7 Weeks To 100 Push-ups – Review

Title: 7 WEEKS TO 100 PUSH-UPS Author: Steve Speirs

I hadn’t bought a physical fitness book for quite awhile — just haven’t felt the need — but when I came across 7 WEEKS TO 100 PUSH-UPS I was intrigued. I’ve always been about average in the push-up department. I expected I could do 15 or 20, which is pretty good at this late age, and about as good as I’ve ever done. But the thought of doing 100 push-ups, frankly, has some appeal. Most of my family and friends could barely eke out more than six, and I figured that If I could demonstrate the ability to do a hundred I could inspire one or more of them to get into better shape as well. So I picked up a copy.

Click to examine the book

I have to say I was impressed with the first read. I had been wondering how Speirs was going to motivate an average person to get to 100 push-ups in 7 weeks. But he does a good job of working it all out.

The first thing you do after warming up is take a self assessment. Speirs is careful to suggest several warmup exercises to make sure you don’t injure yourself. The self assessment is just to attempt as many push-ups as you can, being sure to do them with good form. Your result determines where you start in the program. He provides a table that helps you chart where you rank based on what you were able to do within your age group.

Armed with that information, you select the correct plan and start out on it. Each plan has you working out only three days a week. As Speirs explains, you need time for your muscles to rebuild after stressing them. But the plans take you step-by-step, day-by-day through the program

The plans will tax your muscles, but they aren’t as bad as you might think. I was afraid they would be grueling, but they actually feel good. At this writing I am about halfway through my program and doing well.

The following is an excerpt from the book jacket:

As a symbol of health and wellness, nothing surpasses the simple push-up. It tests the whole body, engaging muscle groups in the arms, chest, abdomen, hips and legs.” –The New York Times

If you’re ready to massively increase your strength, follow the 7-week program in this book and you’ll soon be able to complete 100 consecutive push-ups! You’ll also transform your fitness, look great and feel even better as you sculpt every muscle from your neck down to your calves.

Offering several custom-designed, day-by-day plans, this book has something for everyone: from beginners embarking on a new workout regimen to athletes looking to enhance their strength training program.

The book is also an excellent treatise on all things push-up related. Speirs shows you a lot of variations on the push-up and discusses the use of the push up in sports and the military. He also includes a slew of testimonials from people who have completed the program and share their experiences. All-in-all, 7 WEEKS TO 100 PUSH-UPS is a good book and an excellent fitness program.

Steve Speirs is a marathon runner, a trainer, a triathlete and fitness enthusiast. He competes in over 30 races a year, and has completed over 20 marathons and an Ironman triathlon.