I’m not missing my pushups, no way no how.
You might not get it, entirely okay to take “one day off”, but one has the tendency to turn to several, and before you know it you’re hitting pushups NEVER instead of daily.
I’d have to be buried or physically restrained to miss a day!
And restrained I’d still be attempting, one arms could be plausible in that situation.
I’d be attempting!
Missed pushups?
Not happening!
I’m so close to five years I can taste it, nearly 4.5!
Persistence & Tenacity
Your gym floor anecdote story about the elderly gentleman brings back fond memories of my WWII veteran grandfather. Dude was doing clapping pushups up till about 3 months before he passed at the age of 95. Probably walked ten miles a day picking up cans to cash in (Depression era mindset never leaves those who lived through it).
On top of that, I also enjoy your reflections on not missing pushups. I recently put myself through university working in a nursing home as a CNA, which, juxtaposed with my background in not only western fitness, but also Yoga and Qigong, has really driven home for me the lesson that you can stave off SOOOOO many geriatric pathologies simply by keeping the body active and fit.
(This is Yang Shen from YouTube, by the way)
Hey, cool you hopped over here.
Aside from a few comments about the site in person at one gym, a buddy texting me a question sparking from it, one comment that got through the spam filter, and an angry anonymous comment here from someone that read like they were (hopefully a chick based on tone, otherwise a not so masculine and very butthurt dude) at that same gym. This is my sites first/second real comment. You’re not berating me. Cool!
A distant relative, mid 80s, tall 6’3″ 6’4″ that lanky, lean, but strong build common amongst that generation, served to my knowledge on a submarine (maybe Korea, and hilarious to envision due to height, though I’ve heard a story of 6’8″ or 6’9″ on a sub), has kept up consistent pushups for life, and to this day is good for strict sets of 50 chest to floor, and that’s while starting to have health problems. The first thing he does when seeing his son, about 60, is challenge him on the spot to pushups on the kitchen floor. He wins. It’s a point of honor to still beat his son at pushups. I’ve only met him 2 or 3 times, so most I have heard is second hand, but he has this intensity, and to my amusement keeps tabs via word of mouth on my pushups though we haven’t seen each other in a decade. He very much likes that a relative, by marriage no less/not blood and distant, has the same drive to religiously take simple training seriously.
I took care of my grandma a couple years back when she had chemo, spent a lot of time at SoCal hospitals because of this. With an observant eye you see a lot. So much of the horrifying examples of aging could’ve been prevented, and even still could be reversed when an individual stops surrendering and decides enough is enough.
One day seated outside in the shade, I watched the courtesy cart drop off a couple in their early 80s. The husband barely made it out of the seat unassisted, holding onto the cart and pulling, trying, mostly failing to use his legs, wobbling, and almost going down. When it was the wives turn, there was looks of flabbergasted (weird conjugation there) all around, the hospital staff member (a normally built 50yo male) unclear as to what to do, the husband not able to assist her, him weak, her weaker and unable to stand.
I decided I’d offer help, I’m seated 10′, 15′ away. I walk over and with my softest voice go :
“Ma’am, would you like my assistance”
“Please”
I offer my forearm which she clenches with both hands, I lean over and gently hug her upper back with my free hand, and gently guide her up.
A true smile, almost a tear in her blue eyes, and “thank you young man”.
Diet would’ve prevented so many health problems. Meditation other problems. Strength training consistently done for 20 minutes twice a week primarily for back and legs the rest which is why I love seeing the old timers in the gym taking that step.
I don’t believe in the possibility of most (the large majority of) health issues…when you opt into your own health.
There’s two simple health things I realize the power of that few do :
•smile
•victory pose (picture Rocky hands overhead or Randy Orton arms spread)
Both force the issue, making you think good thoughts. The brain being the root of everything.
Read around the site some, if the search function works I’d suggest “best genetics”, “victory pose”, and “mantra pushups” as some of my better materials.
Feel free to ask gym or health questions, I’ve always been open to life supplying writing topics, and in all honesty this is part of why I’m so okay to teach on gym floors, some know, some don’t that they’re providing me topics.
I like writing.
My grandpa always did the cans, though I don’t think he went out purposefully looking for them. He had this can crusher thing, probably from an infomercial, on the side of his work bench. At 4 or 5 that was a toy to me, I loved crushing those cans, and getting to dump the materials at the recycle center. Whichever relative did those runs I always wanted to go. While taking care of my grandma I used that crusher, saved all the bottles/cans and made that run smiling at fond memories.
-J