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Push-Ups

by | jul 6, 2023 | Sport

Just like everyone else, at the start of a new year, I fall victim to objectives, goals, resolutions, you name it. And just like everyone else, with the necessary doubts.

But since I’ve read countless books about it, I should know by now how to stick to something.

One of those ‘super’ books is undoubtedly Atomic Habits (more about this on another page). Good book, loads of tips. That gives an extra dimension to getting started. One of the practical tips for learning a habit is: “make it inevitable” (or was it “make it easy”?).

Eventually (inspiration!), I get my personal coach out of ‘storage’. Definitely a nice reunion after, I think, 7 years. Costs some money, but it’s worth it to me. Money only has value when it’s spent.

In our first sessions, we started with some boxing again (against pads), very carefully, plus training with free weights and the inevitable push-ups.

Long story short, we started on 25/01/2022 with push-ups against a table – I couldn’t do regular push-ups on the ground at all – always 5 sets with a minute break, Tuesday together with my coach and Thursday and Saturday alone.

As you can see in the photo, after 2 weeks we switched to push-ups against a low bench to finally do normal push-ups on the ground after 5 weeks.

It remains challenging, but it also gives a lot of satisfaction.

Especially noting down the small steps, so that the growth becomes really visible, gives a strong boost.

 

Net zoals iedereen ben ik bij de start van een nieuw jaar slachtoffer van doelstellingen, goals, goede voornemens, noem maar op. En net zoals iedereen met de nodige twijfels.

Maar aangezien ik toch talloze boeken daarover heb gelezen, zou ik onderhand toch moeten weten hoe iets vol te houden.

Eén van die ‘super’ boeken is ongetwijfeld Atomic Habits (meer hierover op een andere pagina). Goed boek, massa’s tips. Dat geeft een extra dimensie om te starten. Eén van de praktische tips om een gewoonte aan te leren is: “maak het onvermijdelijk” (of was het “maak het gemakkelijk”?).

Uiteindelijk (ingeving!) haal ik mijn personal coach uit de ‘oude doos’. Zeker een leuk weerzien na, denk ik, 7 jaren. Kost wel wat geld, maar dat heb ik er voor over. Geld is pas iets waard als het wordt uitgegeven.

Onze eerste sessies zijn we begonnen met weer wat boksen (tegen pads), heel voorzichtig, plus training met losse gewichten en de onvermijdelijke push-ups.

Lang verhaal kort, we startten op 25/01/2022 met push-ups tegen een tafel – de gewone push-up op de grond lukte me voor geen meter – telkens 5 series met een minuut pauze, dinsdag samen met mijn coach en donderdag en zaterdag alleen.

Zoals je op de foto kunt zien, schakelden we na 2 weken over naar push-ups tegen een laag bankje om uiteindelijk na 5 weken normale push-ups te doen op de grond.

Het blijft lastig, maar het geeft ook veel voldoening.

Vooral het noteren van de kleine stapjes, zodat de groei echt zichtbaar wordt, geeft een sterke boost.

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