I completed week 6 all 3 days last week and then tested at 55, had done 62 previous test. So I'm dropping to week 5 and will repeat until I feel comfortable moving on. I remember this being a process last year, but I got 75 last year and am still optomistic that I will get to 100!
Hi all. New to EN and going to join this challenge. I know I'm late, but sounds like fun. I could definitely use some upper body working out. Initial test only 15.
Interesting to see that you had a similar experience to me, i.e., having a good "first" sixth week, and a bit of a decline on my "second" sixth week.
I didn't get around to my set on Wed, but did it today, and it felt better again. Got back up to 50+ on the final set. Still not going to be close to 100 yet, but I think it's improving in the long run.
Have been on W5, C3. Didn't have problem with D1 and D2, but lots of spasms in upper back/ traps. Probably going to skip D3 this week and restart next week.
Did better today, still on W5-D1 but I did finish all 5 sets. Needed 5 minute recoveries between but if I do each day-set 3 times, I think I will be OK as I more forward. Hopefully next week W5-D2 will go easier for me than D1 did this week.
I'm so thankful for all of you!! Doing this alone it would be easy to get deflated by not finishing in the prescribed 6 weeks. It's great to have the support of all of you as we all work towards the goal together!
This is hard. I started out making so much progress, but just finished week 4 without being able to do anything close to the final set. Starting week 4 over. Like Nemo, really glad to have this forum so I don't let the discouragement get the best of me. Thanks, all.
Sheesh. My eight year old daughter, a swimmer, just mocked me by tossing off 25 perfect form pushups. She could do more she says. Hmmm....Santa's bringing a lump of coal this Christmas. :-)
Progress the last couple weeks has been marginal at best. I got 57 on my last all-out test. Nothing to sneeze at I know...and way beyond where I started, but I've really hit a plateau I guess.
William- I've kinda hit a bit of a plateau as well. I am repeating week 4 again, but moved up to column 3. It went OK so I'm gonna try to finish it out this week (last time I tried I ended up backing off to column 2).
What are you doing for the rest periods? I'm wondering if cutting those down a bit would help give you a lift off that plateau?
Yes, that may be a good idea, i.e., being pretty rigorous about keeping the rest periods short. I have tended to do the workouts while I was doing something non-demanding and/or tedious at my desk, so I have not been super-great about keeping them as short as proscribed. (But no, I'm not waiting 10-15 minutes or something either!). There have been a few days when I knew there was no way I'd make the big set with the very short rest, so I took a bit more (5 minutes?). My thinking at that time was that getting at that big set number was important.
The thing is that, even though I can do 50-something rested, it doesn't seem like I can do what the plan expects, i.e., only just a small number fewer after all those previous sets.
Anyway, I'll give the "be precise" method a try this week and see what comes of it. If necessary (and it probably will be), I'll just break up the last big set again into smaller chunks with small rest, i.e., if "at least 50" is met with exhaustion at 30 or whatever.
For what it's worth, I'm one of those guys whose vision of how to get to be able to bench-press my weight is to amputate my legs...so this was going to be a challenge from the beginning!
Sounds like a lot of us are struggling to make progress. Seems like the steepest part of the program is right in front of us - and from my point of veiw it looks daunting.... Thing is, I don't see anyone even remotely ready to let up. I for one am digging in my heals and pressing hard against it. Down shift and push..... Head down and grunt....
Like many of you, I have modified my approach for a steeper climb, taking the approach that Scott Alexander spoke of... repeat each day's wko 3 times, taking a week to step up to the next day. Like building a platform to work from. This week I will be on W5-C3-D2. Got my 195 in today and felt OK doing it. By the third time around on Friday, it should be a piece of cake...... maybe.
It's not about the 100 consecutive pushups.... it is the fitness it takes to get there that is important.... to me at least.
Don't give in to the temptation of the 'Dark Side'.....
Knocked off 120 last night (week 3, day 3, 1st time), so the last set of 28 was tough (split into 18/10). I'll do it again on Wed and Fri, where the last set gets easier each successive time.
I won't move on until I can do that last max set at one time without splitting into multiples.
Nice work Scott. I like your approach..... I think it will be how I get to the end strong, with my arms still attached....
