whoops clicked the wrong reply thingy.... should be reply to Genocyde.... sorry evangelistic01

SilberDrachi

@evangelistc01: it might read like that, but i have a sister who destroyed her rotator cuff by not doing proper exercises, so sometimes it is best to go see someone who is trained to help rather than to try and work it out on your own.

SilberDrachi

good website. I can do around 70-75 and have since leveled off. I think I'll poke around and see if I can get above my average.

evangelistc01

@Simonft: Good advice, but I couldn't help reading it in my head as the gym employee trying to sell you a membership. :D

Genocyde

Well, I certainly applaud anyone wanting to do a hundred pushups, but take it from this old gym rat, I've spent my entire adult life in the gym, and a program like this one can do more harm than good.

If you only train one part of your body (and that's all a single exercise like pushups is going to do for you), you're setting yourself up for injuries down the road. I've seen it a hundred times.

It's like putting a powerful engine in a stock Toyota Tercel. What will you accomplish? You'll blow out the drive train, the clutch, the transmission, etc., because those factory parts aren't designed to handle the power of an engine much more powerful than the factory installed engine.

Push-ups basically only train the chest muscles and to some extent, the triceps. What you really want to do is train your entire body, all the major muscle groups (chest, back, abdomen, legs, shoulders and arms) at the same time, over the course of a workout. And don't forget your cardiovascular work!

I'm proud of you guys wanting to do this. Three cheers! Falling in love with exercise, eating right, etc., is one of the greatest things you can do for yourself. And you WILL fall in love with it if you can just force yourself to stick with it a year or two and experience the amazing progress you'll make.

But do it right, okay?

My advice, find a good gym, with qualified trainers who will design your programs for you (especially in the beginning, until you get the hang of it yourself) and guide you in your quest for physical fitness. Thirty to 45 minutes a day, three days a week, is all you'll ever need to do (I refuse to believe anyone is so busy that he or she cannot make time for that, especially considering how important it is).

And don't worry about being embarrassed or not being in shape the first time you walk into the gym. You have to start somewhere and almost every one of us were there ourselves at one time. So no one will say anything to you and very, very quickly you will progress way beyond that stage anyway.

Now get out there and do it! :-)

Simonft

I am on day 3 of week 4 of the one hundred push ups routine...

jarhead

@scudco:
"your quest for physical fatness"

Love it.

SenorDunda

@Simonft: You're totally spreading the wrong message. Not to mention that your analogy to a powerful engine in a crappy car is way off too.

Being able to do 100 push-ups does not in any way imply a body imbalance. In fact push-ups are a very core exercise that involve your chest, arms, shoulders, back and abdomen.

You will definitely not be able to develop an imbalanced chest or arms or any of the involved muscle groups because push-ups are primarily an endurance exercise once you get over the initial start up barrier.

Combining push-ups, chin-ups, ab work and primitive squats are a sure fire way of getting into shape and gym ready. Even if it means mastering each one independently.

Beware of self professed "gym rats".

suprak

@scudco: Hehe.

I fear the site has been 'Lifehackered': it seems to be down.

MeEducated

@rhlowe:
Well, I certainly applaud anyone wanting to eat 100 big Macs, but take it from this old McDonald's rat, I've spent my entire adult life eating at McDonnald's, and a program like this one can do more harm than good.

If you only eat big Macs one part of your body (and that's all a single burger type like Big Mac is going to do for you), you're setting yourself up for injuries down the road. I've seen it a hundred times.

Big Macs basically only train the gut muscles and to some extent, the esophagus. What you really want to do is train your entire digestive system, all the major gut groups (esophagus, stomach, colon, liver, and kidneys) at the same time, over the course of a Big Mac meal. So, you will need to add large Big fries, and Large coke with it. Ask for the "Go Big" program.

I'm proud of you guys wanting to do this. Three big meals! Falling in love with eating big Macs, etc., is one of the greatest things you can do for yourself. And you WILL fall in love with it if you can just force yourself to stick with it a year or two and experience the amazing progress you'll make.

But do it right, okay?

My advice, find any McDonnald near you, with qualified burger flippers who will design your burger for you (especially in the beginning, until you get the hang of it yourself) and guide you in your quest for physical fatness. Three to 5 burgers a day, three days a week, is all you'll ever need to do (I refuse to believe anyone is so busy that he or she cannot make time for that, especially considering how important it is).

And don't worry about being embarrassed or not being out of shape the first time you walk into McDonnalds. You have to start somewhere and almost every one of us were there ourselves at one time. So no one will say anything to you and very, very quickly you will progress way beyond that stage anyway.

