Push-ups and sit-ups is the foundation for a basic calisthenics routine for many people. These two exercises help to develop and strengthen the core, arms, chest, and back. The general thinking on sit-ups is that they can be done every day of the week because this type of training is more along the lines of developing flexibility than strength training and doesn’t require as much time to recover (https://www.outsideonline.com/1769271/should-you-do-push-ups-and-sit-ups-every-day). In addition to the core development, doing sit-ups regularly can help improve balance, posture, and diaphamatic strength, while also reducing back, hip, and pain and stiffness (https://www.healthline.com/health/sit-ups-benefits). Push-ups, on the other hand, also help develop strength in the lower back and posture, while building the arm muscles and protecting the shoulder as push ups call upon stabilizing muscles, which surround the rotator cuff joint, this area of the body is strengthened and conditioned for dynamic movements (https://www.keepinspiring.me/10-massive-benefits-of-push-ups/). Push-ups and sit-ups, because of their bodyweight focus, don’t overload the muscle groups with hypertrophy and can be done nearly every day without needing to skip a day before doing the same exercise again.
Day 25:
Not being active all day as we journey the country makes doing the sets at night that much more difficult. It was the last thing I did before bedtime and my husband was shocked that I was still going to do them that late. It feels like I’m regressing when this happens, as I have to go back to doing the 15/10 split of the pushups with elbows tucked in, and the sit-ups look more like crunches.
Day 27:
I did another set of 35 with elbows out and 15 elbows in. My ability to do sit-ups has only slightly improved, but I am able to complete the entire thing in only a few minutes, when it would take me 5-8 before.
Day 28:
Maybe it was the fact that we traveled all day by car, or that I tasted tequila in Tequila, but the 50/50 were so difficult tonight. I had to go back to the basics of simply doing 15, then stopping, then doing 10, and repeating. I also wonder if it's because my muscles need to rest, and the mount of pushups without recovery is doing the opposite of what I would like it to do. At one point I just sat on the floor, looked at my watch (with only a few minutes to go before midnight) and thought, "damn, I thought this would be so much easier by now."
Day 30:
Being the last official day of 50/50, I decided to try to step it up a bit and try doing as many pushups as I could. I made 40, elbows out, without stopping. Sit-ups are still difficult, sadly, but I think that this is simply because I am not as well rested as I should be after all of the traveling that we have been doing.
Conclusions
This was quite a challenge for me, especially as the month wore on and I went on vacation. I think this is an effective routine to continue going forward, but I also know that my muscles will need recovery time in the future in order to adapt and become stronger. To be able to stick with this going forward, which is something I would like to do, I think it may be wise to combine this routine with other exercises and do them in the morning before the day starts. I also feel like my motivation in doing so many things is waning as the winter creeps on and the days get shorter, so this was an interesting motivator to keep moving while I felt lazy. The exercises didn't get easier as the month went on, but I do feel like I got slightly better at doing them. I bet they would become both easier and I would do better at them if I were to give my body some rest between days. I will try to make a plan in the next month to keep doing these and add other things to the mix.
Slow Cooker Loaded Potatoes
INGREDIENTS
Cooking spray
2 lb. baby potatoes, halved and quartered if large
2 cups of shredded Cheddar
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
12 slices bacon, cooked in the oven
1/4 cup sliced green onions, plus more for garnish
1 tbsp. paprika
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
How to Cook It Up:
This is an easy recipe with the slow cooker.
1. Add half the potatoes, 1 1/4 cups cheese, half the garlic, 1/3 of the cooked bacon, half the green onions, and half the paprika. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Repeat, layering the ingredients.
3. Cover and cook on high until potatoes are tender, 5 to 6 hours. (The bigger your potatoes, the longer they'll need.)
4. About 20 to 30 minutes before serving, top with remaining cheese and bacon to make the food even more appetizing looking.
5.Garnish with more green onions before serving.
Enjoy!