Monthly challenges

[muck_a_luck]

Good morning!

I've been thinking about how to structure monthly challenges. I was able to think of a bunch of things, but I thought some of them, like kick up into handstand or do a cartwheel, were too much about ME and another bunch of them, like run a mile or swim 10 laps, I coudln't do, because of the restraints on my time and mobility (can only exercise when the four-year-old is asleep before work, basically).

Then it came to me!

We should all set our own challenges. Duh.

So, heads up, everybody! On September 29, I will post up an "October Challenge Announcement" post!

Think about an exercise or fitness goal that you have. Try to make it something managable that you could attain, with diligence, by October 31. But not too easy! It should be a challenge!

I will invite everyone to announce their self-challenges in the announcement post (or in a freestanding post between Septmeber 29 and October 1). The challenge will begin on October 1 and end on October 31, when I will put up a challenge results post, and everybody can report on how their challenge went!

Hopefully, barring mod!flake!, we can try this out for couple of months and see what people think of it.

I hope you are all having wonderful days!
Very truly yours,
CK

Comments

[muck_a_luck]

At that time I was using a book called "The New Rules of Lifting for Women: Lift Like A Man, Look Like A Goddess."

That particularly workout alternated pushup sets with sets of seated rows. The pattern for the pushups was:

Workouts 1, 2: 2 sets of 15 reps
Workouts 3, 4: 2 x 12
Workouts 5, 6: 3 x 10
Workouts 7, 8: 3 x 8

The presumption being that at the beginning you would be using "lighter weights" so should do longer sets. The author was very much about progressing. He wanted you to challenge yourself a little bit every day, not to let yourself stagnate. After the two days of 15 against the wall, for instance, he would encourage you to at least try to move one set down to the countertop level. Even doing a few at that level, then bringing them back up, until you can do the whole set at the countertop level.

Also, don't forget to warm up your shoulders before, and stretch them afterwards. And as you are working down, the first set should be the easier set, also part of preparing the muscles for the heavier lifting in the next sets.

Also, rydra_wong linked to a great article: Mistressing the Pushup that has a lot of good stuff in it.

There is, of course the hundred pushups program that you can do with any angle of pushup, so you could use it as a guide, but also throw in working your way down.

[carolyn_claire]

All good info--thank you! I do prefer going into this knowing a little about what I'm doing, especially dealing with the formerly bad shoulder. Input from those who know is very helpful.