Now get out there and get fat! :-)

scudco

I'm just starting week 2.
This is surprisingly hard, but that might be because I'm so out of shape :[
What's weird is that my arms don't hurt, my stomach does...

gakera

@Simonft:

"And don't worry about being embarrassed or not being in shape the first time you walk into the gym. You have to start somewhere and almost every one of us were there ourselves at one time. So no one will say anything to you"

As a gym guy myself, I can completely confirm this.

If I see a fat person in McDonalds scarfing down a trayfull of Big Macs, I'm going to be a judgemental arsehole.

If I see a fat person on a treadmill at the gym, actually working up a sweat, I'm thinking "Good on ya, mate".

rhlowe

@suprak:
Well, I certainly applaud anyone wanting to beware of self-professed "gym rats", but take it from this old cognizant of self-professed "gym rats" rat, I've spent my entire adult being wary of self-professed "gym rats", and a program like this one can do more harm than good.

If you only train one part of your judgmental tendencies (and that's all a single exercise like being aware of self-professed "gym rats" is going to do for you), you're setting yourself up for injuries down the road. I've seen it a hundred times.

It's like putting a powerful engine in a stock Toyota Tercel. What will you accomplish? You'll blow out the drive train, the clutch, the transmission, etc., because those factory parts aren't designed to handle the power of an engine much more powerful than the factory installed engine.

Awareness of self-professed "gym rats" basically only trains the knee-jerk reaction muscles and to some extent, the stereotyping. What you really want to do is train your entire judgmental tendencies, all the major stereotyping groups (snap judgments, typecasts, pigeonholing, labels, and categorizations) at the same time, over the course of a judgment. And don't forget your complete lack of information!

I'm proud of you guys wanting to do this. Three cheers! Falling in love with being aware of self-professed "gym rats", stereotyping, etc., is one of the greatest things you can do for yourself. And you WILL fall in love with it if you can just force yourself to stick with it a year or two and experience the amazing progress you'll make.

But do it right, okay?

My advice, find a good special interest group, with qualified cognizant-of-self-professed-"gym rats"-rats who will design your programs for you (especially in the beginning, until you get the hang of it yourself) and guide you in your quest for being wary of self-professed "gym rats". Thirty to 45 minutes a day, three days a week, is all you'll ever need to do (I refuse to believe anyone is so busy that he or she cannot make time for that, especially considering how important it is).

And don't worry about being embarrassed or not being aware of self-professed "gym rats" the first time you walk into a lifehacker thread. You have to start somewhere and almost every one of us were there ourselves at one time. So no one will say anything to you and very, very quickly you will progress way beyond that stage anyway.

Now get out there and do it! :-)

scudco

@scudco: that was fucking so simple and sheer genius

osnofla

Another dead link :(

chareverie

@scudco:

And don't worry about being embarrassed or not being out of shape the first time you walk into McDonnalds. You have to start somewhere and almost every one of us were there ourselves at one time. So no one will say anything to you

As a McDonalds guy myself, I can completely confirm this.

If I see a fat person at the gym scarfing down exercise, I'm going to be a judgemental arsehole.

If I see a fat person at McDonald's, actually working up a sweat, I'm thinking "Good on ya, mate".

Siraf

@adumbguy: Yeah no kidding. Nothing for nothing it's hard to do any number of pushups while maintaining perfect form. Legs, abdomen, etc. Pushups do much more than just your arms unless you're doing them wrong.

PatrickTulskie

mirror: [209.85.165.104]

Simonft

I thought for sure I could do 100... I work out and run regularly. I tested out at 35. I probably could have done more but I had the rest of my workout to do and I didn't want to waste all of my energy.

I am going to follow this though. Might as well.

PatrickTulskie

@Simonft: Push-ups basically only train the chest muscles and to some extent, the triceps.

I hereby declare bullshit. Push-ups are one of a small handful of exercises that effectively work multiple parts of the body in real-world ways. And this program is a great way for most people to get into doing them.

adumbguy

website is down :(

El-Amir

@scudco: Hilarious!

@Simonft: I agree to an extent but push ups are such a basic exercise that even my seven year old does them. It is one the best exercises you can perform.

Hell, if I had a dollar for every push up I did while in the Marine Corps, I would have retired at 22.

jarhead

I tried the Couch to 5K program and quickly learned I hate running. I imagine this would teach me the same lesson about pushups. I just bought an elliptical machine and love the lower/upper body workout I get from that, so I'll stick with that.

I will say I would be VERY impressed with anyone that can do 100 pushups. Kudos!

jkrell

starting the 100 pushup program tomorrow morning :)

jonezy

@Simonft:

You have no idea what you're talking about. All your years in the gym and you never once read a exercise kinesiology book huh.

inboulder1

Did the site get "Lifehack'd" ??? :(

This looks awesome. I can't wait to start it. Pushups are *so* convenience, because you can easily do them just about anywhere, any time.

