Brian Thayer

Yesterday was day 71 of my P90X journey. The workout for the day was Chest & Back and Ab Ripper X. When I started the program back on May 3, this was the first workout I completed. It was ugly! I had to do all the push-ups on my knees and still couldn’t finish the entire workout.

Sometime last year, I had read about some program that helped you reach 100 push-ups per day over the course of 6 weeks. I almost tried it, but didn’t care for the fact that it was just standard push-ups.  I feel muscles should be targeted in various ways. This is a more realistic way of how we use our muscles day to day. We don’t  move constantly in one direction, so don’t train your muscles that way. Plus, I NEVER thought I’d reach 100 push-ups in a day.

With the P90X Chest & Back workout, there are 6 different types of push-ups (2 sets of each) over the course of the hour. And some of them are tough! But it’s good.

Over a two month period my push-ups numbers increased and I have come into full, proper form (off my knees).  It’s been tough and I’ve been pushing myself. But last week when I hit 90 push-ups, I knew a personal milestone was on the horizon. So, yesterday before my workout, I set my goal …. and reached it:

100 push-ups

I was psyched.  I actually did 104. The extra 4 came from me being so pumped about hitting 100 I had to do a few more. I was on my own little high for the rest of the day.

100 push-ups may not be a lot to some people; but for me, it’s practically unbelievable. If you read my story then you know I was never an athlete or into fitness. In high school when we had to do the President’s Physical Fitness test, I was a mess. And it was always embarrassing. How can they expect you to excel at these tests when they don’t help you train for them? How does dodgeball, volleyball, or ping pong help me to do pull-ups, sit-ups, or run a mile? Seriously?!? (I’m sure I’ll emote more on this in the future.) But none of that mattered yesterday.

I did it because I believed that I finally could. I did it because I have been dedicated to my health and fitness every day for 71 days. I did it because no one else is going to do it for me. I did it because I wanted to push myself to set a goal, crush it, and be proud of my accomplishment. And I am SO proud of myself!

I’m giving myself some time to celebrate and smile and be proud, but don’t think that I’m not already looking ahead to hitting 200 push-ups in an hour …..

Today I started week 9 of P90X. I have entered the third and final phase of my first round of the program … and I kicked ass today.

Week 9 Day 1 starts with Chest & Back followed by Ab Ripper X. Chest & Back is about 50 minutes of  push-ups and pull-ups with a few resistance band sets for the back. Yup. 50 minutes of push-ups and pull-ups. There are 6 different types of push-ups and 6 different back exercises.

I set a personal best today: 90 push ups during the workout.  It felt great to reach this number. I’m not sure if I’ve done 90 push-ups total in my life up to this point; never mind in just 50 minutes. Plus, 8 weeks ago when I started the program I had to finish this workout doing push-ups on my knees. Now, I’m close to 100 with my knees off the floor. I’m very impressed and proud of myself.

Nutrition could have been a little bit better today. I did start the day with a Greenberry Shakeology and ate every 2-3 hours, but the quantities of my main meals could have been a bit more. I guess I need to hit the grocery store so my kitchen is a little better stocked.

Tomorrow: Plyometrics