A One Push-Up Wonder

Blogging, family, Fitness, health related issues, humor 1 Minute

It only took 371 days.

On November 10, 2020, I broke both of my wrists while exercising.

Of course, I had to write about it – I’ll do anything to keep my streak going. 🙂

While the thought of doing a push-up was the furthest thing from my mind, I also told myself I would try a push-up in one year.

Now I am sure some people would have been doing push-ups within six weeks of such an injury, but I’ve become a big fan of slow and steady wins the race. And I mean s-l-o-w.

As part of the process, our family rejoined a gym about three months ago.

I figured that gave me three months to get ready for the big push-up day. So I started using the bench press machine at a very low weight setting. And I mean l-o-w. In fact, I’m not sure it can go any lower.

But after those 12 weeks, I thought I was ready.

So today, a week later than planned, I decided to give it a shot.

And lo and behold – success!

One and done.

At this rate, I’ll be doing seven pushups in a row by the time I’m 70.

Like I said, slow and steady wins the race.

*image from 123rf

Published by Jim Borden

A 60-something guy trying to figure out the world, and his place in it. Happily married for 40-plus years, three wonderful sons. Accounting teacher, fitness enthusiast, blogger, reader.

Published

79 thoughts on “A One Push-Up Wonder”

  1. The most incredible part of your streak was that you found a way to keep it going with two broken wrists. Take that Cal Ripken—you never did that!

    It’s funny why some exercises are easier than others for us. I remember one of your posts about doing planks for some outrageous amount of time, which I wasn’t even close to achieving. I’m not that strong, but I’ve always been able to do a lot of pushups for some reason. I do 40 every night before bed and set a goal of doing 50 on my next birthday when I turn 63. I’ve come to terms with that’s not going to happen. I keep trying each night, but I can barely get to 40 anymore.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

      1. I remember kids with smaller body types scaling that damn rope we had to climb in high school. All I ended up with were a bunch of rope burns.

        Liked by 2 people

  3. Gah, my first thoughts were ‘weights’, but now that I saw that they were those tubes, I’m now wary of all exercise equipment. I guess I’ll stick to bodyweight. And yeah, like Pete said, I’m actually impressed you kept writing with two broken wrists. Surely, there was no better excuse to take a break? Lol.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. You’re right! No matter how slow you must’ve been, you’re still winning the race (as in I’m totally losing)! I will at some point hopefully soon find the motivating to get going again! Good for you!! 🙂

    Like

    Reply

  6. Congrats!!
    That’s 100% more than me!!

    I separated a wrist doing ‘sexy’ pushups in a pole dance class. Unfortunately, the doc’s office said it wasn’t injured and I didn’t find the radiologists “oh yes it is” msg till a month later.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. Wow, has it been a year? Good to see that you are fully healed and back in the gym. I am going to assume I can do one too. And I would appreciate it if everyone else makes the same assumption. I may only have one left in me and I don’t want to waste it showing off.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    2. yes, that first one is always the hardest; I didn’t know what to expect. the two broken wrists were disruptive a couple of times, but I had a lot of help from my wife and son 🙂

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment