Initial test: 100 pushups

[racerxmachina.livejournal.com]

I wonder if I'd have done better if I'd not had a big potluck lunch that day? As it was, the first test went OK. I'm very sore in my abdomen and shoulders and triceps, but otherwise I think I can try this again in a day or two.

I stretched a while, then did a single traditional pushup. Instantly, the socket between my pecs and my shoulders on both sides said, "No. Just no. Bad things will happen, not just muscular things, either. " Fair enough. I switched to crossed-knees position. Much better. Only problem with this is I forgot to put a pad down and I now have serious rug-burn on my knees. ♥ The fleet's in! ♥

I was able to do 36 good-form knee pushups before I had to completely stop. If that's 50% of the strength required for a regular pushup, it puts me in the third rank of the initial test.  I will try the first week's program, ranked 3, beginning Saturday.

I'm pretty conditioned to stop before I completely exhaust myself, which I don't think was the point of this test-- I think they really wanted me to torque myself, and I really wanted to, y'know, continue to work out for more than ten minutes. So I maybe could have done more, but as it was, I also slapped on 60 weighted pull-over crunches, 36 weighted tricep extensions, and then hit the treadmill for my usual fast-hike with hills for 30 minutes.
I was Endorphine Lass! Whoosh! I think that's what I've been skipping in all this maintenance jazz I do-- not pushing myself and feeling that big crazy rush. Went to hang out with folks, had a great time, maybe had one diet Coke too many.
Did not sleep until 3 AM. Big jangly wad of nervous energy, sore from sternum to hips.  Maybe I should have held back on the partying a bit after the adrenaline rush.

I can see myself doing this regularly, with the idea of keeping my increases steady and slow. And lots of Alleve and hydrating those muscles in between. 

Fitness Update

[devonapple.livejournal.com]

Still working on changing the eating habits. This weekend was one of some indulgence. The wedding was actually fairly moderate, as the reception foods were distributed Dim Sum style in small portions. Sunday night (the dinner party of sick puppyness) was a bit more indulgent, and I realize that I hit the bread and cheese pretty hard (was I eating to cover the stress? perhaps).

My last weigh-in was disappointing -- a net zero loss for the week, despite near-total adherence to diet strictures -- but my size 34 pants are beginning to fit again, so that's a nice benchmark.