One hundred what?
To move forward on my goal to get healthier, I have started doing two programs that will get me in the habit of exercising: One hundred pushups and Two hundred sit-ups. Both of these programs take you steadily towards the goal of being able to do one hundred pushups and two hundred sit-ups over the course of six weeks. I have just finished the two week mark on both of them. For a desk-jockey that has not consistently done any form of exercise in eight years, both programs are tough, even in the early weeks.
Each program starts you out doing five sets, three days a week. After the two week mark, I am doing 30 pushups total and 48 sit-ups. Since each program is only three days a week, I am staggering them so that I do pushups one day and sit-ups the next. Sunday, I get to rest from both programs.
Now, I realize that just doing pushups and sit-ups will not make me any healthier. Sure, it will build my upper body strength some and strengthen my core, but it is not going to help me lose and weight and it will not work on my spare tire at all. Ultimately, that is not the point. The point is, it is getting me in the habit of doing some exercise. I really have no excuse to skip doing these; I just get up in the morning and do them before I do anything else. It does not matter if it is raining or cold outside; all I need is a bit of floor space. The key is to make exercise a part of my routine.
With the upcoming, beautiful spring weather, I am going to integrate some cardio into my exercise routine. Starting Monday, I am going to begin working on the American Running Association's 12-week Walk/Run Program. This will be a little more difficult because it will be a greater time commitment and I will have to work around the weather. My goal is to do my pushups or sit-ups and then head out to walk or run. In a couple of weeks, I hope to post a positive update.
May 2nd, 2009 - 10:46
You might enjoy Jeff Galloway’s schedule for running a 5K.
Of course, what would really make this rule is for us to find a 5K to run in, say, October through December and you, me, Rick, and whoever-else train to run it.
May 3rd, 2009 - 03:18
The 5K route was what I was starting to work up to a while back. Then I realized that my knees weren’t so keen on the running… especially on all the hills we have out by the house.
If at all interested in 5Ks in the area, take a look at the Huntsville Track Club (http://www.huntsvilletrackclub.org/index2.htm). When I was looking at this before, I think I had targeted the Cotton Row Run to try to be in shape for, but there are a bunch out there that could be targeted.
May 3rd, 2009 - 12:31
Yeah, part of me says I need to be down below three bills before I try to attempt a 5k.
May 4th, 2009 - 08:32
I am not *really* targeting a 5K; I am just trying to get to 30 minutes of running 3-4 times a week. That is why I like the plan that I am working on; it is slowing getting me used to running again. Mostly, I am just walking at this point, with brief spurts of running strewn throughout. I am not even going 30 minutes at this point; I am only out about 20 minutes or so, with less than 5 of that being running. I think I work up to the 30 minute with about 15 of running around the 6 week mark.