I have 30 days and am following the chart you see below for both push-ups and sit-ups. I’m 45, turning 46 in two months. Not in great shape, not morbidly obese, but definitely noticing the degradation age brings us.
I did 10 of each today.
Hey, so if anyone would like to join me, feel free. I’ll update my successes or failures as I go.
It’s been awhile since I’ve done pushups, but I do have two 10lb dumbbells that I curl almost everyday so I thought 10 pushups would be a piece of cake. I was wrong.
I found it to be not too bad. I’m maintaining form. If I can’t progress through it, I’ll simply extend the time-frame to past 30 days.
My 10 situps went fine as well. Flat back, legs bent at the knee. Hands behind head. this is how we did them in the 80’s and 90’s and it certainly tightened my stomach muscles.
I’m on day two. I have muscles hurting I forgot I had.
I feel pretty good so far. I’m emphasizing keeping my form up and made it through the first two days of “10” each no problem. Tomorrow is 12.
I’ve decided to give this a shot, starting Monday (July 1). We’ll see how it goes!
Just did 12 and 12. The escalation should be interesting. I’m sure I’m going to reach a day where I can barely make it, but not yet. Hard, but doable so far.
Started my first 10 today… just doing push-ups, not sit-ups. It wasn’t too bad to start with, but I’m sure it will get more difficult pretty quickly. Which makes me wonder, do they have to be done all at once? Or, when I get to, say, 20, can I do a set of 10 then rest a bit then do another set of 10?
All at once is how I see it, but I think you can do whatever you want.
I did 15 today, the first time I really struggled. If I end up having to slow down or extend the process, I will. 15 again tomorrow.
I feel like Kramer two hours into “The Contest”: well, I’m out.
I did two days of 10 and two days of 12, but then the holiday weekend hit and we’re in the middle of clearing out the basement and filling a dumpster in our driveway, plus yardwork and other stuff, so I haven’t even thought of doing pushups the last couple days.
Maybe I’ll start again… maybe not.
Sadly, I’ve got neck stenosis, otherwise I’d totally be doing it with you.
Yesterday, I did 20 pushups and 20 situps.
I’m supposed to do 22 today and for the first time, I’m not sure I’ll be able to. Basically, pushup 19 and 20 are so difficult for me still, I pretty much collapse after pushup 20.
I may have to edit the plan and stay at 20 until 20 feels consistently doable. I’ll find out later today.
About 10 years ago I built up to 50 pushups (situps/crunches have never been a problem for me.) I’d imagine I could only do 10 or so to start. Took me considerably longer than 1 month, and more than 1 set a day.
Good luck!
I did 22, but pretty much collapsed coming up on the 22nd one. I’m counting it, but we are right at my maximum ability here. I’ll likely find a number that I just repeat for a week or more before advancing.
That 22nd pushup was agonizing.
Situps? Unpleasant, but not overly difficult. I don’t like squeezing my abs like that 22 times.
Here is where I am at:
26 Pushups
30 Situps
I’m supposed to be at 30 pushups, but I have to slow down the pace a bit here or I won’t maintain form. It’s day 18.
Today I reached 30 push-ups, though shaking through pushup 28, 29, and 30.
18 days ago I was straining around 15-17. Now, I’m straining at 25-30 range.
I did 35 pushups today for probably the first time in my life. I’m pretty happy.
Good on you for sticking with it.
So, your original schedule said you should be at 50 by now? Totally unrealistic, huh?
Are you just doing the one set of 35? I felt quite an accomplishment when I worked my way up to 50. But I REALLY HATE pushups, and I just wasn’t going to keep up with that number. 
Your thread inspired me to restart my pushups and crunches. I started at 2 sets of 5 pushups (yeah, I’m a horribly weak old man), and 8 sets of 10 different crunches (never been an issue for me). I quickly worked up to 2 sets of 10 pushups, and today bumped it up to 12.
Not sure how high I’ll go. 15 sounds like a good number. Maybe 20. But I have to hit a sweet spot where it is enough to give me a little benefit, but not enough of an effort that I’m going to stop doing it. I often fall into the trap with exercise, figuring if a little is good, more is better. Then I get bored with the increased level.
My main goal is regularity. So my plan is to NEVER miss 2 days in a row. If I skip them today, I KNOW I’m going to have todo them tomorrow. If I’m too damned lazy to do 5 minutes of cals every other day, I might as well just throw in the towel.
But this thread is about you, not me. Good going! When would you guess you’ll hit 50?
Yes, once I hit about 30, I realized I had to stay at that level awhile.
If I can do 50 by the end of August, it will be a big accomplishment.
Then do you plan to stick with it? Or stick with a lower number?
Have you thought about doing multiple sets? Maybe follow a set of 30 with a set of 20? Or try to do 2 sets of 20 or 3 of 15?
I’m not fitness expert, but I think mixing things up a bit occasionally can be helpful.