I just realized this morning that my dog can plank effortlessly for very long periods of time. It's almost like she is just standing there.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHHA

Pup, the guy that holds the world record for pushups started with just 1. you are doing great!

Just curious for a show of hands (so to speak) how many of you have noticed a diverence difference in your body since we started this, because I know some of you have.....
You dont even need to answer, just wanted you to note what has changed. Even those who are concerned that you only do knee pushups or a few "real" one's....how many could you do before?
You are all doing really amazing!


Fixed

Thanks Pale!

Ditto.

At first I read BBB1's post as whether my body was noticing a deliverance.

I ain't been delivered yet but am looking forward to the experience.

Now as to a difference, not in this tired worn out body, but that may be an age thing....

Yeah....bad spelling only! Really hope that nobody is hearing banjo music and having a "Delivernce" experience!

Do more push-ups, or else??

I'm not sure that's the kind of motivation that people here want or need!

Do more pushups or pay in beer?

THAT's motivation

Not MORE pushups, just pushups in general.

I can't WAIT until I get my free Hefeweizen from Jen.

Ok....
:calls KY:

"....Hello! Yeah, hi...you can cancel the Hillbillys."

I can do almost 15 without breaking stride now. About 15 more than I could do before!

My running resolution was to buck up and not go home before 2 miles when I get out, and it was the right decision - I've been making it to 3 much more consistently now! (Even in 20 degrees, once even in the snow...) Definitely time to start perusing the state for 5K races (always made better by omelette parties at our house after.)

Way to go CheshireAliCat!!

I am having a real bad day....now I read CheshireAli as saying she can do almost 15 without breaking wind...

AWESOME!!

Is it your old eyes or old mind?

:heads pops up:
Omlettes!?!? Omlettes where!?
Way to go Smiley! Thats great!

So people are telling me that I shouldn't work out everyday. Are they full of you know what?? I am confused

Your body does need time to rest.

I only run 4 days a week, even in marathon training. I try to fill two others with yoga, strength training, or cross training of some sort. One day needs to be truly rest. (minus this insane push up obsession)

Well, who are the people? Yes, they may be full of waste.
If you are doing resistance or weight training then, yes there is some validity to the statement, sort of. When you lift, the specific muscles that you worked need 48 hours of recouperation. So if you did a full body workout in the weight room, or some similar resistance training, you would do it M-W-F. If you do a slpit routine, (Monday=chest, Tuesday=back, Wednesday=shoulders, Thursday=legs, Friday=arms) you workout everyday, but each muscle gets a week of rest. It just depends on what your goal is.
You can work abs everyday.
If you are running, doing cardio or etc, you can do it every day, but some variance in speed and distance may be of help.
You can do pushups everyday.

I hope that helps some.

Recovery days are important, or at least to alternate muscle groups that you're working on. I don't think you'll find many people that actually work out 7 days a week, I only do 6 myself. A lot of people I know take off Sunday and Wednesday or something like that. Or at least consider one day to be a lighter workout. It's necessary to give yourself rest so muscles can rebuild and also to prevent strain/injury.


Edit: What ^^ he said.

Thanks guys, that does help a lot. I think I am doing enough different things that I won't strain anything. But The advice is wonderful. I swear this thread and all of you have been very very encouraging and not only that but you all are keeping me accountable!

it depends what tyhpe of workout your are doing, cardio or strength training. for cardio, usually 1-2 days of rest per week is sufficient (studies have shown that working out 7 days a week is actually worse for you over a long period of time as your body does need the rest). If you are doing weights, every other day is sufficient.

This is a very high level answer...and it can change depending on the type of training you're doing, if you add something other than straight cardio (running, walking, eliptical, etc) or weights - like yoga, pilates, stretching, swimming, etc

That's why as the numbers of pushups gets higher, you might also think about doing them every other day. Once we're up to 100+, you can do them on even days or odd days, etc.

No one should do so much as to get hurt. The old adage "no pain, no gain" is not a good one.

Recovery is King, Exercise is Queen.

I typically follow a 4-day cycle.
No Intensity Day: Joint Mobility, Body Rolling
Low Intensity Day: Generally yoga
Moderate Intensity: Training work (5 or 6 on a scale of 1 - 10)
High Intensity: Training work (8 or 9 on a scale of 1 - 10)

If I wanted to apply this to doing 100 push-ups, one approach would be:
No Intensity: Joint Mobility, extra shoulder, elbow and wrist mobility
Low Intensity: basic stress conversion set of poses (another post)
Moderate: 5 pushups on the minute for 20 minutes
High: 6 pushups on the minute for 16 minutes.
No:
Low:
Moderate: 6 pushups on the minute for 16 minutes
High: 7 pushups on the minute for 15 minutes
etc, etc, ratcheting up the 'density' (work over time) as you go.

Eventually, if it was your goal, you'd get to doing 1 single set of 100 pushups.