@ Nemo- Had to say it... I was having one of those 'white' moments of clarity..... they seem to be so rare for me. I think it goes along with my CRS (cant remember s@!t)
Barely sqeezed out Week 2, Day 2, C3 today. No pain, just complete exhaustion. Man, this is tough. 14/16/12/12/17 for a total of 71. I can see the wall coming soon.
I looked at the W4 D2 C3 set today and knew it wouldn't happen. So I'm officially adopting the "Scott Alexander Modification" to the workout plan as well. I repeated D1 and at least this time I hit the "Max Set" without too much trouble. I'm hoping Friday's attempt will let me blow through the Max Set and then I'll know I'm good to move to D2.
@ William - I had done some of those soft-rest intervals too but the pushup police (Nemo) carded me on it so I have been much better. I think it helps too. Not just physically, but mojo-wise too.
@ Michele - WTF? I figured you'd be kickin' some butt here..... =:-] GWTP.....
@ Neil - I don't think any of us is still on the 6 week plan. This week I shifted to the SAM (Scott Alexander Modification) and it has helped me make progress on this steep part.
@ ;Scott - You've got a following ... your method seems to really help. Thanks!
@ Elly - Good work going on there. You'll go farther than you think before the wheels start to come off.
@ Nemo - Awesome! Isn't it a great feeling to hit the Max and not have to look around for your arms? The SAM method really works!
Got my second round of W5-C3-D2 today at lunch. Hit all my sets except the Max set with specified rest of 45" between. I did need to wait almost 30 minutes after set 7 before my arms stopped quivering enough to do the Max set, but I did manage to go Max +5. Friday I plan to do the whole thing as scheduled, and I am determined to finish strong so I can move onto D3.
Yesterday I stepped back down to W5 C2. Column 3 just kicks my butt every time. I think I am going to become a convert to the "SAM". I enjoy these workouts. Tomorrow I might even wait until after dinner so I can impress the family (NOT!)
I think this year is harder for me as I am not being as consistent with ANY workout. Last year I did GET INSANITY every day. This year I am slacking. Oh well.
Week 2 is in the bag. I did the third day today to rest up for the exhaustion test on Saturday. 16/17/14/14/20 for a total of 81. Strangely, it felt better today! Best wishes to all and Happy Thanksgiving!
Week 2 Exhaustion test: 26. My arms are still tired from last night's W2 D3 C3 workout. Note to self: Take more time off before jumping into test sets.
@ Elly - yeah, a day off before testing is a big help if you want to hit bigger numbers. Good work on a short recovery.
W5-C3-D2 third repeat and naiiled it. Hit all my sets, including the Max of 45 with the prescribed rest periods. 19/19/22/22/18/18/22/45=185 all thanks to the SAM method! Scott, I got to thank you again!
Monday I am heading for W5-C3-D3.... should be interesting to say the least, but I am determined to clear week 5 by the end of it.
Yikes! Week 3, Day 1, Column 3: 14/18/14/14/20 for a total of 80 pushups. Just barely got through it. Nothing left. It seemed harder after a break of over two days. No pain or soreness, just fatigue.
First installment (of 3) of W5-C3-D3 tonight. Hit all the sets on 45" rest except the Max set. For that, I needed 20 minutes for my arms to stop quivering and regain voluntary control before I could bang out the final 50. Making steady progress and I am confident that by friday, I will be ready to test out of W5 into W6.
20/20/24/24/20/20/22/50 = 200. Wow, never thought I could do that many in less than 30 minutes!
Comments
I completed week 6 all 3 days last week and then tested at 55, had done 62 previous test. So I'm dropping to week 5 and will repeat until I feel comfortable moving on. I remember this being a process last year, but I got 75 last year and am still optomistic that I will get to 100!
Carly-
Interesting to see that you had a similar experience to me, i.e., having a good "first" sixth week, and a bit of a decline on my "second" sixth week.
I didn't get around to my set on Wed, but did it today, and it felt better again. Got back up to 50+ on the final set. Still not going to be close to 100 yet, but I think it's improving in the long run.
Did better today, still on W5-D1 but I did finish all 5 sets. Needed 5 minute recoveries between but if I do each day-set 3 times, I think I will be OK as I more forward. Hopefully next week W5-D2 will go easier for me than D1 did this week.
