1000 Pushups - How To Do A Perfect Push Up

Use Pushups To Settle Bets

noreply@blogger.com (1000dollarsdaily) — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 21:58:00 +0000

I discovered an article about famous online poker player Tom "durrr" Dwan and a unique way in which he goes about settling debts. Although he and most of his friends have won hundreds of thousands of dollars from gambling, they choose a healthier way to settle debts amongst one another.

Dwan and his friends like to bet on anything and everything, including when the lights will come back on following a power outage. The stakes? Not very high. The loser has to do ten pushups.

While this might seem like nothing more than a quirky story, I there's more to it than that. Since reading that article, I decided to start making pushups more than just something I begrudgingly force myself to do each day. I discovered that using pushups as a social tool lead to not only pushups being more enjoyable, but also to doing a higher number of pushups!

For example, my friend and I recently watched a speech delivered by Barack Obama. I got the idea that every time Obama said the word "change", I would do five pushups and every time he said the word "hope", my friend would do five pushups. Well, if you've been following politics at all this year, you might be thinking, "you guys should have picked some different words!" By the end of that speech, we were exhausted!! My body was so tired that I would have sworn it felt like he was just saying "change, hope, change, hope, change, hope," over and over again just to spite us! :)

The purpose of this example is to plant a seed of creativity regarding your pushup regimine. Pushups don't have to be something you arbitrarily force yourself to do! By incorporating them into your life in a fun, competitive way, you can do more pushups and have more fun doing them.

Some ideas on how to incorporate pushups into your daily routine:

Use them to settle small disputes amongst friends (ie: whoever is wrong does 20 pushups).

Do a pushup for every point the opposing team scores on your favorite football team.

Force yourself to "pay" the penalty of 20 pushups each time you can't say no to dessert.

Stop and do 10 quick pushups every 10 minutes during your walk or jog.

Every time you're late for a date or an appointment, force yourself to do a pushup for each minute you were late (advice: wait till you get home to settle a pushup date for being 6 minutes late to a fine restaurant!)

If you're counting calories, force yourself to do a pushup for every 10 calories you ate beyond your daily limit.

You get the idea!

The point is... pushups don't have to be dreadful or boring. Spice up your pushup routine by adding some fun and uncertainty to the whole thing!

Purchasing Your Own Home Exercise Equipment

noreply@blogger.com (1000dollarsdaily) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 03:24:00 +0000

Whether it�??s a simple jump rope at a dollar store or a thousand-dollar treadmill at a specialty sports store, you can find home exercise equipment almost everywhere you go. As you might expect, the cost, quality and durability of each item will vary considerably. Before purchasing any home exercise items, it�??s important to make sure that you�??re getting the best value for your money on equipment that meets your specific needs.

Quality vs. cost

If you�??re only looking for a jump rope, it probably doesn�??t make sense to buy a $30 brand-name product with special neoprene handles and other bells and whistles. You can probably find a suitable model in the toy department of a dollar store. Of course, if you do take the budget route, be careful of any item that you can injure you. For example, make sure the handles on your jump rope are sturdy and won�??t break with regular use and check for any sharp edges around the connection points.

On the other hand, if you�??re planning to make a big investment in major home exercise equipment, make sure you do your research! Don�??t just buy the cheapest treadmill or elliptical trainer you can find �?? if it doesn�??t have the features you want; you won�??t be likely to use it. Look up other people�??s opinions at ConsumerReports.com and ePinions.com. If people have overwhelmingly reviewed one machine negatively, don�??t buy it �?? even if the price is right.

Safety and durability

Don�??t just buy an exercise machine off the internet �?? make sure you can see it in person before you commit. Evaluate any potential item for safety purposes before you buy �?? see if it looks sturdy and check the areas where metal and plastic join. Metal can easily wear into the plastic, which can snap or give way, resulting in injury. This is especially important to check if you�??re purchasing larger pieces of equipment that will support your whole body.

If cost is an issue, don�??t compromise on a lower quality machine. First, find out which brand of equipment you want to own and what specific model number you want to own. See if you can find any second hand items available for purchase through classified listings or garage sales. Of course, while this may help you cut costs, it�??s also important to examine every item carefully before you purchase it. You might be able to find a like-new piece of equipment for pennies on the dollar.

Choosing equipment that you�??ll use

Each year thousands of treadmills, exercise bikes, rowing machines and cross trainers collect dust in people's homes. Aside from not doing anything to improve fitness, these items cost money and take up valuable space and resources. If you aren�??t 100% sure you�??re going to use your home fitness equipment regularly, try visiting your local gym to test out various pieces of equipment before you buy. This will help you determine if you really want to pay to have similar machines in your home for daily use.

