Results Of The Push-Up Test

16 weeks of 20 weeks

weight today: same

total lost: 9 1/2 pounds in 16 weeks

pre-work-out:

4 oz banana:100

post work-out:
1/2 cup of oatmeal:150
2 tsp of sugar:30
4 tsp of powder creamer in tea:40
2 tsp of sugar in tea:30
total: 250
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running total:350

4 oz tilapia:100
1/2 cup of brown rice:85
2 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:30
total:215
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running total:565

1 large egg:70
1 large egg white: 16
1 lefse:30
1/2 cup of fat free cottage cheese:80
1/4 cup of canned pineapple:35
some pretzels:50
over 1/2 cup of ice cream:125
1 tsp of chocolate syrup:20
total:426
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running total:991

4 tsp of powder creamer in tea:40
2 tsp of sugar:30
2 cup of cinnamon chex cereal:320
1 cup of 1% milk: 110
total:500
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running total:1,491

today's challenge: I wasn't really in the snacking mood today. So, my challenge was that I should have had food prepared ahead of time for myself for supper so that I wouldn't have needed to devote so many calories to a few bowls of cereal.

Actual fitness: bicep and back work-out, abdominals, 5 mile run

Note on picture: My husband and I went out to a local restaurant and I ordered this off the 500 club menu. The top picture is fettuccine with chicken breast and steamed vegetables topped with some cheese. I can not believe this dish is only 515 calories. The gal told me that when this dish is served in the evening it is with a scoop of frozen yogurt, and that is included in the 515 calorie count. But, it's so much food that I get full and then have to eat the rest for another meal. Also pictured is the salad. That dressing is some type of basil vinaigrette dressing. I used a scant amount on the salad.

Results Of The Push-up Test

I was actually kind of excited about doing this push-up test because it's been only recently that I've been able to do "guy" push-ups at all.

My chest and triceps work-out plan calls for four sets of 15 to 20 push-ups. I started out by doing "girl push-ups". Then, a few months ago, I tried doing one set the guy way. Then, a few weeks later, I tried adding a second set and before you know it I was doing guy four sets of guy push-ups.

I'll have to admit that it's a good feeling to be able to drop down and do a bunch of push-ups like that.

So, we had thought about doing the test together, but I suggested doing them separately so that we could cheer the other person on.

Well, last night in my post, I mentioned that I thought I could get to 30 push-ups. So, I started first, and cranked out the first 20 quickly and efficiently, I made my way to 30 with still plenty of gas in the tank, then I kept going, and going and finally had to stop at 41 push-ups.

My arms were actually a little wobbly when I finished, but it felt great to be able to do that many push-ups.

Then, it was my husband's turn. He just started working out with me four weeks ago, where as I have been incorporating push-ups into my work-outs for the past eight months.

But the goal was to try to get him over 20 push-ups so he could start at week 3 in the push-up challenge program.

So, he started strong and ended up completing 23 perfect push-ups.

Now, the plan is to begin doing the push-up work-out plan tomorrow morning before the start of our regular work-out. We are actually going to get up 15 minutes earlier ...5:00 a.m. just so that we can get in the push-up work-out before the regular work-out.

This will be interesting because if you've looked at the push-up challenge's work-out schedule, it is not for the faint of heart. I fully anticipate that our arms will be spent by the time we get the push-up work-out done. Then, we'll have to just perhaps go lighter weights for the rest of our work-out depending on how we feel.

Another interesting tidbit is that the chest and triceps work-out is scheduled for tomorrow.

And, and even more interesting tidbit is that I may be getting a push-up gene from my dad. I talked to him on the phone tonight and found out that this summer he was able to do 100 push-ups in a row and was also doing 3 or 4 sets of 80. One time this summer he did 500 push-ups split out in sets.

About a month and a half ago, he had some heart problems and got weak. But since then he's back to doing push-ups with his walking work-out and can crank out a good 40 or 50. My dad will be 62 soon.

Hope you're all doing well.