My New Year’s Resolution

I know what you are thinking... "JPC you are over a month late with this one..." But this is my update on my 01.01.11 resolution.  Read on...

I believe in constant improvement.  There is no reason to wait for the new year to make a change.  I have been known to think up resolutions for a random month and carry them out.  For example, one month I resolved to work out in the mornings every Thursday before work.  This goal was short term and attainable. However, as someone who likes setting goals to make myself a better person, I usually think of several ways I want to improve myself each new year's day as well.   This year I wanted my resolution to be simple, discrete, daily but not require much time, and something that could build on itself.

My New Year’s resolution this year was to do 40 push-ups and 40 sit-ups every day.  The definition of push-ups and sit-ups is loose – they can be modified push-ups, v-ups, crunches, etc and the sets can be as small as 10 repetitions  – just as long as I do some combination of 40 of each.  Also, a day is wake to sleep, not midnight to midnight.  These rules were to remove barriers. I am sick – do modified push ups.  I forgot and got in late – no problem do them before bed.  I am tired – space out the 40 throughout the day. I didn’t want to make this hard on myself; I just wanted to do it every day without fail.  There is enough in my life that is difficult right now J.

I am happy to report that over 5 weeks into the new year, I am still at it.  I haven’t missed a day yet, although I have had to get out of bed at least 4 times.  I can now do 4 sets of 10 full push-ups and have started supplementing my sit-ups with the ab-roller.  In case, you aren’t familiar with this torture device, suffice it to say that made me extremely sore the first 2 times I used it.

I hope to give an update in several months to tell you I stuck with it and can now do 40 full push-ups in a row and that I now laugh at the ab roller.  We'll see....