It is possible to accomplish the difficult challenge of doing 100 consecutive pushups? This is the promise behind the 100-pushups challenge. It doesn’t matter if you can currently do twenty pushups or if you can’t even do one because the guarantee holds true for all who follow the program.
Pushups
Pushups are a great form of exercise that requires no gym membership. You can do them nearly anywhere in your home when there is a surface conducive to pushups. This exercise will work the muscles in your abdomen, triceps, and shoulders. Exercise in general is recommended each week and attempting the 100-pushup challenge is great to incorporate into that weekly exercise regime.
Is it enough?
The 100-pushup challenge requires only thirty minutes of exercise in one week. The low end of recommended time spent exercising is thirty minutes a time and at least three times per week. The pushup challenge is not the only exercise an individual should be getting each week. Combining it with other exercise programs on the other hand is an excellent idea to add a little strength building to a cardio workout.
Is it possible?
There is an exercise plan for slowly building to the 100 pushups consecutively. There are several different plan choices depending on your beginning level of athletic ability when it comes to upper body strength. If the plan is followed and the correct time is devoted each week to the challenge then it is entirely possible to achieve the goal. The once a week exercising is beneficial because the arms will grow tired and sore after just one thirty minute set of pushups for an individual not used to such rigorous muscle building exercise. Allowing approximately a week to heal up and give it another try allows the muscles to slowly build. Seven weeks is enough time to build up to the 100 pushups but if you’d like to maintain this level of upper body strength it is important not to stop at the 100 mark and especially not to quit once the goal is achieved. Muscle can turn back into other body tissue and fat just as fat can turn into muscle so upkeep is a must.
Is it dangerous?
There is a book and website devoted to this challenge. Each resource has a list of several alternatives to pushups because a pushup is not comfortable for everyone to do. For those who lack upper body strength early in the challenge there are knee pushup instructions. For those who have wrist problems there is a good explanation of a knuckle pushup. If almost no pushups suit your body style there are wall pushups which reduce the amount of stress put on the back, abdomen, and wrists. The program slowly builds to the 100 pushups and has limits on the maximum amount of exercise you should complete. Following the guidelines closely will limit the possibility of bodily injury.
Good and Bad
The pushup program is a beneficial form of exercise but do not let it take the place of any other important steps in your weekly exercise plan. It is excellent for building muscle but it doesn’t replace a balanced cardio regime. If the plan is followed closely you will be completing the 100 pushup challenge in approximately seven weeks. It requires no gym membership and the purchase of the book and other material is completely optional. It’s something to work towards slowly and safely and with other weekly exercise built in. When used in the right way it can be highly beneficial to building upper body strength.
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