In the same vein as Shelley's weight loss challenge, by making it public and having people join in, it keeps you accountable and keeps you motivated.
It's perfect for me right now too, because during June and July I’ll be travelling for work quite a lot, so won’t be able to attend my regular karate classes or do my normal fitness work. So by taking part in some challenges, it’ll keep me motivated to exercise – especially when I’m on the road in hotel rooms.
I'll be updating my progress on my blog and on the Facebook page.
So Mike, is that 2000 push-ups and 1500 kicks per day, or over the entire month? That would be 67 push-ups and 50 kicks per day. - EDIT - Just read the site, it's the latter thank <insert deity of choice>.
OK, I'm in for the push-ups at least. I'm in and out of hotels all the time too. I'll probably start with 2 push-ups tonight and go on from there!
Back in the olden days when I was fit, I did a progressive program of sit ups over an 8 week period. During the last week it was over 1000 sit ups per day, culminating in 1800 sit ups in one session. Talk about boring!
1800 situps in one session! Wow that is boring I did 200 last night (in 2 x 100 lots) and even that got boring
Great to see you'll join in!
Do you do'em with feet held under somthing or not Mike?
Feet under something is easier and largely works the longer and stronger hip flexor muscle group (used in kicking - so good) here pivoting at the hip joint is the goal and a faster more powerful movement is recommended for martial arts.
Feet not under anything is harder and makes the abdominal wall work harder, here the key is to do a slightly slower "rolling-up" action rather than a plank like situp and going all the way up is to be avoided - keep the tension on and don't allow a rest at the top...oh and controlling the downward "unroll" will really test your metal!
Just some ideas, may as well get the full benifits of what you are doing
I usually do a bit of both.
When my feet are not under anything, I mix it up with crunches, feet up pulling the knees in at the same time, obliques etc.
I need stronger hip flexors, so the slow kicking will be good for that too.
Well we're a week in to June and it's going slowly, but better than expected. I thought I'd get back to the hotel on the 1st and struggle to do 10 push-ups, then battle on from there, but it went ok.
I've been doing well until yesterday, when I succumbed to the head cold I've been fighting for 3 weeks (my wife and one of the kids has had a cold/flu for 3 weeks).
I'm also doing a "Plank" challenge for June as well (not 'planking', but being in the plank position working your abs/core). The challenge was submitted by someone else in the BBMA community, and the goal is 60 minutes for the month of June.
It's been good - I've enjoyed doing it and I'm trying to do everything in the one session to push myself more - rather than 30 pushups here, 40 there etc during the day - doing all of them at once.
I'm ahead of schedule for kicks and pushups so if I have a couple of days off because of the cold I should still be fine, but I'll still try and get some in.
Well done Mike, good to see you have a few in the bank.
So you're doing a few challenges all at oce, good on you! You're right doing all your exercises in the one session, I think your body works better that way.
The push-ups alone have been a good start for me, I was extremely fit up until 2003, but an accident put an end to that and I've essentially been sedentary since then, so I don't want to push too hard and not enjoy the change. My wife and I are starting with a personal trainer tomorrow, so things are heading in the right direction!
I've been jogging... does that count?? 7.2 km every third day on average. I am trying to get the 7.2km runs done in 34 minutes at present. The aim is to get it down below 30 over the next couple of months.
I am still putting on too much weight though! Being a stay at home dad/student is too close to the food!! I have always found situps hard, but I do a 40 push up set each week.
I am getting fitter and fatter at the same time!!!
Well done Jason, a personal trainer will certainly keep you motivated.
Jogging is great Grant! I usually try and do a 5km run every week, but trying to improve the time rather than the distance. I've been getting in the 21's for the 5km but am a bit out of practise in the last few weeks, so getting in the 22's.
I accept the fitness challenge and I will do multiple arm curls hoisting my coffee mug and walk around my garden as often as possible plus my regular tai chi workout as often as the body will allow.
Know it doesn't sound like much but after 30 years with M.S. it is not too bad.
With my cold and lots of travel for work, it's been difficult some days to keep it up, but the challenge is actually helping to motivate me and do it even when I really don't want to.
So for that fact, I'm enjoying it. And hopefully it's habit forming - hopefully I'll keep it up (or at least, some of it) after June.
I'm keen to have some different challenges for July - maybe squat kicks, situps etc.
Wow Leon, giving up smaking AND drinking, well done, you must feel great!
Other challenges sound good Mike, it does keep you at it when you don't really want to. Like you I've been away a lot, but each night in the hotel room before I go to bed I make sure I get them done.
I agree it was great to have a goal. I hope you're going to join us for the July challenges
For July, my goals are:
- 2500 pushups
- 3000 situps (whether it be full situps, crunches, side crunches, leg raises. Will mix it up to keep some variety)
- 600 chinups/pullups (not sure on the number here yet, should be able to increase it by the end of the month)
- 3000 squat kicks
Fitness Challenge during June
and drinking 12 months ago, 
so at least that is some achievement in its self.
