[ExerciseWalrus99]

What do you do when you can't hit a challenge day?

I'm making now a second attempt at 50 Push-ups in One Go. I'm doing better than my previous attempt, but today I had my first failure on day 10 when I couldn't do the middle 6 push-ups. What do you all do when you can't make it all the way through some challenge days? Do you just keep trying that same day until you do it? Do you take a rest day? Do you downshift into a slightly easier challenge? All ears for how others deal with it.

 

[GentleOx]

I have some experience with this as a powerlifter. You can...

a. Increase the volume. Try to do more total pushups throughout the day, using whatever rep range is comfortable. Of course, the more reps, the more gains you'll make.
b. Take a break. This may help if you feel you're overtraining. Come back to it later!
b. Modify the challenge/goals. Aim for 40, then 45, then 50.
c. This is the most unusual solution, but if you have the resources to weight train your chest muscles, then push ups will be easier.

Edit: So I actually peeked at the Pushup challenge. I know it's out of the bounds of the challenge, but A makes the most sense. Greasing the groove is a tried and true solution for making gains. Also make sure you're eating enough to sustain yourself.

 

[NightWolf714]

Last time I ran into this with one of the programs, I tried breaking it into segments. When that didn't work, I ended up resting and trying again. That didn't work, so I then reevaluated, moved to an easier one and put that one on hold for a later time. Basically I did the smallest adjustments I could and worked from there.

 

[Magpie]

I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but if you're failing on Day 10 of this challenge (which only has 26 pushups total) then maybe you're overreaching based on what your current level of fitness is, it is rated as a Difficulty 4 Hard level challenge after all so it's not meant to be easy.

Maybe before having a go at it again try doing the 50 Pushups a day Challenge, but instead of just doing the challenge itself do a set where you push yourself to failure and you can't do anymore, reset 30 seconds, go to failure again, rest for 30 seconds, then do a 3rd and final set to failure to see how many you can do, just aim to do a minimum 50 to tick the challenge bit off. You'll find you'll get much better quickly and you'll breeze past Day 10 on the 50 in a row challenge on your next attempt.

Also at another time of the day (don't put this back to back to above mentioned pushups) do last month's Atlas Challenge, I completed this with my back knee on the ground and arms up in the atlas position for 2 minutes each side (so 4 mins total). You might think that sounds easy but it's brutal on the shoulder muscles and will help with your pushups.

Personally I haven't had a go at the 50 in a row challenge yet but I've put it done on my tracker to do next month

 

[Fremen]

You might also consider changing the challenge:

100 Pushups | How to do a hundred pushups

www.100pushups.net

I found the same difficulty with the 50 or 100 push-ups challenges, I basically don't think it's possible to succeed in those challenges if you're not already practically there.

 

[TopNotch]

The progression in some of the challenges is very fast. From 8 push-ups on day 1 to 26 on day 10 is quite a jump - unless you found the first few days ridiculously easy. So if you follow @GentleOx's suggestion of greasing the groove, and @Magpie 's suggestion of instead going with 50 push-ups a day, you will (eventually) get there.

 

[josh342]

I usually just repeat the last one I completed and try again the next day. No stress, just keeping it moving and staying consistent.

 

[Ratio Tile]

I'm sure I'll be having a similar problem.

I'm considering doing a pull-up challenge, but I see it requires you to do 10 consecutive pull-ups on the last day. But right now I can't do more than 3...

So if I e.g. hit the wall at day 13, can I just grind and do that number everyday until it finally clicks? And then move on to the next day, rinse and repeat? Even though in reality that would be day 20 or so?

Because I'd like to treat those challenges more like programs, that is letting them change my body and adapt to different tasks and exercises. But that approach would make the whole challenge stretch from 30 days to 60 or even 90. Will it still count as challenge done? How important is the time frame of 30 days?

 

[NightWolf714]

@Ratio Tile - I imagine that's fine. The only complication I can see is if it takes too many days in a row, you may need to add a rest day or switch up exercises to let them recover.

 

[Deadoks]

I would just go back to the last easy day (maybe 5 days back)... and repeat.
It'll do easy for some days and then you'll maybe go further to more days.
If you fail again go back to the last easy day etc...

I always note every day with a difficulty note so I know where it was easy or less easy.

Exemple:

Day 1 - very easy
Day 2 - very easy
Day 3 - easy
Day 4 - easy
Day 5 - ok
Day 6 - ok
Day 7 - hard
Day 8 - very hard
Day 9 - fail

Return to day 4
Day 4 - easy
Day 5 - easy
Day 6 - easy
Day 7 - ok
Day 8 - ok
Day 9 - hard
Day 10 - hard
Day 11 - very hard
Day 12 - fail

Return to day 6

Etc...

 

[4333]

I'm making now a second attempt at 50 Push-ups in One Go. I'm doing better than my previous attempt, but today I had my first failure on day 10 when I couldn't do the middle 6 push-ups. What do you all do when you can't make it all the way through some challenge days? Do you just keep trying that same day until you do it? Do you take a rest day? Do you downshift into a slightly easier challenge? All ears for how others deal with it.

This is simple and profound :
Seek and find your maximum level of performance. 44? 46 Push ups??After visualizing complete success, past 50, you may begin. When approaching 45 ,46 and 47, go deeply inside your mind and your purpose.
Inside there youll find it....the breakthrough, beyond your previous limits. It is there, you will TRANSCEND the norm.

 

[4333]

This is simple and profound :
Seek and find your maximum level of performance. 44? 46 Push ups??After visualizing complete success, past 50, you may begin. When approaching 45 ,46 and 47, go deeply inside your mind and your purpose.
Inside there youll find it....the breakthrough, beyond your previous limits. It is there, you will TRANSCEND the norm.

Of course this principle applies to anything you choose in this lifetime.
Even business, life goals, or any type of achievement related human performance.