My lady and I are trying to get back into shape ... this'll definitely help with the motivation.

remi

@scudco: Genius. And funny as hell.

BrianH

In the 2 minutes it took me to write that, 5 people chimed in with the same thing. heh.
Oh, and btw, Stretching your hamstrings cures lower back problems for most, 3 out of 4, of my clients. Neck rotations will reduce headaches, computer induced neck strain, and sore jaws.
I know it's off topic but y'all get so many hits it might help a couple of thousand people who commercial healthcare seems bent on exploiting.

JiffyLube

As a trainer I'd like to say.
Calisthenics is by far the most under appreciated form of training.
Push ups, dips, crunches, squats, lunges, leg raises, V-ups, pull ups and chin ups. I also like overhead arm exercises.
Simonft is almost right. Training a specific muscle group will hurt ya. guys go into the gym and benchpress their way into a shoulder injury. He's off on the Calisthenics part though, Push ups wont lead you to injury.
Good luck with the program!

JiffyLube

Having done litterally thousands in over 21 years of service in the Army I can state that the push-up is one of the best individual exercises that one can do to get in shape. It requires no equipment, encourgages you to lose weight to increase your performance, uses many supporting muscles and ligaments in additions to your pecs and triceps, and incrases upper body strenght dramatically is short order - after you get used to the regime. Like others I agree that it is not a cure all, it must be used in conjunction with other exercises, a cardio program and a sensible and healthy diet to truely be beneficial. By adding some pull-ups, sit ups, leg raises and glut raises, squat thrusts, some dumbell presses and squats(cheaply available in most stores), stretching and a brisk run or walk daily, you can use the push-up as a cornerstone of your fitness routine without having to pay gym memberships or buy expensive equipment.

huey148

what's with the month old reddit comments popping up on here

greenanji

@Genocyde: I agree, it does sound like a gym ad.

Look. Not everything is right for everyone, but stop trying to ruin it for those that it is right for. It's really up to the individual and most people are smart enough to figure it out. I never can understand why so many folks just insist on dictating what's best for everyone, when only a small few are susceptible. *sigh*

Anyway, I personally loved the article. Thanks again Adam! :)

magnoliasouth

From personal experience (there, that means everything that follows is gospel, heh): If you do indeed take up this challenge, or any exercise challenge, no matter how "one-dimensional" it may seem, something else will happen.

You will start to feel better about yourself, which will motivate you to work on other aspects of total fitness - diet, exercise, etc. Even time management!

I've found that discipline in one aspect of life promotes discipline in others, and vice versa.

Jungle Pop

@scudco: That is awesome commenting prowess. I bow to you, my friend.

OX4

Since I can't reach that website right now...

Is this 100 REAL pushups ? Then it's stupid, real pushups is enough between 25-60 at most, you shall almost touch the floor with your nosetip and stay there in the air for a little while and go up again slow and down slow, if you do it slow you get much stronger instead of false pushups, that means quick.

roxpace

I'm kinda tired of these "take it from an old..." comments...

Ortzinator

Ah hah! I was wondering where the influx of visitors from hundredpushups to my site was coming from.

It's a good program, and a lot of people are getting into shape with it. If you only do pushups, you are better off than somebody that sits on your ass. If you use it as part of a fitness program then you are best off.

Besides, an extra bar trick is always worth having. Bet a beer you can do more pushups than the other guy. :)

Blaine Moore

Bahhahaahahha. I love reddit.

John Williams

Being extremely out of shape, I found the first two weeks challenging but was able to max out at 16 at the end of two weeks. Week 3 is too hard for me (for the second week in a row). Well, there's always next week.

Greg P

I still like pull/chin ups better.

bsr35802

What do you do if the number of pushups you're able to do stops increasing before you hit 100?

despair

Don't believe this gym rats crap on pushups. The real scoop is at [www.nytimes.com]

After my freshman year in the corps, I was able to do over 600 pushups in a day. I was a lean machine to say the least I was probably 5' 9" and weighed about 135 pounds from mainly pushups with the occasional set of situps or deep kneed bends. A day would not go by without having to do a "class set" of pushups, which for me was 81.

mikelotus

I know that it does help a little. I took a "Military Conditioning" class during my freshman and sophomore year and push-ups were a definite big part of it. Pushups, situps, endurance running, and sprinting were a core part of it. And because it was a graded class it gave me reason to keep it up and I definitely felt the difference (went from a 17:00 2 mi run to 15:00 2 mi run over the coarse of a semester). I've kinda fell out of it thought because it got hard to get up so early and function and the "professor" (I preferred to think of him as a coach) got replaced by the Army Recruiter and became less personal and felt less fun. I'd love to get back in the swing but my major now almost requires me to be up late.

MadModderX

I have been doing it for a while now, I am on day 3 of week 4, and let me tell you, it is amazing. I am overweight, and after following this guide, I can actually do more than 10 pushups. I am enjoying it, but it has led me to realize i need to find a personal trainer eventually. It has helped me realize how fun it can be though. Oh and about the muscles, i feel my abs and back as well with them, so they must work more muscles than just a couple.

hlpimfalling

Okay, has anybody done this yet? I did my "test" run today, and I could do 17 push-ups. But this schedule has me doing 54 by day #2. Is that possible?! (I realize there's a little break between each set, but...that still seems pretty optimistic.)

Very skeptical...but I'm giving it a try.

shane10101

Just tested my "push up number" out. Made past 100. Funny, because I haven't done push ups in months, Ive never even done a "push up workout." I bench press every week though. Just goes to show that there is no substitute for good old fashioned pumping of iron.

Dom

Yeah I think 6 weeks is very optimistic. Most people doing it on the penny arcade forums are having to repeat weeks.

RandomEngy

I've found that the more pushups you do in a day correlates pretty well with how many you can do at any one time. The more you do daily, the more you can do in a single set. Even doing 10 a minute for as many minutes in a row as possible is good training.

LessIsMore

I'm just starting week 4. Week 3 kicked my butt, but I've already made HUGE progress. Push ups definately work lots of muscle groups from your pecs, triceps, shoulders, upper back, lower back, abs, etc... It takes lots of core muscles to hold your body in a plank position for minutes at a time, plus all the upper body work in moving you up and down.

It's great because it's only 3 days a week, short time (10-15 minutes), and I don't break a sweat (so no changing/showering/etc...). I highly recommend it!

Devon

As a former Rugby player in Highschool who suffered from an Achilles heel injury I had to put off exercising for some time to recuperate. I just started doing pushups once again to get back to a good fitness level (not my peak). I can do 30 pushups straight but I want to get back to my 100 level once again.

I'm so thankful for this link! Thanks Lifehacker! :)

Silver_Back

I took a brief look and there is no variation at all in the pushups. There are dozens of ways to tweak pushups to work different muscle groups, make them harder and get more out of them, rather than just increasing the frequency and intensity.

I also find it focuses too much on pushups. Lets face it, anyone who can do 100 has some serious upper body strength. After the 1st few weeks, why no combine with burpess, lunges, squats etc for a simple full body bodyweight workout? Anyone who does this program will have enough motivation to do an extra 15min and gain so much more out of it!

MrCrispy

I have the weakest arms of any healthy, almost average weight, normal-looking 19-year-old dude without some bizarre deficiency, hands down. When I started, I was able to do only 3 or 4 pushups with my arms in a tight, triceps-busting form.

I'm currently repeating week 2 for the second time, but I've kicked it up to tier 2/3 and it's not easy. It's working, but slowly, and I'm not sure I'll ever be able to do 100 pushups. I can do 12 now, so I've increased the number I can do by 3 or 4 times :) I can also finally do a chin-up.

There's definitely improvement, but when you're scraping the bottom of the barrel in terms of physique, it's some damn slow improvement. I've been told slowing the rate at which I do them down it will help.

mikesty

yeah.
Website is lifehacker'd :<

MrKlappstuhl

Site has been down for a while now ? Just when I wanted to start. :)

pollag

I'm about to start week 4, and despite feeling like I'd been hit by a truck for the fist few days of week 1, I've adapted pretty quickly and have been progressing nicely.

Mecha-Shiva

site doesnt work for me.... :(

fourte3n

This is similar to something I've been looking for. Maybe other LHs can help me out. I've been looking for a blog-type thing that has equipment-less exercises, with daily updates like "Do X pushes, and X number of crunches and 10 of the plank." Any help?

Smoltz

A word of warning: do not attempt push-ups if you have problems with your back - especially your upper back. They can seriously aggravate pre-existing back conditions.

That said if your back is healthy, push-ups are an excellent all-round exercise. So long as you do them correctly - best to get someone who knows what they're doing to check your form.

If you don't hold your body in the right position throughout doing them, you won't get the maximum effect from them.

Richard Cosgrove

The poor website is crapping itself.

and take the advice of Richard with the bad back folks. Be Carefull and watch your form..

MrGutts

Lifehack'd!

I'll star it and look forward to checking it out after the initial rush of people are done. :)

Solanthos

That website is just about LH'd

Lucifer_Cat

For anyone on TheDailyPlate.com (or the new Livestrong.com) we have a group for the 100 push ups program.

[www.livestrong.com]

Tony Bullard

when i was a kid - daddy told me he'd pay me $5 for 10 good pushups. i was a pretty runty kid, but back then $5 was teriffic incentive. the deal was, tho, that i had to be able to do 10 good pushups ANYTIME he requested, or i had to give the $5 back. i'm 47 now, and the deal still holds.

i try to give him 10 extra when i'm commanded to drop and give him 10. can't imagine what he'd think if i gave him 50.

very encouraging piece of info LH - thanks.

ElvisFrisbee

I'm a runner, and for a couple years now, I have done next to nothing for my upper body. That is until I ran across this website. I'm in the middle of week 4, and it's a pretty tough program. But I have noticed significantly better muscle tone in my arms and chest, and my lower torso seems slightly more toned as well. Makes sense. Push ups, though they mainly work the chest, shoulders, and arms, also work the rest of your core muscle groups. And that's a good thing if you are a runner because a tight core can help with speed, endurance, and overall efficiency. It really helps if you concentrate on keeping your belly tight while you do the push ups, too.

Regarding form, I sometimes do mine by a mirror. I glance over from time to time and correct myself.

BTW I've decided to follow the same program to get toward 100 sit ups.

Ed H.

Is anyone else's Better Lifehacker ext. NOT nesting the comments on this post?

ryetronics

Lifehacker Syndrome strikes

Link to great site.
Site dies under weight of people trying to view great site.

Perhaps 'dies under the weight' isn't the right metaphor for this situation...

PenguinPhjil

@Blaine Moore: Besides, an extra bar trick is always worth having. Bet a beer you can do more pushups than the other guy.
Actually I used to use this trick during my days as both a high school marching band drum major and as an instructor later in life. If the students were getting antsy during some dead time, I'd just offer up some token reward to anyone who could do more pushups than me. Of course the students can't resist the opportunty to show up the DM or an instructor, but it was a safe gamble that I was probably the only one piling on more pushups at home every day and could do more than anyone on the field. Even if someone could do more pushups than me it was going to be 75+ pushups later - long enough to absorb all of the dead time anyway.

It's awful hard to run around and carry on and get in trouble when you're busy doing pushups...they stayed out of trouble, the staff could get more done, we all got a little extra exercise. Win-win-win.

Troy F.

Well... I would say that exercising has done me more harm than good recently. I started swimming after nagging by my friend, who believes aerobics should be the main focus (ie. running). I hate running with an undying passion.

It was going well until I started to do it every day and added some weight training. I know how to properly lift as I have done some minor weights before. I feel like crap after exercising and it doesn't make me feel good about myself at all.

Last_Raven

@masterthundar: Too bad none of these funny comments are original. They're just some copy 'n' paste jobs lifted from Reddit.

[www.reddit.com]

SRSco

website is not working.

Jnetty

@scudco: Made my day. Priceless

masterthundar

I do 30 pushups every morning straight out of bed. It wakens the brain, the blood, and the desire to be a human being.

Do pushups.

TunaFish

@suprak: I think Simonft has a good point, it's a bad idea to work out only one part of the body. You get much better result if you work out the whole body. There is this thing called over working your muscels. In my workout routine, i don't do more than 30 pushups and is getting better result than me benching heavier weights.

It's all about balance, workout is just one piece of the pie. Your diet (higher protein, lower carbs), Cardio, sleep, etc.. all have a factor in your health. Our body won't allow our chest to be like arnold and the rest of the body squany.

Ken

@Smoltz: I did a Google search and found bodyweightculture.com. Looks like they go from absolute beginner to some form of sadomasochism using only your body weight.

pullapint

@rhlowe: Completely agree. The same goes for overweight folks jogging on the street. I always think "good for you bud."

biggunks

@RandomEngy: You're absolutely right. I've been doing the schedule for about 5 weeks now, and I can tell you there is no way you'll go from 1 pushup to 100 in 6 weeks. I went from 25 in a row to 45 in a row though, and I consider that to be pretty good. I'd say all in all, someone could conceivably go from 5 pushups to 100 in about 20 weeks with this - which isn't bad.

To test this (to see if it was the intervals that fostered improvement) I decided to also do squats and pull-ups on the same schedule. So far, it seems to hold, so long as you don't get too frustrated when you have to repeat a week (I suck at pull-ups!). It seem to go from Week 1, Level 1, to Week 2 Level 1, and then Week 1, Level 2, etc. having concrete goals seems to help tremendously!

Sbudda

@Simonft: Remember, the program is from ZERO to one-hundred. Chances are, if you currently can do zero push-ups, this program will do much more good than bad. Pushups work the whole core and will go a long way to overall strength.

rvandervort

@Last_Raven: Sounds like too much of a good thing. You may want to take a day or two off each week. I am training with some VERY serious athletes right now and even they take off at least two days each week.