Today, you can find exercise equipment in almost any store. That said, before purchasing these items, it�??s important to make sure that they�??ll meet your unique needs. If you have concerns about any particular item, you may want to wait until you can look in another store, or find out what else is available. Once you�??re committed to exercise, having the right items on hand at home is a great step in the direction of achieving your fitness goals.

Using Different Types of Pushups to Achieve Fitness Goals

noreply@blogger.com (1000dollarsdaily) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 03:20:00 +0000

Many people get discouraged from doing pushups because it is so difficult to do them properly. Unless you really work at it, building the arm strength necessary to complete a pushup can take time. In addition, if you have scoliosis or any other back alignment disorder, you risk causing permanent harm to your body. On the other hand, once you master the proper form of a pushup, you may quickly become bored with it. By varying how you do your pushups, you can keep your routine fresh and beneficial.

Bent Knee Pushups

If you haven�??t exercised in years or lead a sedentary lifestyle, you may need to start with bent knee pushups. Start on your hands and knees and then walk your hands forward until your back is straight. Complete the pushup using your hands and knees as the only contact points on the ground.

Doing pushups in this position is much easier than in a full, military-style pushup, so it�??s a great way for beginners to start building up their arm strength. This style also makes it easier for you to lift your body off the floor and focus on keeping your back straight. With your knees bent, your risk of falling on your knees and causing damage to your knee caps and ankles is much smaller. Later, as your upper body becomes stronger, start incorporating traditional pushups into your routine.

Vertical Pushups

Another great beginner�??s exercise is the vertical pushup. Stand with your feet about three feet away from a wall, then lean over until your chest is touching the wall with your hands in a pushup position. Slowly push away from the wall by extending your arms until they�??re straight. Adjust the distance of your feet from the wall to make this exercise more or less challenging.

Even though pushing off from a wall or vertical surface may not be technically considered a pushup, it does achieve similar goals. Your back, shoulders, and arms are still in motion, building strength in these muscles. If you can�??t do a bent knee pushup properly, you may want to try vertical ones until your back and shoulders improve in strength. If you�??re simply looking for some variety, vertical pushups can offer you a fun, easy way to achieve that goal. Just make sure that you have a mat in place on the wall so you don�??t bump your head!

One Arm Pushups

For the more advanced pushup students �?? change up your workout with one arm pushups. While one arm pushups may look very difficult, consider that even body builders had to start somewhere. Start by trying just one on each side �?? if you can�??t handle it, work on building your arm strength further before tackling this goal. As you get stronger, remember to be careful �?? make sure your wrist, arm and shoulder stay in proper alignment or you risk serious muscle injury.

Unfortunately, many people get discouraged from doing pushups because of the tremendous arm strength required by the traditional variety. In many cases, trying out some variations of this exercise can help you build strength and achieve your fitness goals. For the most part, as long as you don�??t have a medical condition that precludes you from doing pushups, you can gain a great deal of benefit from them. As you try out different forms of this exercise, you may even find that you want to include them in special, more focused upper body workout sessions.

Your Pre-Gym Checklist

noreply@blogger.com (1000dollarsdaily) — Fri, 30 May 2008 08:48:00 +0000

Each year, thousands of people start going to the gym �?? only to be frustrated by a number of different road blocks. That said, with the proper planning you should be able to eliminate most of the frustration associated with your first few days in the gym. In many cases, you�??ll find that a few simple actions will vastly improve your comfort level and satisfaction with each workout.

Get a medical checkup

Even if you think you�??re perfectly healthy, it�??s best to have a physical before you start exercising. During this exam, let your doctor know that you�??re planning to start exercising at a gym. This is an ideal time to ask if there are any exercises that you shouldn�??t perform �?? especially if you have a history of any major injuries or illnesses. Work with your doctor to determine what precautions you need to take while you�??re exercising.

Hydration and food

If you aren't physically fit, your eating habits probably also need improvement to give you the energy you�??ll need to workout regularly. If you skip breakfast, eat too many sweets or fall into any one of a number of dietary traps, you may not have the energy to complete your workouts �?? and you certainly won�??t see the results you want. Work on switching to a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean, healthy proteins.

In addition, while you�??re at the gym, it�??s best to keep plain water on hand. As you sweat, it�??s crucial to make sure that the water from your body is replaced as quickly as possible. This is especially important in the beginning, as you may not even be aware of how often your body suffers from a lack of sufficient hydration. If you do more than an hour of strenuous physical activity, you�??ll need to replace electrolytes lost through sweat, but otherwise steer clear of expensive energy drinks �?? most of them are full of calories.

