To the Nutrisystem Perfect Pushup team leader Tom – like the motivation and particularly like the detailed e-mail – thanks.
To your points:
a. The “0” level (i.e. can’t do a pushup starting workout) is 4, 3, 2, 1 on your knees – if this phrase “*on your knees” or “*knee pushups” isn’t written under the numbers 4,3,2,1 then you have a faulty chart – let me know ASAP [at mystory@perfectpushup.com] and I’ll get you another one – also, check out perfectpushup.com/workouts and you’ll find the correctly stated workout for the starting level of “0” – to perform proper knee pushups see the chart.
b. The “10” level on the chart does ask you to do a total of 20 pushups – what gives? Great question – here’s why – the idea is to get you to do 80% of your max on the first rep – after that, I want you to exhaust your muscles to force you to your knees. Everyone thinks that Pushups only count if your knees don’t touch the ground – NEGATIVE – this rule only applies when you’re conducting your one set Max. The concept is to push your muscles to total exhaustion and to get you to total exhaustion I use time and twice your max number of repetitions to compel you to go to your knees.
If you’re not ending the last sets of your pushups on your knees then you’re not pushing yourself, and if you’re not pushing yourself then you won’t get maximum gains, and if you don’t get gains then sooner or later you’ll give up – and that’s the last thing I want anyone to do. I realize this is a fine line – make it too hard and the workout will scare folks off – make it too easy it’ll they complain that they are not getting the results they deserve. Coming from SEAL Team, I’ll err on the side of making things harder – I know level “50” gives you only 4 seconds of rest – but that’s the point – I don’t want level “50” to be easily achieved – it can be done, but it takes time and a whole lot of practice on your knees!
c. All this said, if you feel I haven’t stated the importance of conducting your final sets of pushups on your knees then I will definitely edit the chart to articulate it more clearly – it’s this kind of feedback that helps us help teammates all over the world better themselves, and this is exactly why I started this company – thanks for the feedback – you’ll be receiving our latest Power 10 Advanced DVD and Workout cards (these about to go to print so you’ll get’em in about 6 wks) - keep the feedback coming!
CHARLIE MIKE – ALDEN
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Nutrisystem Team Leader: keep those questions coming!
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6 comments:
I had no idea this was the case. So if I'm doing a "20" level workout (14, 10, 6), that means my kness are meant to touch the ground after 14 pushups? All this time I was trying my best to keep my knees above the ground. I'm now wondering, what about during the chair workouts? My body'd collapse before my knees can touch the ground.
Eugene, it's at the point of failure that you build back up and improve. Don't go to your knees unless you have to. Don't take your feet off the chair unless you fail. Your body won't collapse. Look again at the note on the chart about positioning your feet. It took me a while to understand the program, too. The chart is laid out well, but what's happened is that you are struggling WITHIN your level (me too, by the way!). THAT IS A GOOD THING. People have a basic misunderstanding that because the device seems so simple, and the models in the pictures and the videos are so buff, and the chart has this really easy math organized in a grid - heck - I'm gonna be Arnold Schwarzenegger in a few weeks!! Negative. Keep at it, bro. I'm right there with you.
I didn't realize that I was to work out and finish on my knees as well. I thought the knees were to get you going if you weren't able to reach the required number. I'm 60 and was having trouble moving past the level I was on. This gives me a better understanding, Thanks!
The "Two Minute Drill" is an interesting key to the program, and it will definitely force you to your knees.
The fact that you can space the entire workout over the course of the day is another interesting component.
There is no doubt that all of this is scientifically sound, though. The folks at BodyRev are exercise geniuses.
Not to belabor the point, but "Get Fired Up!" is also an important component of the workout.
Not rocket science, but worth noting - hence its appearance on the chart at Day 21.
You don't really do anything on day 21 though, except feel good and get "fired up".
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