Being a sedentary computer programmer through the day is not conducive to a Brad Pitt body. In fact, it's pretty hard to be anything but fat when you're a programmer. It's something I know, I've fought before, but now I'm trying something new.

My girlfriend and I try to walk at least 2 miles a night, usually managing it 3-4 times a week. Nothing heavy yet, just a comfortable stroll mostly. We're working up to a more cardio-intensive pace. But along with that I've disliked my lack of strength. I'm a big guy and at one time I played football and rowed for my High School. So now I'm embarking on a new challenge.

It started with a video from Mike Rowe about his 'Prison Workout' - see below:


I've known what burpees were, we did them for football and I recall just how difficult they can be. So I began toying with how to best utilize them in my own workout. That's when I found this awesome idea: The 100 Burpee challenge!

The thing about burpees are that they're an amazing workout. They cover a wide range of muscles in your body, utilizing the pushup for upper body strength. It works your abs as you kick your legs out and pull them back in. And it works your legs with the upward leap. And if you do them back to back it become a great cardio workout as well.

The challenge is obviously doing this exercise, but on top of that this is an increasing series. Today you start with 1 burpee. Tomorrow is 2 burpees. Then 3. 4. Five. Six... Ten... Twenty... and on all the way to 100. I'm on day seven and my shoulders are sore from the pushup in each burpee. It's not used to this abuse! I keep thinking, "I could take one day off. I could rest my poor shoulders..." but I fear falling off the wagon. Losing my momentum. Returning to my unmotivated self.

So I'm going to keep pushing through. And I'll post back when I have my 100 burpee day to let you know how it's gone.