Troy F.

ps any personal trainer worth their salt will put you on the push up road right away. it truly is the all round great workout. They will balance it out with some planks, probably, and maybe the alternating arm/leg balancing thing (sorry I don't know it's name). As is the case with anything, everything in moderation but don't poo-poo the pushup idea. If it gets you moving, bravo!

beemo

Can I make a suggestion here? I love this site and *most* of the comments are worthwhile but there's nothing more disheartening that comment after comment commenting on the fact that a link is broken (or LH'd or lifehacked etc). Do us all a favor and think before you post. If someone's already noted that link is broken, do you REALLY need to say it again? I think we can all read it the first time and the spite that increases every time that someone makes the observation AGAIN is really unnecessary.

beemo

... Why would you want to be able to do 100 push ups?

Storkme

@Simonft

Hello all, I'm a long time reader but never signed up till now, the catalyst being Simonft's ridiculous comments.

I'm a "gym-rat" myself now (and I hate the term as I was more of a bodybuilder, but life catches up with you :) Simonft's comments are waaaaay off base and his analogy ridiculous. You cannot compare strengthening your arms and chest to putting an oversized engine in an automobile my man. And for the record pushups work your chest (major), tricpes (major), biceps (minor), your back (minor), and shoulders (minor). I say triceps (major) because it depends on how you execute them: close-grip triangle pushups work the tris just as much as the chest.

I applaud anyone trying to get fit. Pushups are a fine everyday workout routine you don't need a personal trainer/gym to follow. If you're looking for general fitness but don't have the time/money for the gym combining them with a good diet and regular jogging is a great fitness regimen. Gym's try to sell you on the idea you need to be surrounded by metal to get fit but you don't. *****The only precaution I'd offer is this: get your back checked out BY A DOCTOR (not a personal trainer or gym) before commencing this program. Pushups can aggravate back problems or even blow your back out if you have really serious back problems. If you've never exercised before (this applies to any exercise), get your heart rate checked out too.

gfxmaven

@Smoltz: I'd love to hear about that too. C'mon LHs! Someone must be doing this very thing.

cjfthistle

This is total bullshit, I guess people have not read the whole article as yet. According to the author you go from 7 pushps in your test (level 2) to 24 on Day 1. WTF ?

Also you end week 2 on a Friday doing 38 pushups and start week 3 on Monday doing 63 pushups ... what do you have to do on the weekend for that surge of strength and stamina ?

icemantra

What would be killer is, during those rest periods, to do lunges, or throw a medicine ball, or do it on a track and run during the rest period.

A number of studies demonstrate that these kinds of workouts (circuit training) burn more fat and result in more fitness, quicker.

Then again, every week a new fitness truism is discovered, like this 100 Big Macs thing I just read about.

sixpantsmaloney

@gakera: Me too. My arms don't get tired, but my stomach does, presumably from holding up all that belly fat. Gave up on this particular program after a week, but I'd like to do pushups more in general.

valadil

I generally try to do 110 pushups. I do a stepdown method where I do 20 pushups, rest 60 seconds or less, do 18 pushups, rest, 16, rest, etc. Decreasing each set by 2 until my last set has only 2 reps. It's a total of 10 sets. Another great tip is to start with wide pushups. With each set, pull your arms in a little more until your hands are together forming a diamond. All those different positions (I do four, very wide, wide, close to sides, diamond) will ensure you work every muscle from your waist up.

I do the same thing for situps and chinups. But for the chinups, I start with 16 instead of 20. For me, chinups are a real measure of fitness as most people can squeak out a few pushups, but few can do more than a couple of chinups in a row. Doing chinups just feels more manly too. Pullups are just as good, but I prefer chinups due to an old wrist injury.

biggunks

@biggunks: What's the difference between a pullup and a chinup??

Also, what on earth is a plank?

Maffu

@scudco: Copypasta? In MY Lifehacker? It's more likely then you think.

Anyway, I'd like to try this myself. I can barely do 10 push-ups and have been trying to start regularly working out for a while now. This might be a good place to start.

If I could do 100 push-ups at the end of 6 weeks, I'd be pretty impressed with myself and motivated to do more.

crashmaxx

@Troy F.:

Yeah, I've decided to take the next two days off to see if I can recover. Pushups and everything are nice, but starting out is just proving to be difficult I guess.

Last_Raven

I'm on the third week of this program and the title is a bit misleading.

It is highly unlikely that you will go from 0-100 pushups in just 6 weeks.
This program is actually quite a bit smarter than that. After 2 weeks you 'retest' you maximum number of pushups. You ten select the proper program and begin again from there. you may end up repeating weeks but at a harder difficulity level.

I think that also if you are in better than average shape you MAY be able to skip around. For instance if you can already do 30 pushups you may be able to skip to week 3 and find a program to match your current ability. That makes it seem much more likely that you can achieve the 100 in 6 weeks.

There is a lot of advice for people who are very weak and unable to do standard pushups. So even if you can't do 1 proper push up they have advice on how to get you started.