What to include in your gym bag

If you�??re planning to go to the gym on a regular basis, you�??ll need a gym bag. If you live far away from the gym �?? or if you plan to go before work or other activities �?? it�??s also likely that you�??ll want to shower there. If this is your plan, you�??ll want to carry a towel, a complete change of clothes, your own soap, shampoo, conditioner, and grooming accessories, and a pair of flip flops for the shower. If you don�??t want to carry huge bottles with you, small plastic bottles are available that you can use to hold liquid soaps.

Modern gyms offer members many things that they need in order to achieve fitness goals �?? from personal trainers to group fitness classes and more. Despite all these amenities, people get discouraged or drop out for a variety of reasons. In some cases, simply being prepared for certain situations before you go to the gym will make it much easier for you to continue working toward your fitness goals.

Building Strength With Pushups

noreply@blogger.com (1000dollarsdaily) — Sat, 10 May 2008 07:57:00 +0000

Today, there are many different kinds of exercise equipment available to help you increase strength in your upper body. However, don�??t fall into the hype that you�??ll only see results if you invest in expensive equipment or a year�??s gym subscription. There are several simple, easy exercises �?? including pushups �?? you can do at home that take advantage of your body�??s weight and give you the results you�??re looking for. This exercise remains one of the cheapest and most effective methods for building strength in your back, shoulders, and arms.

Toning Your Back

While pushups don�??t increase the amount of weight on your back through the use of external weights, the muscles in your back will be gently toned as you work to keep it straight during the exercise. If you can't keep your legs even with your back at first, you can bend your knees and do a modified push up to keep your back straight. This modified pushup will still help tone your back without causing injury. As your fitness level improves, you may want to go back to a more traditional form of pushup to increase the strength of your back.

Building Shoulder Strength

Pushups are well known for improving shoulder strength and mass. When you do pushups, you're leveraging most of your body weight on your shoulders. Because the shoulders are working together, you'll strenghten the muscles that cross your chest and upper back. In most cases �?? unless you're interested in body building �?? pushups combined with other simple exercises should be enough for your everyday fitness routine. Even if you want to go beyond this level, pushups should always be a part of your home fitness routine.

Strengthening Your Arms

In addition to your shoulders, your upper arms and forearms also derive benefit from pushups. As you push your body up off the floor and lower it back down, the muscles in your arms are forced to expand and contract with the added resistance of the weight of your body. As you might expect, when your whole arm is involved in the exercise, you have a better chance of exercising each muscle group. If you do pushups on a regular basis, you may find that your arms will gain tone and muscle definition more quickly than with exercises that work only one group. And �?? perhaps best of all �?? you won't have to spend any money on weights or other forms of equipment.

As with any other exercise, you should check with your doctor to make sure that it's safe for you to do pushups. If you have shoulder, back, elbow, or wrist issues, you may want to make sure that these exercises will not add to your problems. When done properly and with safety in mind, pushups serve a vital role in toning and strengthening your back, upper body and arms. Without a question, they have served this vital purpose for millions of people in a way that is easy and cost effective.

Common Push-Up Mistakes

noreply@blogger.com (1000dollarsdaily) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:47:00 +0000

Summary

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We all know push-ups are a great way to burn fat and maintain a lean physique throughout the chest and shoulders, but they shouldn�??t be approached recklessly or incorrectly. Push-up mistakes can have effects that range from rendering them less effective as a fitness tool all the way to flat-out making them dangerous. When you�??re doing your push-ups, make sure to avoid these common push-up mistakes:

Locking Elbows

Many people begin a series of push-ups with a goal in their mind. �??I�??m going to do twenty-five push-ups,�?? they think to themselves. But as they plow through number eighteen, and nineteen, they feel themselves becoming fatigued. In this situation, many people will lock their elbows at the top of the push-up cycle and rest for a few seconds before lowering themselves again. In doing so, a lot of unhealthy strain is placed on the elbows. Remember, the goal of push-ups is to exercise the chest, shoulders, and triceps. These muscles should be bearing the load of your body weight during the exercise, not the elbow joints. Ideally, a series of push-ups shouldn�??t involve locking one�??s elbows. At the top of a push-up cycle, stop just before your elbows lock. This will keep the pressure on the muscles that the exercise is targeting.

Pushing It Too Far

Losing weight, getting in shape, building muscle mass -- these are all things that require discipline over a long period of time to achieve one�??s goal. There is no such thing as a �??get fit quick�?? scheme. However, many people will do push-ups as though it�??s possible to look like Rocky within an hour. Don�??t get me wrong, it�??s great to have enthusiasm regarding your fitness regimen, but don�??t overdo it. By pushing yourself too hard, too fast, you can injure yourself or cause painful cramps. It�??s hard to �??get buff�?? when you�??re sidelined with a strained chest muscle. Drink plenty of water and always remember that, in fitness, slow and steady wins the race.

Incorrect Breathing

Rhythmic breathing is absolutely essential to proper push-ups. It�??s simple: on the way down, breathe in, and on the �??push-up�??, exhale. This breathing pattern should be as much a part of your push-ups as anything else. Breathing in sync with the exercise isn�??t just healthy for your body, it will also enable you to complete more repetitions by maintaining good oxygen levels while exerting one�??s self.

Hot-dogging It

In the arena of solitude, this probably isn�??t a problem. However, many-a-push-up related injuries have occurred at the gym or amongst close friends at home while trying to look like a push-up hot shot. The added adrenaline rush you receive from having people watch you might seem like it�??s enough to help you complete that impossible push-up or beat a friend in a contest, but it�??s just a mirage. It may seem like everything is going great while you surpass a personal push-up record while dueling with a buddy, but chances are your body will regret it the next day.

Various Types Of Pushups

noreply@blogger.com (1000dollarsdaily) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 17:04:00 +0000

Everyone knows how to do a basic, two-handed push-up, but there are several other ways to do a push-up. We�??re going to share a few popular variations on the push-up. Each of these offer different benefits and isolate different muscles.

As a general rule, push-ups that are significantly challenging (and thus hard to achieve more than just a couple repetitions) are more suited for those looking to gain mass. Anyone looking to trim themselves down, or increase their lean muscles mass should stick to push-ups that allow for a higher number of repetitions.

There�??s a reason the basic push-up is, well, the �??basic�?? push-up: it�??s safe, effective, and easy-to-learn. Some of the push-ups we�??ll mention in this article are quite challenging. It�??s important to always take stock of your fitness level. Some of these push-ups aren�??t capable of being completed by everyone. Be aware that injury can occur when one is attempting a push-up beyond the scope of their fitness level.

Fist Push-Ups

As the title might suggest, fist push-ups are done with your knuckles as opposed to the palm of your hand. Physically, these push-ups differ from a basic push-up in that there is less surface area on which to distribute your upper body weight. In other words, the knuckles are smaller than the palms. With less surface area shouldering the weight of your body, the chest, shoulders, and triceps will have their work cut out for them. In general, most people can only do about 75% of the number of fist push-ups as they otherwise might normally achieve through regular push-ups.

One-Handed Push-Up

This is perhaps the most challenging push-up one could attempt. Quite simply, place one hand directly below your chest. The other hand should be placed across the small of your back to help balance the body. From there, lower yourself down and breathe out as you push up. It is important to note that this push-up places a significant strain on the elbow, so use your head and keep things reasonable if you attempt a one-handed push-up.

Pyramid Push-Up

These push-ups are also commonly referred to as �??closed-grip push-ups�??. While in a normal push-up position, bring your hands together and make a diamond with your thumbs and index fingers. These push-ups are harder than a basic push-up, but still quite achievable. By bringing your hands together, you place more emphasis on the triceps to complete the exercise. This, in addition to �??dips�??, are a great way to isolate the triceps without needing assistance from weights or machinery.

Wiide Push-Up

The opposite of pyramid push-ups, wide push-ups require you to spread your hands far apart. This takes pressure off of the triceps and forces your chest and shoulders to bear a heavier load to complete the movement. A wide push-up stance reduces the range of motion you will achieve during the exercise. Depending on how wide your position, it may be impossible to push yourself more than just a couple of feet off the ground.

Rocky Push-Up

I forget if it was the first Rocky movie, or Rocky IV (where he fights the Russian) in which Sylvester Stallone made famous the �??Rocky push-up�??. This is a very challenging push-up that should not even be attempted by anyone but those of the utmost fitness level. The Rocky push-up is essentially nothing but one-handed push-ups with one little twist: you change hands after each repetition without taking weight off of your toes. So on the upward motion of this push-up, it is important to launch yourself into the air enough to take the hand that did the push-up and place it on the small of your back, and to take the hand that was on the small of your back and place it into position to do the heavy work for the next repetition. This is almost impossible to achieve without a very wide foot stance. By spreading your feet 2-3 feet apart, the body is more balanced and thus capable of enduring the chaotic movements of the upper body. Truthfully, this push-up is more useful as a stunt than it is as an exercise.

Pros And Cons Of A Personal Trainer

noreply@blogger.com (1000dollarsdaily) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:03:00 +0000

Many people getting into personal fitness are intrigued at the idea of a personal trainer. Depending on your goals, finances, and motivation, a personal trainer may be beneficial for you. Here are the main reasons to get a personal trainer:

1. To learn how to work out: Let's face it: many of us do not know how to build a proper, full workout for ourselves. Also, many do not know how to properly use the machines or equipment at a gym. Getting a personal trainer for a half dozen or so sessions can help learn how to build a good workout for the long run. This is a good reason to get a trainer for a few sessions, but not long term.

2. Motivation to work out: This is probably the main reason to get a personal trainer long-term. Are you the type of person who always says you'll work out, but never does? Well, a personal trainer may be the only way of getting your butt to the gym. Since you have someone there waiting for you (who'll bill you regardless if you show up or not), you'll be much more likely to go to the gym if he or she is there waiting for you.

3. Motivation to work out harder: A lot of us may be able to get to the gym, but once we're there, take it easy on ourselves and do a lot of 'light' workouts. While it's better than nothing, it won't get you anywhere to accomplishing your fitness goals. A personal trainer will make sure that you actually do a full workout, instead of just a glorified warmup.

And the main reason to not get a personal trainer.....

COST!!!: Personal training is expensive, often $50 an hour and up. For most of us, it's a steep price to pay for something we can fundamentally do for ourselves. But if you have the money and the lack of motivation, a personal trainer may be for you.

Keys to a Perfect Push-Up

noreply@blogger.com (1000dollarsdaily) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:32:00 +0000

Some people do pushups so they can think to themselves, �??hey�?� I did 20 pushups today!�?? That�??s all fine and dandy, but let�??s remember the reason pushups were invented: to improve fitness. If you only care about feeling high and mighty because you did pushups, by all means, continue. For those of us seeking to extract maximum fitness benefits from pushups, let�??s keep in mind these tips to help us perform optimal pushups:

1. Warm-up. Pushups can be dangerous when done without a warm-up. By getting your blood pumping through some brisk walking or a short jog, not only will you reduce your risk of injury when doing a pushup, but you�??ll also probably be able to complete more pushups!

2. Support the board. When doing a pushup, imagine you have a wooden board on your back that runs from your shoulder blades down to the backs of your knees. During your pushup, this board should be touching your body as fully as possible. In other words, don�??t bend at the waist and cause your rear end to bring imbalance to the board.

3. Don�??t lock out. The purpose of a pushup is to build the chest muscles. On the downward end of a pushup, don�??t let your chest touch the ground. Doing so takes your weight off of your chest muscles and relieves it on the ground. Likewise, on the upward end of a pushup, don�??t lock your elbows. Not only does this take the pressure off of your chest, but it applies a dangerous level of pressure to the joints in your elbows.

4. Mind your hands and feet. The positioning of your hands and feet is crucial to a good pushup. Your hands should be placed directly under each shoulder. Point your toes towards your head so that most of the pressure is on the balls of your feet rather than the tips of your toes.

5. Stretch. After completing your pushups, it is important to stretch your chest and shoulder muscles to prevent cramps and injury. A good stretch for the chest muscles is to place one outstretched arm fully against a wall, parallel to the ground, and twist your torso away from that arm.

The Beacon of Blogging Truth

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Bravo) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:40:00 +0000

In attempting to maximize the spread of the push up mantra, I read many blogs on the internet that have experience with advertising and spreading the good news. One such site is Vic's Blogger Unleashed, which promises the truth in behind the scenes blogging.

The site is chalk full of advice about how to blog effectively and reach a wider audience, which is the intention of 1000pushups.com. Vic's site also teaches about how to properly install advertisements to get the utmost benefit from them, as every site needs to be funded. It's from Vic's site that we learned about using a large square of adsense, the one you see in the first post.

The eventual goal of 1000pushups.com is to get every person on the planet to get down on the ground and so some push ups. So stop reading this post, and ... go do some push ups.

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Push Up Pro: A Full Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Bravo) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 19:18:00 +0000

I've been waiting for push up handles the whole year, and I finally bought myself a pair of the Pushupro's this Christmas, as both a gift to myself ...and my wife (after I use them). ;)

The following review is after using the handles for two weeks, an average of 5 times a week.

To start off with, I increased my push ups by 13 in a matter of 2 weeks - which is a huge jump for me! Normally, it takes me 4 weeks to get an increase of 5 push ups. I doubt this level of increase will continue as my muscles get used to the handles, but nonetheless, it was pretty amazing.

So, without further ado, here is the review:

POSITIVES:

The rotating action recruits more muscles to do a push up, and therefore increases the work of the muscles, which leads to more push ups.
The height of these handles make them more travel-friendly as compared to the perfect push up, so taking them to work every day becomes a possibility.
The handles themselves are flat and easier to grip as compared to round handles.
They are very affordable.

NEGATIVES:

The handles are rubberized on the inferior surface, and no the superior surface. This makes them less comfortable than if they were rubberized in their entirety. When doing many push ups, I will start using work out gloves.
The entire product doesn't feel as sturdy as the Perfect Pushup does from what I've heard (I have not used the perfect push up myself).
Due to the rotation, it takes a few days for your joints to become accustomed to the exercise.

FINALLY:

All in all, I feel that the Push Up Pro is worth the $20 I spent, as I have seen great increases in my push ups as well as faster results in achieving muscle tone. Using the handles through the holiday season has also helped me to maintain my weight though I increased my eating considerably (especially cookies).

I hope the review of the push up pro above has helped. If you have any comments, feel free to leave them below. Now go on and do some push ups!

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New Year's Resolutions: Push Them Away

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Bravo) — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 03:54:00 +0000

It would be easy to make a new year's resolution and say to yourself, "Ok, I will do push ups every day for the rest of the year....starting tomorrow." And tomorrow may never come.

Instead of resolutions, this year I propose to act instead. Instead of planning your push up schedule, you may try to just get down on the ground and do some push ups. And keep doing that every day.

Happy New Years!

Summary

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Keep Up Your Push Ups

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Bravo) — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 15:37:00 +0000

Through the holidays, it becomes even more important to keep up with your push ups. With all the cookies and cakes and candycanes, you will likely gain at least 5 pounds if you don't increase your movement, or at least keep it constant.

Something easy you can try is to do 2 minutes of push ups every day through the 12 days of Christmas (and New Year's). Even though we're all busy traveling around and eating, we all have 2 minutes we can spend to keep ourselves in shape.

So if you've a little bit of downtime, get on the ground and do some push ups. If you've got the push up handles, now would be the time to get 'em out and use them.

Merry Christmas!

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Use and Lose Your After-Thanksgiving Weight

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Bravo) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:39:00 +0000

While I was driving to work today, the morning radioshow I listen to was weighing one of their guys after thanksgiving to see how much weight they have gained. This got me thinking - while most people are disappointed with their post-thanksgiving/post-holiday weight gain, I encourage push up'ers to embrace it. Why? Because now you're doing push ups with extra weight.

Extra weight = more muscle = more push ups.

Additionally, as you continue to do push ups, you will naturally shed the pounds from the thanksgiving eating binge, and you'll be left with more muscle and more push ups, naturally. Additionally, you can accelerate your results with a little extra help.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Pushing Your Business Card

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Bravo) — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 18:32:00 +0000

Your internet business card that is. In my random internet surfing, I found this cool new widget that acts as an internet business card. It's a widget that

allows you to showcase your business card, i.e. website, on other people's blogs for free but building credits. It's a neat little tool, actually, and I will be using it to spread the push up mantra on the world wide web. If you want to check it out, it's Entrecard.com. :)

1000 push ups, here I come.

If you like this blog, donate for my iMac

Buying the PushUpPro

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Bravo) — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 03:53:00 +0000

I've been thinking about buying the pushuppro recently. Not only is it readily available at your local internet website, it's 20 bux cheaper than the perfect pushup.

I've actually held on to the handles, but have not yet used the thing. I do have a friend who recently purchased the perfect pushup, and went from doing 30 pushups on the floor to doing 20 push ups on his knees with the rotating handles. It's THAT much harder!

Man, talk about maximizing your time doing push ups. I'm seriously considering about purchasing it, and for 20 bux, I don't think I can go wrong.

Now's that's a deal!

If you like this post, give me 10 cents....and I'll give you 10 push ups."

Never Be Satisfied

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Bravo) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 03:05:00 +0000

Out of developing this site and trying to do push ups on a regular basis, I have come across a few things that are solid life lessons. However, I think that today I've hit upon a unifying theme.

It's a theme as old at least as "Rocky" (no, no the ...horror picture show, but the real thing), and that is you have to be hungry. Not only be hungry, but stay hungry. No matter the goal, if it's 1000 push ups or trying out for the iron man, meeting that goal is never an excuse to stop.

Staying hungry is the fuel of life!

If you like this post, give me 10 cents....and I'll give you 10 push ups."

5 Life Lessons I Learned From Push Ups

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Bravo) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:55:00 +0000

Doing push ups all these months has helped me to realize the impact push ups (and perhaps any exercise) can have. These are the lessons I learned from doing push ups as they apply to life:

1. Persistence - even if you don't hit you goal right away, keep after it and you will. Persistence is the key to success. In fact, with enough persistence, you would supersede those with natural talent and nothing else.

2. Being Grounded - the most benefit from push ups comes from getting as close to the ground as possible. So in life, I believe, staying grounded helps you to have a clear vision about you want to accomplish.

3. Focus - being distracted, being bored, takes away from push ups. For one, you're not able to complete as many reps and give up too easily if you're not paying attention to the push up. Secondly, you lose count of the reps and therefore lose track of your goal. As in push ups, so in life.

4. Good Sleep - having a good night's sleep the night before you push up helps immensely. It gives you clarity of mind and a reserve of strength.

5. Perspective - many people see push ups as painful. But, you can (and I have) change your perspective so they become actually enjoyable. In life, we face many difficult times and situations we'd rather change. Many times we cannot change them. However, if we change our perspective, we can gain both wisdom and cunning.

I've noticed that as I've decreased the frequency of push ups due to many excuses, I have lost some of those abilities I had (yes...abilities) when I did do push ups regularly. Go figure!

As in push ups, so in life....

If you like this post, give me 10 cents....and I'll give you 10 push ups."

How to Lose Weight with Push Ups

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Bravo) — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 01:01:00 +0000

"It ain't easy being green," Kermit always used to say.

Well, I've always felt that it ain't easy being fat. I mean, I knew I had to exercise to lose weight; I knew I had to change my eating habits; I knew I had to have a different mind frame.

And that's when I found push ups. I told myself that I wouldn't exercise, I would just do push ups. Though I started that way, when I actually got into push ups, I found that I saw immediate results (within a week) in terms of tone and strength, and that encouraged me to keep with it. That's the key - - consistency!

Doing push ups in turn, for some strange reason, made me crave healthier foods like fruit (I know...it's crazy, I'm a chocolate lover) and salad. So now I'm doing push ups every day, I'm eating a little bit better, and guess what....I started to lose weight.

All in all, I've lost about 9 lbs and kept it off. Not bad for doing something I enjoy!

If you like this post, give me 10 cents....and I'll give you 10 push ups."

Circuit Training - It's good stuff!

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Bravo) — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 22:12:00 +0000

In an attempt to be more rounded, I've decided to do circuit training 2x in addition to push ups (though I have been slacking on the push ups yet again). My circuit training is very short, but really gets the burn going.

Here it is:
Lat Pull-downs, wide grip x 10 reps
Triceps Skull crushers using the curling bar x 8 reps
Curling bar press with narrow grip for triceps x 12 reps (same weight as above)
Biceps curls using curling bar (lower weight) x 7 low, 7 full, and 7 high reps
Jumping lunges x 10 reps (each rep is 2 jumps)

I do that 3 times, with 5 minute break between each super set, and it takes the wind out of me. I figure if I'm going to be working with weights, I might as well maximize my time and effort by putting everything in a circuit.

Whew, man that's good!

If you like this post, give me 10 cents....and I'll give you 10 push ups."

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38.5% of Goal!

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Bravo) — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 21:14:00 +0000

I read on this forum thread about doing 1000 push ups in 4 hours, which equates to approximately 4.5 push ups a minute. Furthermore, the contributors to this thread stated that "you're not a man if you can't do 4.5 push ups a minute for 4 hours."

Well, I took it to heart. It seemed as if evrybody else can do what I've been aiming for without a lot of training. I decided to get down to business and do push ups. My plan of attack was to do 20 push ups every 4 minutes, so I could do other things in between.

Let me tell you: it was tough. After the first hour, I had gotten only about 200 done. Doing sets every now and then, it took me approximately 4 more hours to do another 180 push ups. Man I felt pathetic....5 hours to do 380 push ups!!

Then, I thought about it. I've never done that many push ups before in one day! So even though I failed to get to goal, I still improved myself.

And that's the lesson here, as it has always been with the 1000 push ups club: setting a goal that's difficult to attain will make you better!

To 1000!

If you like this post, give me 10 cents....and I'll give you 10 push ups."

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Becoming a Postie

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Bravo) — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 03:31:00 +0000

Today, I'm officially becoming a "postie." In case you don't know what a postie is, it's a blogger (such as I) who joins payperpost and writes an article on the blog, earning said blogger some cash!

Having joined PPP several months ago, I only decided today that I would become an active member, or a postie.

What is PPP all about you ask?
PayPerPost creates a buzz for advertisers by having bloggers write about the product. It's really an ingenious idea. So I'm writing this post, which is sponsored by PPP, to advertise PPP as a product....and they're paying me 20$! Now that's hot!

What do I plan to do with the money?
Find an internet venture in which to invest it. More specifically, to grow my network of push up'ers.

Did you say "network?"
I sure did! My plan is to have several sites using the push up theme, but focusing on different aspects of doing push ups - i.e. not just the physical, but the mental as well. One day, the world will change through people like you and me doing push ups.

If you don't believe me, stay tuned for a hot, hot update. Here's to 1000 push ups!

If you like this post, give me 10 cents....and I'll give you 10 push ups."

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Calories per Push Up

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Bravo) — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 03:17:00 +0000

Lately, I've been trying to figure out exactly how many calories I burn doing push ups. For my body weight (180lbs) and height (69.5"), I would burn approximately 550 calories per hour. This value was obtained from a random online calorie estimator.

So if I were to do 1000 push ups at 40 push ups per minute, that's 25 minutes to burn about 230 calories. This comes out to just under 1/4 calorie per push up!

It definitely feels a lot more intense than that!

If you like this post, give me 10 cents....and I'll give you 10 push ups."

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Proper Push Up Technique

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Bravo) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 02:38:00 +0000

It occurs to me that people have many different definitions of what a proper push up is. And with the most recent survey on the site suggests that people actually care about proper push up form.

When I started doing push ups, I was doing them according to what I was taught in junior high school. Now I don't know about you, but I'm not sure that my junior high school gym teacher took the time and effort necessary to educate us on proper push up technique.

Browsing through the internet, I've come across many sites that tell you how to do a proper push up. I've even come across the push up rules for the Guinness Book of World Records.

Armed with all this information, I have come up with what I feel is a unifying definition of proper "regular" push up form. Here goes.

1. Hand placement: hands are to be placed just outside the shoulders. If you were to draw a rectangle that encompassed your body with the sides of the rectangle being the edge of your shoulders, then your hands should be just outside that. Here is a pictorial:

2. Foot placement: it says everywhere that feet are supposed to be at midline. I feel that you can have equally good form if you place your feet at shoulder width apart, i.e. within that rectangle described and drawn above. I say that because pushing your feet out actually helps you from arching your back by forcing the abs to tighten.

3. Body position: your body should be perfectly inline, from the neck to the heels, throughout the push up.

4. Head position: you have a couple of choices here. Many people suggest looking straight down. When I do that however, I end up moving my head up and down with the push up (which is incorrect - the head should be perfectly still). Another option, which is one I prefer, is to look "up" slightly. That helps focus on one point, and it also helps keepng the head from bobbing around and avoiding neck strain.

5. Top position: while in the top part of the push up, the arms should be straight, but should not be locked at the elbows. If you don't allow the elbows to lock, the muscles will be conracting the entire time.

6. Bottom position: at minimum, you must go down until the inside portion of your elbows are 90 degrees. You may however choose to go all the way down to the floor if you would like to increase your range of motion and srength.

7. Timing: experimenting with timing, I have found that doing 40 push ups a minute is a good compromise. Ideally, you would do each push up in 4 seconds. However, when going for maximum reps, it's not really ideal to do slow push ups. Doing very fast push ups though won't give quite as good a pump.

After practicing the perfect push up technique, I started using rotating handles to get maximum muscle stamina from my push ups. They're not necessary, but they sure help a great deal.

Enjoy!

Push Up Training: The Secret Set

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Bravo) — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 01:42:00 +0000

What does a secret set have to do with doing push ups?

If you're like me, you have a hard time mustering motivation to go the extra mile doing push ups (though you may have had a great idea to start a club)! If you are like me, then this tip might help you. Adding on an extra "secret" set of push ups, meaning a set that you don't count as part of your normal push up schedule, can really boost your productivity. Specifically, if this set is diamond push ups, then it will help tremendously.

Diamond push ups really focus on the triceps muscle, and a little bit on the inner chest. Building strong triceps will in turn help increase the maximum number of daily push ups you can do. I've started doing this "secret" set every morning before work for the past three days, and I've already increased my total number of push ups by 3 (which you know if you've been doing push ups for a while that it's tough to increase very much in a short period of time).

Lastly, while doing the set, pause halfway down, then again halfway up. The pauses really add to the burn without adding much to the time spent.

If you have any comments about how this works for you, feel free to leave them below!

If you like this post, give me ten cents....and I'll give YOU ten push ups."

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