Last Updated on May 21, 2023 by Michael Brockbank
I know I’m starting to sound a bit like a broken record lately, but things are starting to click together quite nicely. Today, I set a couple of new bodyweight exercise records. I think this is going to be something I attempt every Sunday.
Needless to say, I am truly excited about my progress. And I thought I was perhaps going too slow.
What Records Did I Break Today?
I don’t have a lot of time, so I just went with the two biggest bodyweight exercises that would have benefited from the workouts of the last couple of weeks.
In this case, push-ups and lying leg raises. Though, I think I want to try planking a bit later today just to see.
Setting a Push-Up Record
First, I decided to give push-ups a try. After all, I wanted to see how much of an impact other workouts make on various exercises. In this case, I’ve been doing a lot of the Machine Chest Press and the Machine Fly.
This morning, I was able to crank 19 before collapsing. I know it probably doesn’t sound like a lot to some people. But for me, it’s a major accomplishment.
Technically, my record sits at 22 back in 2017. But, Exercise.com wiped their database a couple of years ago. So, I can actually confirm I hit 19 today.
No matter how you slice it, though, it’s still more than I did a few weeks ago. And that’s all that really matters.
I remember back when I damn near blew a vein in my forehead trying to crank out 8. In reality, I’ve come a long way since those days.
Seriously, I still have a lot of work I want to do on my pecs. But seeing the number get a star in Exericse.com signifying it’s a new record tickles me pink.
Setting the Lying Leg Raise Record
This is another that I know I did more than what Exercise.com says after the database wipe. But, I know I’ve never done 21 reps before. I think I set it at 20 back in 2016.
So, no matter what, it improved from any time in my personal history.
What’s really a bummer is that I probably could have added more to this record if I would have kept up with playing the Xbox every day.
Between getting busy with all of the things I’m doing at the moment and stress, I just haven’t had a chance. But, I do have several games that do wonders on my core.
I just need to get back into them.
Getting into the Swing of Things
I’ve been setting these smaller records mostly because I really never worried about health and fitness for the past 40 years. Which makes me a tad disappointed in myself.
But, I’m here now and ready to rock life. People like Susie from SusiesOpinions make all the difference in my life and motivation. If she can look amazing at 70+, I can rebuild myself at 45.
She’s been an inspiration for me to put in more effort.
And yes, I cannot forget Ryan Reynolds. I am just one month older and he’s Deadpool. He’s actually been very instrumental for me addressing my version of a midlife crisis.
This means I have a couple of very influential role models for helping me put more effort into health and fitness.
What I’m Aiming for Next?
Wednesday, after my workout, I will do a two-week before and after photo for using specific weight machines. To be honest, I think I want to keep with most of them as I am working on building specific areas of interest.
For instance, I do want a more pronounced chest. It’s still kind of spongy to the touch. I also want to shatter my sit-up record of 12 reps, which I can probably do right now if I tried.
This means I’ll stick with the chest press and fly as well as the ab crunch machine. I think I want to try the rotation machine at Planet Fitness as well. It’s supposed to work out the obliques and abs.
Unfortunately, the closest workout I can find in Exercise.com to keep track of this record is the Rotation with Hold.
I’ll have to give it some thought as I want to sustain the workout for the next two weeks and do some more before and after photos. I’d love to get rid of this spare tire, and the rotation machine might help.
That actually would be a good one to do, I think. I could go so far as to write a blog post about losing “love handles” at Planet Fitness.
They should make me a sponsor.
Still Have a Lot of Work to Do, But I’m Liking It
I never thought that I would be the type of person who would love going to the gym. So far, it’s been an incredible experience. The changes over the last few weeks have been awesome, and I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do in the near future.
I guess that’s the trick to making a gym membership pay for itself. I was always worried about being one of those people who just give up and let the gym keep sucking money out of the bank.
The way I’m approaching it, by turning it into a game, is what works for me.
I’m loving every minute of it!
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