I've been using the training schedule for pull-ups. It seems like a good ramp up considering I could only do 3 pull ups 3 weeks ago and now I can do 6. I'm pretty sure I won't be pulling off another 94 in 4 weeks.

BTW this program only takes around 10 minutes in the beginning and uses no space. So you can do this between tv shows, when you get up or any time. Just carry the workout program in your wallet or purse and you are ready to go. No gym is necessary.

Techguy1138

I found this program last month and completed day 2 of week 4 today. After reading all the comments above, I think there needs to be some clarification. First... the goal is to do 100 pushups in ONE set. The program is designed to gradually increase your stamina so that when you perform the final test, you will be able to push out 100 reps in a single set. Every two weeks you have to "test" your max which guides you to which routine (of 3) to follow for the following two weeks. i would say that if you are consistently able to keep up with the 3rd (hardest) routine, then 6 weeks is possible. otherwise, you will have to re-visit a few weeks to get your stamina up.

If you are struggling to complete each individual set for each day, then increase your rest times. The goal is to complete the total number of pushups... there is no time limit. I would suggest that if you are struggling during a particular week, repeat until you can perform routine level 3 even if this means doing routines 1 and 2 before-hand (3 weeks total).

The side benefit of this program (which attracted it to me initially) was that it gives you a goal to follow. most people just do pushups until they feel "tired" then stop. you will never advance yourself and everyone's definition of "tired" is different. This gives you something to work toward. This will also subconciously create a new and healthy habit that you will keep up with for the rest of your life. This doesn't have to stop at 6 weeks (if you are lucky) and it shouldn't. I hope I can keep this up for the rest of my life.

just realize why you are doing this program before you start... is the final goal to do 100 reps in one set? or to live a healthy life going forward.

redclear55

I just did day one of this. Boy was I feeling it at the end - I collapsed on the last one. I'm looking forward to seeing my progress though.

TheMightyJag

well i will try

www.dressupspot.com

maahan

I read this article in the NY Times and tried to do 27 push ups in a row and could not do it. I was shocked.

So I made www.giveme27.com to help me keep track the push ups I was doing. I'm up to 30 push ups.

Feel free to give it a try.

giveme27

@shane10101: Color me a bit skeptical, too.

The jump from week 2 to 3 is pretty staggering. I was at the "top level" in the beginning; could easily do more than the "max values" in week 1, and even in week 2. But the leap from 2 to 3 is nasty...

I think there's something fundamentally too aggressive about it come week 3. It's simple to characterize: You start by doing a "to failure" test, and then wind up *trying* to do 5 sets of *nearly* the quantity that caused failure.

For instance, in my "exhaustion test" of week 2, I did 28 pushups, and that truly was *ALL* I could do. 5 days later, I'm expected to be doing 5 sets of quantities that, 5 days previous, caused me to say: "I can't do any more!"

cbbrowne

I'm starting this program today. I can do 10 right now, if i'm able to do 100 in six weeks, i'm gonna buy 2 shirt, and 2 hats from them as a donation. :)

georgexu316

I am on week 2 now, just started this with a group of friends and we email each other our progress. I bike to/from work so pushups seemed a natural choice to get a balanced workout.

rohitdas

@scudco: Good advice, but I couldn't help reading it in my head as the club of cognizant-of-self-professed-"gym rats"-rats employee trying to sell you a membership.

jstark101

Regarding taking days off, even serious bodybuilders take a day or two off between body parts to give them time to heal/grow. If you're starting from scratch I'd suggest taking time off in the very beginning, probably for the first week and a half to two, but not more than one day off. After your body adjusts to the regime resume doing them everyday if you can. Pushups are more for toning and cuts than dense muscle building: muscle isn't broken down as much as pushing heavy weights/athletic-endurance exercises. It's much the same as working your abs: the more frequently you do them (but limit the number of actual reps per day) the better.

One more thing: don't "throw" your weight or let it drop. Slow, very controlled movements are best, both on the upswing and descent. Once you get full control of your movements you'll be able to pick up speed a little while still maintaining total control. Inhale deeply for the duration of your descent, exhale during your ascent.

gfxmaven

@Maffu: A chin-up is a pull-up with your palms facing toward you - a pull-up is a chin-up with your palms facing away from you. A plank is, well you know how your body is held at the beginning of a push-up? Do that for a long time without moving.

Sbudda

I love the gym rat's hatred of body weight exercises... I do them exclusively, along with daily biking.

I spent several years as a hot shot wildland fire fighter. Besides outright fatties and smokers, body sculpted guys were often the next to break down.

Basically they hacked their muscles to look like magazines, and could perform for a few seconds/minutes of high intensity, as was their workout... Poor fools were baffled how a regular looking guy like me could completely dominate them.

