By Kevin Wu — Not strong. Tried to get strong. Learned that more is not always better.
Last updated: May 2026
I saw a video online. A fitness guy said: “Do 100 push-ups a day for 30 days. You will transform your body.”
I thought: I can do that. I could not do that.
Day one, I did 100 push-ups. Not in a row. In sets. Ten here. Ten there. By the end of the day, my arms were tired. I felt proud.
Day two, I woke up sore. My chest hurt. My shoulders hurt. I did 100 more. Slower. Harder. But I finished.
Day three, I could not do one. Not one. My arms shook. I lowered myself halfway and collapsed. I tried again. Same thing. My muscles were not tired. They were done.
I took a rest day. Then another. By day five, I could do push-ups again. But I did not do 100. I did 30. Then I stopped.
That video was wrong. Not about push-ups. About rest.
What I Learned
More is not always better.
100 push-ups a day sounds impressive. It is also a good way to hurt yourself. Muscles need time to repair. They grow when you rest, not when you work.
Recovery is part of training.
I used to think rest days were for lazy people. Now I think they are for smart people. Your body is not a machine. It needs a break.
One video does not know your body.
That fitness guy was probably younger than me. Or stronger. Or on something. Or just different. His body is not my body.
What Happened to My Push-Ups
| Day | Push-Ups | How I Felt |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 | Tired but proud |
| 2 | 100 | Sore. Struggled. |
| 3 | 0 | Could not do one. |
| 4 | 0 | Still sore. |
| 5 | 30 | Weak. Humbled. |
| 6 | 20 | Took it easy. |
| Week 2 | 30–50 per day | More consistent. Less sore. |
I did not transform my body. But I learned how to listen to it.
What I Am Not Saying
I am not saying 100 push-ups a day is impossible. Some people can do it. I am not one of them.
I am not saying you should not challenge yourself. Push yourself. Just also rest.
I am just saying: I tried to follow a video. My body said no. I should have listened sooner.
A Few Things I Learned About Fitness Content Online
No one posts their bad days.
The video showed the guy on day 30, looking fit. It did not show the days he was tired. The days he almost quit. The days he was sore.
“Works for me” does not mean “works for you.”
Everyone is different. Age. Genetics. Recovery ability. Injury history. Someone else’s routine might break you.
Rest days are not failure.
I thought taking a rest day meant I was weak. Now I know: pushing through when your body is broken is not strength. It is stupidity.
What I Do Now
I still do push-ups. Not 100 a day. Three times a week. 20 or 30. That is enough.
On the other days, I rest. Or walk. Or do nothing.
My arms are not bigger. But they do not hurt anymore. That is progress.
The Bottom Line
I tried to do 100 push-ups a day. My arms gave up on day three.
That video was not lying. It just was not for me.
Now I do less. I rest more. I feel better.
More is not always better. Sometimes less is enough.
About the author: Kevin Wu cannot do 100 push-ups in a day. He can do 30. That is fine.
This article reflects personal experience. Rest is not weakness. Listen to your body.
