I have personally declared March, 2021 to be the inaugural month of the push up. I’ve been looking to bring on personal challenges to really amp things up. I’ve also recently really been getting into the motivation of David Goggins. Pushing my physical limits and seeing where it takes me is the logical next step in my lifestyle shift.
Unlike Goggins, I’m not quite ready to go extremely over the top. But, it’s my first quest (I prefer that word over the overdone ‘challenge’) so give me time. Remember, too, that the pushups are in addition to my already existent, and fairly intense, exercise schedule. I’m working out each day and running at least every second day. I expect to increase my running mileage over the month of March, as well.
By the way, if you don’t know who David Goggins is and what like to learn more, check out his book (Amazon): Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy The Odds.
The March Push Up Goal
I’ve set my sights on 6,200 pushups for the month. That’s an average of 200 per day over the 31 days in March. I completely think that number is doable. In fact, I expect to go way beyond. That’s why I’ve added March 15 as a goal reassessment date. At that point, I’ll evaluate my progress and switch it up if the rest of the month needs to be more challenging.
The fact that I’m already at 240 not even midway through the first day is an indicator that the goal of 6,200 might be a bit low. I several sets of pushups as part of my daily workout but I don’t actually track the final number. So, it’s not like I’m jumping into a new movement that might leave me injured after a few days and uncapable to do the exercise any longer.
Why Pushups?
This is the ultimate exercise for those with limited space and limited time. You can pull off a full workout literally in the space of a hotel bathroom floor. You can do them on your office floor. You can do them in your bedroom. You can do them at the park. You can do them inside or outside. You probably could do them in your vehicle (if you have a minivan, like me). You can simply do pushups anywhere. This gives you absolutely no excuse to not get some exercise in.
This is a versatile exercise. It works your triceps, pecs and shoulders. When done the right way, this is a great core exercise, working your abs. After all, this is just a plank that goes up and down…
Upcoming Quests
This isn’t going to be a one off quest. I’m working on many more. Fitbit sent me a personal challenge for the number of zone minutes in a week. It was laughable in that the week total I was supposed to be striving for was what I usually do in one of two days. But, it got me thinking…
1,000,000 step month? Right now, I don’t even think I’ve put in a 100,000 step week since getting the Fitbit at Christmas. But, that’s the beauty and power of quests (challenges) – they push you to go beyond. I’m thinking that 1,000,000 steps in April would be a hell of a quest.
Have some ideas? I’d love to hear them…