Week 2 of the 100 Push-ups Challenge

Ok, so today starts week 2 of the 100 push-up challenge (read the previous post if you have no idea what I am referring to). Week 1 wasn't really that bad - or so I thought. I initially could only max out with 10 push-ups and that was literally ALL I could do. Week 1 worked me up from there to maxing out with 15 - after doing a set of 10, resting 120 seconds, a set of 8, resting 120 seconds, a set of 8, resting 120 seconds, and a set of 5, then resting 120 seconds. So all together I did 46 push-ups! 46! That's 4 times what I could do at one time when I started. I'm excited to see what week 2 does for me. Oh, and Randy is doing this with me and he maxed out with 25 (I think) after doing a set of 15, resting, a set of 13, resting, a set of 10, resting, and a set of 10, then resting. So he did 73! Wow!

And yes, to those who were wondering - I am sore today. I didn't have much soreness last week, but on Saturday night we played Wii Boxing with friends. Let's just say, I'm extra sore today! Here's to week 2!

Randy's Birthday

Just so you all don't think I forgot Randy's birthday, I didn't. I've actually just been too busy to stop and blog about it. For July 4th weekend, we went to OK to visit my parents. We had a 3 day weekend, so we headed up on Thursday night to take full advantage of being off. Friday, Randy & Daniel went mountain biking at Lake Murray. Mom and I cleaned the house and hung out. Friday evening, we all went to my aunt and uncle's for a July 4th BBQ. The whole family was there - which is hard to do now, since we are all so busy. We ate, played hillbilly golf (not sure if this is the right name for it), and got to see some great fireworks at Camp Sweeney (thanks Josh, Tiff, and Brent!).

Saturday, we went to Gawbaw's funeral. Randy lived with Gawbaw when he lived in Oklahoma and we both were close to her. She was 93 years old. Saturday afternoon, I had planned a surprise birthday party for Randy with our Oklahoma friends. We had cake, ice cream and a fun game of "Nertz." The newly-engaged couple won. Congrats Jereme & Kathleen! Sunday we went to church with my family and then just relaxed on Sunday afternoon. The long weekend was nice, I just didn't want to go back to work on Monday morning!

Randy's actual birthday was last Saturday and we got to spend the day as just the two of us. We slept in late (always nice), and I made blueberry pancakes for breakfast. We didn't really have anything planned so we decided to go see Journey to the Center of the Earth in 3D. It was definitely worth the drive. Yes, it is a kids movie, so some parts are cheesy, but overall it was a fun and entertaining movie. This was the 2nd movie I had seen in 3D and I still couldn't help but jump when it looked like water was falling on me!

Here are some pics from our July 4th weekend. The birthday boy wouldn't let me take any pics on his actual birthday. I guess I'll have to try to get some this weekend at his 3rd birthday celebration with our community group!

Dad and Charlie playing the golf game

Yes, folks, that is my husband. :)

Ah, that's better. Now why did I look away?

April & Daniel

Mom took this picture. I just love it! The power pole looks like a cross in the corner.

Randy with his cakes. How do I always get silly pictures?

The whole gang, minus Mom & Dad.

100 Pushups

So you might be wondering why I'm posting about 100 pushups. Well it is this cool workout program I found online, Hundred Pushup Challenge. I was reading a blog I just started following, Take Your Vitamin Z, and the author recently started the Hundred Pushup Challenge himself. I thought it looked interesting so I went to the website and started reading. Basically this is a 6 week work out plan that is designed so at the end you can do 100 pushups. Not bad, huh? Well, along the way you get the benefits of strength building, defining your core, and overall becoming more healthy. So I printed out the plan and decided I would try it.

Let me just pause right here and say, I'm not the type of person to work out regularly (bad, I know). I was in athletics in middle school (so glad that is in the past), then in high school I usually rode my bike or walked with my mom. In college I tried to get into working out consistently, but it wasn't until my senior year when I joined a Ball Class that I really stuck with it. For some reason the ball class was fun and I didn't dread it. Then I moved out on my own. I would walk on the treadmill or eliptical but I might go 2 weeks at a time doing nothing. So now I'm married. Randy rides his bike pretty often. By the time I get home from work, I just prefer to stay in and hang out with Randy. Randy wants to get me a bike, but we haven't found the right one yet, so currently I was doing nothing as regular exercise.

Enter the Hundred Pushup Challenge. I've always wanted to work out more often, to build up strength, and to be more healthy. This challenge, as strange as it may seem, is something I think I can do. It starts off where I am now and builds up to the 100 pushups at the end of 6 weeks. And the great thing is it requires no equipment, skill or huge chunks of my time! My perfect plan! I did the first day's workout last night, and it was tough (for my scrawny arms). I'm not too sore today, yet. I rest today and do the next workout tomorrow. Randy is doing this with me so I can't wait to see where we are in 6 weeks!

Oh, and some of our other friends have said they are going to join us in the challenge. I'm not going to post who they are, but I'd love to know how you are doing! Email me if you decide to take the challenge so we can encourage each other.

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13