I am going to do pushups!

[thistlechaser]

For a long time, I've been wondering if I could do a pushup. Getting down onto the floor was the first big issue that kept me from testing it out (being on my knees, my full weight on my knees, often makes them hurt badly). But I tried it this morning... and completely and utterly failed to do even one.

Okay, so google here I come! Apparently there are much slower and better ways to start than to just start doing them. So right now I'm doing "countertop pushups". Some guides say to start with wall pushups before countertop, but the first guide I read started with countertop, so I had already started before I saw mention of the wall ones.



Compiled from a number of different guides:

Do as many as you can, aiming for 20.
Rest 2 minutes.
Repeat steps 5 times.

Repeat every other day.

Can go to 'bench pushups' from there, then to 'step pushups', then to 'girl/knee pushups', then to real ones.


Doing it every other day is the hard part -- it's easy for me to forget to do something if I don't get in the habit of doing it every day. So I'm going to try to figure out something I can do on the alternate day, so I'm doing something every day. Maybe sit-ups? Those are even more scary than pushups! :P

This post brought to you by my weight going insane for no reason at all. I'm now at a HIGHER weight than I was when I first started using the calorie tracking app more than a month ago! Stupid body, stupid stupid stupid.

And speaking of stupid, stupid English language: "pushup" is right, and "sit-up" is right. How are they not written the same way?

Comments

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I am so weak, I can barely do pushups. My friend gave me some handles that I can use, which makes it a tiny bit easier. I don't really understand WHY it is easier than just being on my flat hands but I did manage to actually do a few. Not 20. Like 5 LOL! I will be here, cheering you on. GO TEAM GO!!!!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Five is a great start! I figure, so long as I keep with it, I'll SLOOOOWLY get better at them. Eventually I'll do a real one, then more than one!

Go go go team pushups! :)

[teaandfailure.livejournal.com]

You'll be surprised how fast you get better at it if you do it consistently. I sure as hell was. The first time I tried, I face-planted. Like legit smacked my face on the carpet. The boyfriend at the time was HOWLING.

[loup_noir]

My carpal won't let me do traditional push-ups, but I can do "the plank." Good on you for trying something new.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I hope so! And I couldn't even lift myself up to fall on my face. I was actually kind of surprised how hard it was! I had figured I'd be able to do one or two... But nope!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I did worry about twisting or pulling my wrists. I need to type for work! But hopefully, by the time I'm ready to do full ones, the muscles in my wrists will be stronger too.

[changeling72.livejournal.com]

Good for you for doing them. I doubt I could do a single push-up or sit-up (and those two words were just auto-completed with hyphens...)

[postingwhore.livejournal.com]

When I was fourteen and doing Tae Kwon Do regularly, I could clap in between pushups....I miss those days :\ (I don't really do pushups anymore because my joints creak when I do, which, yeahhhhhh, are really scary. Unfortunately, my arms have always been weaker than my legs, and now it's much worse because of the cycling :\)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Push-up makes more sense to me than pushup, yeah...

Thanks!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I don't think I'll ever get up to clapping in the middle of one (so impressive!) but if I can do a real one without killing my joints, I'll be happy. :)

[changeling72.livejournal.com]

Yeah, me too.

[twissie.livejournal.com]

Hahaha weird, I was going to comment on my mad push-up game back when I trained tae kwon do regularly too! I really should have kept up with the strength exercises, but I didn't realise how important it was, I guess :/

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Seems like it really is that important. I hadn't realized just how challenging they really are.

[gconnor.livejournal.com]

*Like*

Good idea about doing something else on alternate days. Sit-ups also have a progression--I started with "sort of crunches" where I was on my back and just tried to bring my elbows and knees together. Took me a while to build up to actual sit-ups. Also my rule of thumb was, if I'm not doing at least 4 sets of 10 I should start with something easier and work up. So I think you're on a good path.

[gconnor.livejournal.com]

Also I'm curious after a while of logging your foods, have you looked at your fat/carb/protein balance? Logging is super helpful if you want to try and hit different ratios and see how you feel. I usually don't check it daily unless I'm really trying something new, else I will check it weekly and just make a note of how I feel and how well my plan is working.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I figured that would be a good way to start with sit-ups, too.

Sounds like we're on the same page with reps, too. My final goal is 5 sets of 20, but when I move to a new level of challenge, I start around 10, but if that's too hard I go back to the previous one for a while.