ClubPolk 100 PushUp Challenge! Come one...come ALL!

audiobliss

Friends and I just grabbed a set of the 'Perfect Pushup" grips from WalMart and redid our initial test. I pumped out 14 of them, making sure to do them nice and slow. I'm excited thinking about how much better shape I'm going to be in at the end of 6 weeks.

jdhdiggs

wingnut4772 wrote: »

That sounds crazy hard.:eek:

The P90X routine scheduled for tomorrow has one hand in a frisbee and you slide it out to drop down and slide it back under you to come up, that's a **** but a great workout...

Before starting the P90X I was able to do ~65 in a set at 196, I'm down to 173 and a lot stronger so I would bet I could get close to 100, if not over, at this point. I might try it tomorrow and report back...

wingnut4772

audiobliss wrote: »

Friends and I just grabbed a set of the 'Perfect Pushup" grips from WalMart and redid our initial test. I pumped out 14 of them, making sure to do them nice and slow. I'm excited thinking about how much better shape I'm going to be in at the end of 6 weeks.

Aren't they harder with those?I was struggling.

BigMac

Just a word of advice from a certified personal trainer to those that are using the perfect pushup (pp). A large group of trainers (including myself) get together for bimonthly meetings to discuss anything and everything related to fitness. Last year one of the topics was the pp. To make a long story short, our group was seeing an increase in shoulder injuries because of the pp. The only 'real' benefit we saw from these was it lessened the pressure on the wrist. If you keep perfect form and go low and slow then you have a much lower chance of injury. Just be careful of your rotator cuffs when twisting. The ones Face uses are much,much better for pushups imo. You can do the same type of pushups without fear of overtwisting and tweaking or ripping the heck out of your shoulders. Here are the exact ones I use for my clients in the gym or for at home. Inexpensive and has adjustable height positions. I also leave a pair of these in the old school gym where I personally train and they have lasted for over a year so far with guys beating them up on a daily basis. Just some food for thought.



http://www.target.com/Reebok-Deluxe-Pushup-Bar/dp/B000VDRWHK

BigMac

jdhdiggs wrote: »

The P90X routine scheduled for tomorrow has one hand in a frisbee and you slide it out to drop down and slide it back under you to come up, that's a **** but a great workout...

Before starting the P90X I was able to do ~65 in a set at 196, I'm down to 173 and a lot stronger so I would bet I could get close to 100, if not over, at this point. I might try it tomorrow and report back...

Now this is a program I support 100%. One of the best ever imo. Your muscles will never know what hit them!! Constantly keeps them guessing and if you continue this program beyond 90 days the results keep coming. One of my favorite workouts is the chest in P90X. I love taking guys that can bench alot and put them through this workout. 99% of the guys cannot even complete 50% of the workout before they crap out. When I am looking to switch it up a little this is the workout I love to do.

wingnut4772

I don't do the twist on the PP. My shoulder is still recovering and I use really slow good form. I like how I am forced to stablize myself on them though.

cnh

Do you change hands with that frisbee on alternate sets? And isn't that a bit 'dangerous'? What if the frisbee slides while your hand is in it? Pulling your arm out from under you? Not that I'm going to try anything like that because I already have some shoulder damage from weights. I creak and crack like a bad rocker till those pre-arthritic joints get going...even after warming up.

cnh

jdhdiggs

BigMac wrote: »

Now this is a program I support 100%. One of the best ever imo. Your muscles will never know what hit them!! Constantly keeps them guessing and if you continue this program beyond 90 days the results keep coming. One of my favorite workouts is the chest in P90X. I love taking guys that can bench alot and put them through this workout. 99% of the guys cannot even complete 50% of the workout before they crap out. When I am looking to switch it up a little this is the workout I love to do.

I thought tha whole "Mix it up" thing was a bunch of crap... How much harder can chest, tri's, and shoulders be then the original chest and back that had you doing 300+ pushups in 40 minutes... Yeah, I had to hit the pause button a couple of times on Monday to not ralph... Tomorrow, that sucker is going DOWN though...


CNH- The whole series has a "Don't even try the workout if you can't do X" and then every move has an alternative form if you're not in the conditioning to do it the way they demo. In fact every move has 4 different versions of it and you pick the intensity that you can do.

audiobliss

BigMac - So, are you cautioning against using the PP at all? Or just warning to use slow movements and good form when using them? I haven't bought anything for pushups yet, so I can get the PP or a regular 'riser' or w/e it's called.

wingnut4772 wrote: »

Aren't they harder with those?I was struggling.

Yeah, they were harder. I managed 24 good form pushups the other day. Then did 14 today with the PP.

wingnut4772

audiobliss wrote: »

BigMac - So, are you cautioning against using the PP at all? Or just warning to use slow movements and good form when using them? I haven't bought anything for pushups yet, so I can get the PP or a regular 'riser' or w/e it's called.


