Rebecca's 12 week workout (Start date 3/2/09): The 12 Week Challenge

rebecca3108 · **Site Rank:** Healthy Friend

So my start date isn't going to officially be until Monday, and I promise regular weekly updates, but I had a quick question. On the push-ups, I know that girlie push-ups are acceptable, but what about ones on an incline? Say where I use the edge of the table so my body's at a 45 degree angle to the floor (approx)? Would it give me the same workout benefit? Because I'm no good at on-the-floor push-ups. At least not yet.

HealthyPals · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

You can start out doing push ups that way if you can't do any the other way, but eventually you should work up to doing the push ups on the floor. Start out with the incline, move to the girl push ups and then one day if you keep up your workouts, you will be able to do regular push ups! The key though is consistency. If you are consistent, the push ups will get easier.

I hope that helps!

Y's Guy · **Site Rank:** Moderator

They are not girl push-ups... that is so not PC!!! They are called modified push-ups. To answer your questions of course you can do whatever style push-up you want... You can even do wall push-ups, but you want to challenge yourself... at the end of the repititions you don't want to be able to do another one... so go as low of an angle as you can... try and keep getting lower and lower as you progress!

Good Luck!!!

rebecca3108 · **Site Rank:** Healthy Friend

Ok, that definitely helps. I do wall pushups at work all the time, but most of the time, I'm able to do more than what I do. I just stop because someone comes into the lobby and it would look funny for the receptionist to be doing wall pushups (or squats, which I do sometimes too!).

And PC or no PC...you knew exactly what I meant! :lol:

HealthyPals · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

I feel dumb... what does PC mean?

rebecca3108 · **Site Rank:** Healthy Friend

Politically correct.

HealthyPals · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

Ohhh! Okay! Good to know!

Y's Guy · **Site Rank:** Moderator

I did know what girlie push-ups were only because that is what I started out on and people made fun of me!!! I am not girlie... I was modified :shock:

Another idea for your work which may or may not be allowed is substituting a yoga ball for a chair... it will increase your balance and stabilizing muscles while improving posture and abs... Many companies allow their employees to do this and it doesn't even look funny... unless you're bouncing on it!

HealthyPals · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

A yoga ball chair is also good for your back if you have any back issues!

rebecca3108 · **Site Rank:** Healthy Friend

Week 1 complete!!

Here goes!! (Post will be edited with more info as it occurs...)

Weight at 2/27/09 weigh in at work: 199.8

Day 1 3/2/09
Start weight (just because I'm interested): 200.4
Slight weight gain over the weekend, but I can deal with that. Needless to say, eating at Disney isn't always the healthiest...
(at home) 15 mins walking, 10 modified pushups, 25 crunches
(at work) 30 wall pushups, 30 sec wall sit, 20 squats

I felt pretty good after all that. Legs still a little sore after Magic Kingdom all day Saturday, but I expected that.

Day 2 3/3/09
(at home, and including the extra workout Ken gave me) 55 crunches (had to take these in spurts...maybe 5-10 at a time), 30 sec wall sit, 30 wall pushups, 10 modified pushups, 20 squats
(at work) 20 minute walk, 5 minute cool down

I'm sore today. Mostly in my upper back, between the shoulder blades. But after I got done doing all that, it occurred to me that perhaps I should have taken a break today, and not tried to do back to back days right at the beginning. Planning on doing a 20 minute walk at lunch, because quite frankly, my bed was too warm and inviting this morning.

Day 3 3/4/09
(at home) 30 wall pushups, 30 sec wall sit, 30 crunches

Decided to take a day off from the 12 wk workout and just do the morning workout that Ken gave me. Back actually feels better today, and the pushups weren't a problem. Plus, I felt the crunches more in my abs today. Possible walk at lunch if possible.

Day 4 3/5/09
(at home) 30 wall pushups, 30 sec wall sit, 55 crunches, 10 modified pushups

May have to take the day off again from the 20 minutes of walking. I have this pair of small heels that I wore to work on Friday, and then after we walked around Disney on Saturday, the bottom joint of my big toe on my right foot (the one that's in the ball of your foot) was killing me. It got better, though. Stupidly wore those heels again yesterday, and now the joint is hurting again. It's hard to even walk without limping. (Note to self: Consider getting rid of those heels.) Work weigh-in tomorrow. Don't know how it'll go for me, but I feel skinnier this week.

Day 5 3/6/09
Weigh in at work: 197.8
Down two pounds from last Friday's weigh in.
(at home) 30 wall pushups, 55 crunches, 30 sec wall sit, 20 minutes light walking

Foot still hurting, so I took it easy on the walking. It's mostly on the bottom of my foot, right in the ball of it, so I don't know what it's all about. I suspect some sort of bruising or something, or perhaps the way I walked in those shoes the other day caused me to jam my toe? I don't know.

Day 6 3/7/09
Going to Disney again for the day to use the second day on our ticket that we bought last weekend. Lots of walking, but I'll be in my tennis shoes, so I'm hoping that the foot won't hurt too bad.

Day 7 3/8/09
Most likely, a rest day before I start week 2 of the 12 week program.

tammy · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

It sounds like you are sore from the push ups? Is that what you think?

Good job so far!

rebecca3108 · **Site Rank:** Healthy Friend

Yes, most likely. I can really feel it if I breathe deeply or try and stretch my back. I suspect that the crunches could make me sore at some point, but so far, I don't think they've been intense enough to make my tummy sore. Just the back for right now.

HealthyPals · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

Sore is good! It means your body got a workout!

Y's Guy · **Site Rank:** Moderator

The hardest part is pushing past the uncomfortableness... You have to be sore in the beginning... I told you it was going to be tough! I ached all over when I first started. There is a difference between pain and aches... aches are good... pain is bad! it is important to continue to exercise even if you are sore... but don't continue if you have pain... pain will only get worse... soreness will get easier if you push through it... trust me... I really know. Just decide if it is pain or just soreness.

tammy · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

Oh, sorry to hear about those heels hurting your foot! Yeah, maybe it is time to get rid of them... there is nothing worse than pain when you are trying to walk! Trust me, I broke my big toe a while back and that sure was a pain!

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