Operation Push-Up
Background
If you know me, you know I exercise pretty often. I rotate between tennis, running, Bodycombat and other classes at the gym. I would estimate that I do strength training classes once per week.
But even with all this great work, I was constantly frustrated by the fact that I was not able to do even one proper push-up. Where was all that muscle tone and strength I was building? Why was this basic exercise beyond my capabilities? And, interestingly, in looking around a class, almost 100% of women were doing modified push-ups. I would try a proper one from time to time, but always ended up back on my knees. Sigh.
This frustration came to a head in January 2022. After class one day, I asked the instructor if it was safer to remain on my knees, or if it was better to attempt a proper push-up but have poor form? She recommended the former. It was then that she offered to help me and so I made it my goal to learn how to do one proper push-up. Operation Push-Up was officially launched!
Operation Push-Up Attributes
Myopic commitment to this one specific gym-related task.
Accountability in the form of eight sessions with a personal trainer just to help me build enough strength to do a push-up.
Sharing my goal with many people.
Giving it an official name.
Practicing my push-ups every single day for several months.
Each time I felt that I couldn't do even one more, I forced myself to do two more.
Outcome