishes,