I will help count! My recent surgery leaves me out. ditto the squats- bad knee joints.
Good luck- I think you will be surprised how quickly you can build up your muscles, a few years ago I could bench press 90lbs. when I started it was 20lbs.
Have fun all ya'll

Oh don't I wish I could participate. But I just got back from the Dr...finally getting my referral to the orthopedist for my knee. They put me in a hip to ankle knee brace...ahhhhh...relief finally, and it's hard enough to get out of a chair, much less try to get to the floor to do a push up! Maybe next year.

Good link -- thanks, terriks. I've never been able to do a push up! Maybe I could start with those wall push ups.

I had been doing the knee push ups every other day for years until last May (when I got the hula hoop). I then started to do the toe push ups. I barely could do one and now I do two sets of 36 each.

I can't even imagine doing 100 toe push ups without stopping (I can do 100 knee push ups)...but since I will be eligible for social security in six weeks, I will try to be able to do 62 toe push ups before I get that first check!

Terriks, that really is a good link.

That looks like fun! I'll do it. It will be neat to see if their program of sets and rests really works.

My initial test was 12 on my toes, 25 on my knees.

Usually I am in better shape, but I just started exercising again. I don't exercise at all during my husband's vacation so everything I do feels like I am doing it for the first time.

It will be fun to compare our beginning and ending numbers.

Wow Marlene 2 sets of 36 pushups?! That's great. You are my inspiration!

And paintchips, I wish I could do 12 on my toes. I barely managed 2! I'm debating whether to do the program doing knee or toe pushups.

I'm in. I have never been good at push-ups so I good use a challenge to get me there. My initial test was 6. Good luck everyone!

Hey you need to start somewhere! start with the knees and finish up by doing toes. If you work out regularyly- your muscles will strengthen as u go!

Oh my gosh. I can't believe it. I used to do 50 regularly on my toes...I did 3!! Who is this aging chick outside my 21 year old spirit?!

On my knees: 15.

UGH.

I'll give it a try, but I can't promise anything...

I can't do a whole lot of regular situps after my herniated disks...so I'll be Pilates-ing that one out.

I just completed my first day of the pushup program.
My day one routine was:

Set 1 - 2 pushups
Set 2 - 3 pushups
Set 3 - 3 pushups
Set 4 - 2 pushups
Set 5 - max out (minimum 3 pushups) I managed 4!

I am also doing the 200 sit up and the 200 squat programs.

Now I'm off to do some fun exercise - hooping!

I started the push up program today also. Since I already do push ups every other day, I started with the Week 4 program. I've never done five sets before. It was NOT easy...but I did it. Fortunately, I work out at home and only my cats hear the expletives.

I also began the squat program (one of my least favorite exercises) and started with Week 3. It was fairly easy but there is NO WAY I will be able to do 200! But as long as my knees and back hold up, I'm going to give it a try.

Marlene, you and I are opposites. I do squats all the time, but have trouble with pushups. I started the squat and situp programs on week 3.
I am pretty pleased with myself though. I completed the first week of the pushups program. Last week I could barely do 2 pushups. This was today's program:

Set 1 - 4
Set 2 - 5
Set 3 - 4
Set 4 - 4
Set 5 - max out (minimum 5) - I did 8 in a row!!
Total 25

Looking ahead, I am not looking forward to the last couple few weeks when you have to do 8 - 9 sets! I am going to try to concentrate on each day as it comes.

Whew! I am worn out just listening! Great job ladies! Remember it is a gradual process.

Terriks! You're doing great. When I first started doing the toe push ups, I never thought I'd get past one. I think your strong core will really be beneficial to you.

I finished Week 1, level 4 and did the exhaustion test this morning. I was able to complete 42 good form push ups.

I did NOT notice that the sets will increase to 8! Oh, oh.

When are you supposed to do the exhaustion test? Are you supposed to do it each week?

Never mind. I just checked the site, and it looks like the exhaustion tests are scheduled for every couple of weeks. How long after completing the regular routine did you do the exhaustion test?

I wish that I hadn't looked ahead to see how many sets I need to do in later weeks.

Terriks, I only saw the exhaustion tests after you mentioned the 8 sets. I thought I'd better read the instructions more carefully. Like you, I wished I hadn't.

I waited 48 hours (well, maybe 40 hours) in between the regular routine and exhaustion test. I normally do weight training every 48 hours...but since I've increased the push ups, I'm allowing a little more time to recover. I probably should have waited another day but I was nosey and wanted to know what I could do. I really am a self-challenging type personality. Not always a good thing.

terriks-
My 14 year old daughter and I are going to do the 100 pushups. My dh and a couple of the other kids are doing a 6 weeks to 20 pull ups, but I am nowhere near being able to do that (even the negatives are too hard...).

I can do a whole 2 pushups on toes, and my dd can do 30. I am a bit appalled at how weak I have gotten-time to start moving some weight again! My abs are completely gone since my baby was born eight months ago, so I should really start working on those too.

Thanks for posting this challenge!

timber, 2 pushups is where I started, I did 9 in a row the other day. I'm pretty excited about strengthing my upper body.
I hear you on the pullups. I bought one of those pullup bars that you put in the door frame, and can't do a single one. Are negatives when you get yourself up there on a stool, then try to lower yourself? I suck at that too!
As far as working your core, there is nothing better than hooping.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hoopnotica

terri-
Yes-negatives are just doing the lowering down part. It seems like it should be easy, until I tried it...
It sounds like you are making great progress on the pushups! You have made that much progress in about two weeks?! Very inspiring-there is hope for me! I could not do as many knee ones as you did on your initial test, though.

I have read your posts on hooping, but haven't gone out to buy a hoop yet. Does hooping on Wii Fit count? ;)
I am using Wii Fit to get started with working out again mostly because it is fun. I am totally motivated by getting higher scores! My 9 year old is the hula hoop champ-I can't come anywhere near her scores (yet!). The first time I did push ups on the Wii balance board was the day before I read about the 100 push up challenge.

So I did my exhaustion test, and I was pretty proud of myself, 12 consecutive pushups. Then I checked out the week 3 workout, and I needed to do 16 in order to move up. :( So I have to repeat week 2. I guess this is going to take me longer than 6 weeks to achieve.

On a brighter note, I was able to complete 90 consecutive crunches, and 150 consecutive squats, so I should be able to achieve the goal of 200 each ahead of schedule!

Terriks! 12 consecutive pushups is great! 90 consecutive crunches is great. 150 consecutive squats makes me sore just thinking about it!

Are you starting to see or feel a change in you upper body? Push ups really do add definition.

As far as my status...a funny thing happened to me on my way to the 100 push ups. I do my cardio and free weights and push ups at home. I do go to the gym to use machines to enhance my work out. While I was there, I asked one of the trainers to take a look at my push up form. Apparently, I was doing them with my back arched a little, not plank like it should be done. So I started to do them with the correct form and I can barely get past 40. My lower back starts to hurt. So unfortunately, I am out of the toe push up challenge, but I can do 100 knee push ups.

I did do 200 crunches and 1 squat (ok I did 45 squats, but I hated each and every one. I am so use to doing the leg press at the gym and it's so much easier. I can press more than my weight....but I am a weeny squatter.

Keep up the good work.

12! Yay, Terriks! Just a few couple of weeks ago, your max was 2, so that is amazing, especially when you consider how few minutes it takes each day.
I just did day 2, and managed to crank out 4 for my max on the last set. Still twice as many as last Friday, though... :)

I haven't done the crunches or squats yet. My form is awful for squats; I need to work on that.

Did you find the pocketmod where you print out the whole six weeks on one sheet of paper and it folds into a cute little book?!

I wasn't going to do this challenge and then last night I thought, why not?

I'm embarrased to say I could only pump out 2 regular push ups in good form. Never liked push ups. :) The knee ones are sooo much better.

Thanks Terriks for posting this. Push ups really are a way to work a bunch of muscles at one and change it up. I'll post with my progress.

Unfortunately I have to take a break from the pushups for a week or so. I developed a pain in my shoulder which I don't want to worsen. I am so bummed, but I am keeping up with the crunches and squats.

I haven't been doing a program, but we have been swimming this past couple of weeks -- I do about a half a mile and a lot of AQX stuff. I just did 5 full-body and 21 knee pushups. Better than before, I reckon :)

I'm sorry to read about your shoulder, terri--watch out for that--they can be VERY tricky. I'm sure you're aware of that, though. Feel better soon!

Squats that is. I just completed another exhaustion test and just went for it on the squats.

I still haven't got back to the push ups yet.

Terriks! Congratulations on your squats goal!!

Last week I hit my goal of 62 toe push ups, three weeks before my 62nd birthday. I'm not going to push it (no pun intended). I'm happy with the 62.

I've made the sit up goal...but far from making the squat goal. That's not going to happen.

What's so good about these challenges, or even good about the introduction to new things like the hula hoop, is that you can add to your work out and see changes you haven't seen before...at least that's been my experience.

Thank you, Terriks, for giving me inspiration...although I must say that compared to Trailrunner, I feel like bit of a weeny. (Isn't she just amazing?)

Marlene CONGRATS !! I could never do 62 pushups !! We dipped our tires on Thursday afternoon and then went to a great restaurant on the Guara River and I had gator meat for lunch !! Hope it puts so bite in my biking !! LOL ! We leave here, St Augustine at 9 AM Friday...26th ! I am excited and scared...will be cold and windy here in FL. Wish us all great luck and see the original post for the link to the tracker. c

Sorry I haven't checked in. Work has been crazy. I have made progress but had to make up my own challenge. I am up to 5 sets of 10 on my toes. (I just keep adding more as I get stronger.)

I hope to get to 100 because I love the stomache and core muscles I am using. I will get there but it may take 6 months versus 6 weeks.