Improving fitness

**Rhyfelwyr** · 02-06-2010, 17:45

I've been trying to follow the 100 push ups fitness programme, and also started the 200 sit ups one. However, I'm now stuck on day 2 of week 2 in the push ups one (I'm in the middle column).

For the initial test, I managed 13 push ups.

Since then, there's been a couple of the days I had to repeat, but I seem to have hit a brick wall where I am now. I'm close, but I can only get 11 push ups on the last bit for week 2 day 2.

I don't know why I'm not keeping pace with the programme, I just don't seem to be improving any more. I alternate days between the push ups and sit up programmes, and in the sit ups one I started about a week later but I'm already on the last day of week 2 and I'm progressing fine through that.

Any ideas on what I could do to improve my push ups or where I'm going wrong?

Also, how bad is how I am doing compared to the average would you guess? I actually used to be one of the people that was good at sports at school, although I think that was more my coordination that fitnesss... but still, I seem to really suck now. I guess it's because I havent' really exercised since going to Uni and I'm now in my third year, all I do all day is sit at my PC or read or watch daytime TV. As much as I'm glad to be living the dream I would still like to be a bit healther since I've noticed I feel a lot better when I do a bit of exercise...

**The Wizard** · 02-06-2010, 19:15

It takes time to build strength. Lots of time. Especially for such a difficult exercise involving most of your body weight and muscle groups like pushups. I've been training with weights since 16 and have been doing it seriously for about a year now, and I doubt I'd be able to manage more than 25 pushups (admittedly my chest is one of my weaker areas). Don't expect results right away, take it easy and keep going.

In addition, that site loses points for showing you the wrong way to do pushups, which if followed will eventually damage your wrists. Do pushups with clenched fists (preferably on pillows or something soft, since it hurts otherwise), or get pushup stands.

**PanzerJaeger** · 02-07-2010, 06:26

That is not a good workout routine, imo, so its not surprising you are not keeping pace with the goals, especially if all you've done is sit around all day. They most likely just represent one person's experiences, who may have had some level of fitness already.

Anyway, you can expect some varience in the amount of work you can do. Achieving 13 pushups one day and 11 another is not a big deal, or reason to worry. Try to have a more long term perspective - months instead of weeks and days at least.

**naut** · 02-07-2010, 09:58

Originally Posted by The Wizard

It takes time to build strength.

That amount of push-ups it has a lot to do with endurance as well. Rhy, as Wiz said, it may take more time to build up the muscle.

**Fragony** · 02-07-2010, 10:24

You will build up strength really fast, that is what you already had, after that it slows down. I wouldn't do pushups it's bad for your back, just go to the gym and take it easy, no heavy lifting, much better. You get a lot more out of 4 x 8 50 kilo's then a single 100.