Yeah, they were harder. I managed 24 good form pushups the other day. Then did 14 today with the PP.

I dont feel so badly now.:p

BigMac

audiobliss wrote: »

BigMac - So, are you cautioning against using the PP at all? Or just warning to use slow movements and good form when using them? I haven't bought anything for pushups yet, so I can get the PP or a regular 'riser' or w/e it's called.


Yeah, they were harder. I managed 24 good form pushups the other day. Then did 14 today with the PP.

I was just cautioning that when using the pp people exercise great care using them. When using a 'novelty/specialty' product like this until you know your own capabilities and limitations I would suggest sticking to the basics. The push up bars Face uses and that I showed are where I would start. They offer much greater stability so you can concentrate more on the exercise rather than the device.

audiobliss

BigMac wrote: »

I was just cautioning that when using the pp people exercise great care using them. When using a 'novelty/specialty' product like this until you know your own capabilities and limitations I would suggest sticking to the basics. The push up bars Face uses and that I showed are where I would start. They offer much greater stability so you can concentrate more on the exercise rather than the device.

Well, at this point, I guess I'd like to go with the one that is the tallest and thus allows for the greatest range of motion. The PP is 3-3/4" tall. Anyway you could get a measurement on how tall the Reebok ones are in their tallest position? There isn't a Target around here...though I suppose I'll be close to a Target back home when I'm actually going to buy something next week.

wingnut4772

audiobliss wrote: »

Well, at this point, I guess I'd like to go with the one that is the tallest and thus allows for the greatest range of motion. The PP is 3-3/4" tall. Anyway you could get a measurement on how tall the Reebok ones are in their tallest position? There isn't a Target around here...though I suppose I'll be close to a Target back home when I'm actually going to buy something next week.

That's what I use the PP for. The range of motion. I don't do the twisty stuff. The videos showing it done twisty style doesn't look that stable to me either.

Willow

Well I've been back to the gym after my 1yr off due to my back issues and back surgery. I'm at 178lbs I'm 6ft. When doing my pushup I can get about 20-25 in there. But I go slow and make sure my body is flat/still. I'm getting better as I started off only doing 10-12.

BigMac

audiobliss wrote: »

Well, at this point, I guess I'd like to go with the one that is the tallest and thus allows for the greatest range of motion. The PP is 3-3/4" tall. Anyway you could get a measurement on how tall the Reebok ones are in their tallest position? There isn't a Target around here...though I suppose I'll be close to a Target back home when I'm actually going to buy something next week.

I will be at the gym later this evening and will measure for exact height. From 2 reviews I read looking for a quick answer I saw that the height was 6"-7"-8". From using them so often I would have to tentatively agree. There are a ton of pushup bars out there so I would buy what you like best. Some pushup bars are angled,can swivel,have extra grip padding,and various heights. I just chose the ones I have as they are an overall good performer and I really like the clear plastic padding on the handles. Even when you are very sweaty you never feel like you are going to slip using that clear grip. I have tried the pushup bars with a foam grip which makes them more confortable as well, buttttttt, the foam takes on a sweaty smell after using them for awhile. Also, the foam tends to rip after a fair amount of use.

audiobliss

So, my friends and I started the whole week 1 workout today. I did the pushups on the PP as I'm not buying risers until I get back home next week, but I really enjoyed doing the pushups. I started out on the third column, but crapped out on the second set at only 8 pushups, so I've moved back down to the second column. I finished out the last set with about 9 pushups, iirc.

Squats were a piece of cake. I'm doing the third column, and sure, there was some burning, and I know it'll get more intense, but it's definitely a-ok right now.

The real kicker is the crunches. My abs must be jello!! I started out on the second column for that and was barely able to finish it. It was intense!! I'm not sure if I'll stick with the second column or not...the next few sessions will dictate that. It'd be so much easier if it were just regular situps instead of crunches. But oh well, no pain no gain. I can't wait to have the abs that'll allow me to rock out 200 of them here in just 6 weeks.

jdhdiggs

Did my test before my normal workout, did 103, but the last 6 were ugly so I'm calling it a 97, of course that meant I had to do most of the P90X routine on my knees instead of toes, but I still feel the burn today. I'll retest in 5 weeks to see where I'm at.

Willow

Do you need to buy equip. for this P90X? and is it as good as everyone says?

wingnut4772

See? Isn't this fun? Club Polk is gonna be buff!

jdhdiggs

Willow wrote: »

Do you need to buy equip. for this P90X? and is it as good as everyone says?

You need a pullup bar and a set of dumbells or resistance bands and some guts. The first week is about survival, but then it gets better. Great workout...

BigMac

Willow wrote: »

Do you need to buy equip. for this P90X? and is it as good as everyone says?

Hi. You will need a few things to get you started.