OK, I'm officially a bit frustrated. ;-)
Progress the last couple weeks has been marginal at best. I got 57 on my last all-out test. Nothing to sneeze at I know...and way beyond where I started, but I've really hit a plateau I guess.
Any thoughts/suggestions?
What are you doing for the rest periods? I'm wondering if cutting those down a bit would help give you a lift off that plateau?
Yes, that may be a good idea, i.e., being pretty rigorous about keeping the rest periods short. I have tended to do the workouts while I was doing something non-demanding and/or tedious at my desk, so I have not been super-great about keeping them as short as proscribed. (But no, I'm not waiting 10-15 minutes or something either!). There have been a few days when I knew there was no way I'd make the big set with the very short rest, so I took a bit more (5 minutes?). My thinking at that time was that getting at that big set number was important.
The thing is that, even though I can do 50-something rested, it doesn't seem like I can do what the plan expects, i.e., only just a small number fewer after all those previous sets.
Anyway, I'll give the "be precise" method a try this week and see what comes of it. If necessary (and it probably will be), I'll just break up the last big set again into smaller chunks with small rest, i.e., if "at least 50" is met with exhaustion at 30 or whatever.
For what it's worth, I'm one of those guys whose vision of how to get to be able to bench-press my weight is to amputate my legs...so this was going to be a challenge from the beginning!
Like many of you, I have modified my approach for a steeper climb, taking the approach that Scott Alexander spoke of... repeat each day's wko 3 times, taking a week to step up to the next day. Like building a platform to work from. This week I will be on W5-C3-D2. Got my 195 in today and felt OK doing it. By the third time around on Friday, it should be a piece of cake...... maybe.
It's not about the 100 consecutive pushups.... it is the fitness it takes to get there that is important.... to me at least.
Don't give in to the temptation of the 'Dark Side'.....
I'll do it again on Wed and Fri, where the last set gets easier each successive time.
I won't move on until I can do that last max set at one time without splitting into multiples.
@ Nemo- Had to say it... I was having one of those 'white' moments of clarity..... they seem to be so rare for me. I think it goes along with my CRS (cant remember s@!t)
Run Stong
I looked at the W4 D2 C3 set today and knew it wouldn't happen. So I'm officially adopting the "Scott Alexander Modification" to the workout plan as well. I repeated D1 and at least this time I hit the "Max Set" without too much trouble. I'm hoping Friday's attempt will let me blow through the Max Set and then I'll know I'm good to move to D2.
@ William - I had done some of those soft-rest intervals too but the pushup police (Nemo) carded me on it so I have been much better. I think it helps too. Not just physically, but mojo-wise too.
@ Michele - WTF? I figured you'd be kickin' some butt here..... =:-] GWTP.....
@ Neil - I don't think any of us is still on the 6 week plan. This week I shifted to the SAM (Scott Alexander Modification) and it has helped me make progress on this steep part.
@ ;Scott - You've got a following ... your method seems to really help. Thanks!
@ Elly - Good work going on there. You'll go farther than you think before the wheels start to come off.
@ Nemo - Awesome! Isn't it a great feeling to hit the Max and not have to look around for your arms? The SAM method really works!
Got my second round of W5-C3-D2 today at lunch. Hit all my sets except the Max set with specified rest of 45" between. I did need to wait almost 30 minutes after set 7 before my arms stopped quivering enough to do the Max set, but I did manage to go Max +5. Friday I plan to do the whole thing as scheduled, and I am determined to finish strong so I can move onto D3.
19/19/22/22/18/18/22/50 = 190 Yipeeeeee Whooooeeeee!
I think this year is harder for me as I am not being as consistent with ANY workout. Last year I did GET INSANITY every day. This year I am slacking. Oh well.
W5-C3-D2 third repeat and naiiled it. Hit all my sets, including the Max of 45 with the prescribed rest periods. 19/19/22/22/18/18/22/45=185 all thanks to the SAM method! Scott, I got to thank you again!
Monday I am heading for W5-C3-D3.... should be interesting to say the least, but I am determined to clear week 5 by the end of it.
20/20/24/24/20/20/22/50 = 200. Wow, never thought I could do that many in less than 30 minutes!