Inspiration comes in many forms.  One of my favorite forms is Ren.

Ren is way smart.  And I’m way lucky.  Between the two of us, I’m pretty sure we’re going to figure out a way to solve the world’s energy problems.  Or maybe I’ll make a lot of money when he solves the problem.  Something like that.

There’s an ability Ren has of being able to discuss a subject devoid of annoying emotions that get in the way of logic, without coming across as if he’s Spock or Sheldon Cooper.  In fact, probably what makes Ren most endearing to me is his ability to not get annoyed.  That’s probably why we’ve been able to be friends so long.

A number of years ago, he impressed me by losing some weight when we worked together.  I ended up finding the weight he lost and now I’m ready to lose it.  Recently, Ren blogged about the one hundred pushups plan.  This is how he went from “impressed me” to “inspired me” in the fitness category.

I’ve now started the program.

The plan is a 6-week regimen of being able to do one hundred consecutive pushups. you do an initial test (where you max out how many you can do) and then choose three days a week to do a few sets.  It starts out easy enough, so it should be within reach of anyone.

My first suggestion, for those of you planning on trying this, have at least a full day between the initial test and your first day of the plan.  I did my initial test Sunday and chose Mon-Wed-Fri as my 3 days.  Of course, my abs and arms hurt like heck Monday afternoon when I tried the first set.

Also, since I play pool on Wednesdays, I figured out too late that it’s not a good day to actually do a lot of strenuous upper body work.  Therefore, I’m switching to Tue-Thu-Sat for my chosen days.

So far, I’m of two minds – on the one hand, I’m elated at the pumped up feeling my arms have after the first real set (Day 1).  I’ve been through Army Basic Training and I’ve also worked with personal trainers three different times in my life at a gym, so it’s not like this is an alien feeling.  I’m a little high from actually having my body be happy for being used up a little.  It truly is an uplifting feeling, if you forgive the pun.

On the other hand, I’m a little shamed at how bad I’ve let myself get, both weight-wise and physical strength-wise.  Some of it is that I have a 20 year High School reunion coming up.  Some of it is how big I look in pictures or the mirror.  Some of it is a nagging suspicion that it’ll only get harder as I get older, and I’d better grab that steer by the horns now if I’m going to make this analogy work in my favor.

If I have success, I’ll share some incredible before and after pictures

PS: thanx for the inspiration, Ren!