-pushup bars (optional but I would strongly advise getting some)
-pullup bar
-yoga mat (optional but some prefer it)
-dumbbells or resist-a band or similar product (personal preference and your choice also depends on your strength)
-Optional-a recovery drink you like (the program explains this)
-make sure you have a couple of nice towels to wipe the sweat off with. When I say a couple I mean a couple....I go through 2-3 towels when I do the chest workout.

Yes the program is as good as everyone says it is plus some (this program is not for those that will give up when things get hard......because this program WILL kick your butt). If you give 100% each workout,follow the food plan,and track your progress you WILL get results guaranteed. My advice is for those that are not accustomed to working out you should take a few weeks and get your body acclimated to this. Pop in the dvds and go through them to familiarize yourself so you know what to expect. I would also clean out all the temtations in your home as far as bad food is concerned. The best thing about this program is that in addition to weight loss, you will probably be in the best shape of your life after the 90 days.

Just a tip, sometimes you can find the whole P90X program on CL for cheap. If you do find one make sure it comes with the nutritional plan,fitness guide,and the 'how to bring it' dvd. For those of you that are not use to working out,hate working out,lose motivation easily I would suggest getting a training partner. You all will motivate each other,be there for support and you can split the cost. Good luck.:D

jdhdiggs

I'll add a touch to big macs post- If you were ever a wrestler, boxer, or went through military PT, you won't be suprised and it won't be the hardest workout you have ever done, but if you haven't, this will kick your butt for a while.

audiobliss

Just out of curiosity, what is the nutritional plan for the P90X program like? I'm not doing it this summer, but perhaps next summer I could be interested in it.

cnh

If I lost 30 pounds I'd be doing 100 of these things in less than 3 weeks! Body weight is a problem with pushups! And EVEN more so with Pull-ups. Even professional Body Builders who weigh mid 200s can't do that many perfect pull-ups.

When I as a teenager and I weighed 165-170...there wasn't anything I couldn't do. 100 pushups no problem. 30 chins, I was there for it, a few hundred situps the old fashioned way sure. At the mid-century mark the strength is still there, but flexibility, endurance and extra weight make all that seem less than possible. And unless you keep this up...you're body will disintegrate. The average male,couch potato over 40 can't do anywhere near 10 push ups? And upper body strength can be lost quickly as you age.

cnh

BigMac

audiobliss wrote: »

Just out of curiosity, what is the nutritional plan for the P90X program like? I'm not doing it this summer, but perhaps next summer I could be interested in it.

The nutritional plan is broken down into 3 phases.

Phase 1-Fat Shredder
Phase 2-Energy Booster
Phase 3-Endurance Maiximizer

Each phase has foods that will maximize the results you see. Also, the portion size will depend on your nutrition level which is explained in the program. The meal plan spells everything out for you. It starts by giving you a list of foods in each category (veggies,dairy,seafood,meat,etc.) that you can choose from and has daily meals already planned out as well. I will provide a pic to show a small example of the foods you can have during phase 1. Just remember, there are alot of other food choices. To show all the choices in each category I would have had to scan quite a few pages, but I think you will get an idea from the sample pic I provided.

wingnut4772

16 today with the Perfect Push Ups

cnh

What do you guys think about the Extreme Pull-up device they were marketing on TV months ago. I picked one up and, supposedly you can also use it to do push-ups kind of like the Reebok handhelds that Big Mac pictured above. The unit is a bit narrow but I've tried some on it and it seems to put less stress on the shoulders. Might not allow you to get all the way to the floor? The Pull-up part seems OK! Watch your door and your weight though!

cnh

avelanchefan

I thought Week 1 went really good for me. No issues and noticed an increase in strength at the end of the week.

Week 2 tomorrow.

AndyGwis

I just finished up a pushup competition a few weeks ago. Pretty much who could do the most pushups in a 3 month period between me and a couple friends. I can do about 65 in a row with good form right now.

I started the 100 pushup challenge in week 4 - far right column. Pretty tough if you only rest for the 60-90 seconds they suggest. I have to do day 3 and am curious if I'll finish it. I've got the PP as well and like them but am worried about my shoulder. My right shoulder's been killing me since I started playing softball again. Not sure the PP would help that.

My brother got the P90X vids so I'll probably get started with those soon, too, since my new place now has room for my home gym. I'm loving being able to just wake up 20 minutes earlier to get in crunches, pushups, etc. instead of having to carve out 1-2 hours to go to the gym after work.

I'm about 6'0" 190lbs. Anyone of similar size that can do 100+ pushups with good form is a beast in my book.

BigMac

AndyGwis wrote: »

I've got the PP as well and like them but am worried about my shoulder. My right shoulder's been killing me since I started playing softball again.

Hi Andy. Check this page out to give you an idea for some things that may/will help your shoulder out. Good luck and congrats on getting 65 the correct way. Nice job.:D

http://www.orthop.washington.edu/uw/weakshoulder/tabID__3376/ItemID__190/PageID__370/Articles/Default.aspx