Those of us baby boomers taking charge of our personal fitness surely remember our high school gym instructor. I know I do. What was then a much hated individual, now is much revered for her views of personal fitness. I remember her most salient statement, a saying that has stayed with me for over forty years.

The statement goes something like this, “girls, exercise is not about making the team, it’s about allowing us to do what we want for the rest of our lives.” That is, the efficient functioning of our bodies is the basis for everything we do, wish for, and achieve.

Among the myriad of exercises we endured in gym class, the push-up was promoted as being the ultimate barometer of fitness. It tested the whole body, engaging muscle groups in the arms, chest, abdomen, back, hips and legs. It required the body to be held tight in a (near) horizontal position, with toes and palms the only parts to touch the floor. The act of lifting and lowering our entire weight was taxing even for the most physically fit of us.

I for one have always hated doing push-ups. But recently, with the aid of this table, working on the number of consecutive push-ups has help me determine my level of fitness.

Give push-ups a try. Once you see a modicum of success, you too may be hooked on this one, simple-yet-effective exercise.

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