Don't listen to me though -the best workout consists of: doing a few reps a bunch of times, in an enclosed space, with a bunch of like minded, sweaty guys... Spending 75% of the time "recovering" while flexing and subtly checking out your/other guys' reflections.

l337_7r4d3r

My issue with this is that, as a weak girl I can do 0 real pushups. Thats right, no real pushups, just a few girl pushups. The site does not teach any alternative methods for those of us extremely weak people working to get to the regular pushup. Also as mentioned earlier, you can't just do pushups, it will stress a single set of muscles. You should incorporate this into your other workout routines.

mofomon

The smart aleck factor in this thread is both amazing and appreciated.

Thanks for the link, too, LH!

falsefridays

@mofomon: If the only muscles you are working are your arms, then my guess is you press ups look like you are making love to the ground -- which looks damn funny to those watching.

My probably not very useful hint for you is to not try to do horizontal press ups, but rather find a bench, or a SOLID table, and do press ups in a more vertical position.

It's a lot easier, and it builds the same muscles. Eventually you will build enough to go down further to horizontal.

Don't know about you guys, but girls that can do 20 or more press ups are sexy in my books. More energy you see...

fireblayde

Pushups, pull ups and running (sometimes).

Pushups work most of your muscles through static stress (not sure what the actual name is) similar to that in Yoga, and a few through dynamic stress (again, madeup name). The slower and lower you do them, the stronger you become. If you can do thirty AFTER a run, you are doing alright.

Pull ups are excellent for the back, and depending where you have your legs, good for the ab's as well. Best way to start is to use every door frame you can find in the morning and do two or three as you walk through it.
No need to kill yourself. 10 is a good number to work towards.

Running is boring as anything could be to me. So I don't really do much. I do indoor rock climbing twice a week, and I walk 3km (1.8 miles) to work each day.

Fitness is all about moving.

fireblayde

@Smoltz: (and cjfthistle)

There have been a few posts wondering about this same kind of thing for other exercises. Try the Fitness Ladder.

It starts off really simple to make sure you build correct technique.

I've stopped regularly progressing through the ladder and added running and biking, but it was great motivation to get me going again after a 10 year hiatus from exercising.

JWiser

Hey, nothing to mock the comment that push-ups is not the complete solution. He's just saying that we should do other types of exercises as well and the car engine analogy is correct as it gets the idea across. Never does he mention that you should not follow the push-ups idea he is just making a point that if you do decide to follow the idea then its much better if you combine it with other work-out regimes and not a stand alone solution. He may just have prevented someone from getting hurt because of the tip and thus should be commended for his comment and not mocked. Come-on guys!!

ab727

@Simonft

[www.reddit.com]

Envark

@pullapint: Do you happen to know if there's a way to get the boards to resend an activation email at bodyweightculture.com? I'd REALLY like to do this but, two days after registration I still don't have an activation email (no, it isn't in a spam folder), and I can't seem to get a reply from anyone. :(

Rachel R.

Neat programme.
Two minor criticisms:
1.) Fair warning, doing a large quantity of push-ups on a regular basis may result in stretch marks.
2.) The animation that is used on the website shows the gentleman looking forward, with chin "touching" the ground. A more comfortable position, one with no strain to the neck, is looking face down and having the nose "touch" the ground.

consumerxxx

I bet I can find 100 month old reddit comments.

GonnaDoItLive

@consumerxxx:
What are you talking about with stretch marks? I've yet to discover any.

cperkins92

I can see Simonft's point that concentrating all your exercise on one part of your body may be out of balance. But is there any reason why you could not use this same program for other upper body exercises like crunches and pull-ups?

MTSchmidt

I had a hard time believing I would be able to get started. Tested out at 15 one time. So started tier 3. It's hard but doable. Did 50 pushups alltogether yesterday for day one. Not bad for this out of shape photographer. Will continue on.

pcypert

@Simonft:

I disagree a properly done push up works your triceps, biceps, shoulders, back, chest, and even your core (abs) so it's a simple exercise made to work out your entire upper body. Maybe they were doing them wrong ;)

However, I do agree to some extent. A simple 1-2 work out for your entire upper body is alternating pushups and crunches. Normally doing double the crunches of the pushups.

Working on my own plan years back after a torn (soccer related) acl/minscus, ontop of running (or eliptical) I did this every other night and easily got up to 600 crunches and 300 pushups.

liquidglass

@Maffu:

a "plank" is another abdominal core exercise.

[exercise.about.com]

ffolliet

Now do a 100 chin ups!

RGP

By manipulating your hand and elbow placement as well as changing the angle of the exercise, you can hack your push ups to maximize the effectiveness on a given muscle group. [blogs.tech-recipes.com]

shamanstears