A 35-year-old father and influencer, known as “The Push Up Guy,” has accomplished his ambitious goal of completing 1 million push-ups. He meticulously documented his decade-long fitness journey on Instagram and TikTok, inspiring thousands along the way.
Kevin Cullum, the man behind the moniker, began tracking his push-ups in 2015 after being inspired by a coworker’s fitness goals. In 2017, he launched his Instagram account, @1_millionpushups, to share his progress and motivate others.
Cullum’s Instagram now boasts over 131,000 followers who engage with his inspirational messages, fitness tips, and encouraging posts. His TikTok account has also garnered a significant following of over 58,000, with his most popular video reaching 1.6 million views. Cullum’s mission is clear: “trying to really motivate and inspire and pump people up and to go after big things in their own lives.”
On December 29th, Cullum achieved his monumental goal, completing his 1 millionth push-up alongside his son, with his wife capturing the moment on video. With just 10 push-ups remaining, he delivered a heartfelt speech thanking his family and encouraging anyone listening to “accomplish whatever you want in life.”
In a moving Instagram caption accompanying the video, Cullum shared his motivation: “I love my two kids and my baby on the way. Much of the reason I did this was because I lack many skills and smarts in life, but I wanted to show that you can accomplish anything if you work hard enough for a long enough period of time.” He concluded with a powerful message: “Do not quit. Do not surrender. Keep pushing forward, and you will get to where you want to be.”
Cullum initially aimed to break the world record for the most push-ups in an hour. While that goal shifted, he embraced the challenge of 1 million push-ups, viewing it as a metaphor for achieving long-term goals through consistent effort.
“If you just stick with something for a long enough period of time, you can accomplish massive things,” he stated. Cullum’s message resonates far beyond fitness, extending to personal growth and perseverance.
Beyond push-ups, Cullum openly discusses his struggles with anxiety, highlighting how his fitness pursuit reminds him of his own inner strength and control. He sees push-ups as a vehicle for conveying impactful messages: “The belief inside me was always there, that maybe this can impact someone, maybe this can inspire somebody to go after whatever it is that they want in their life, because we only have one life.”
Cullum’s journey proves that dedication and perseverance can lead to extraordinary achievements, inspiring others to pursue their own ambitions, no matter how challenging they may seem. His story is a testament to the power of setting goals and committing to them, one push-up at a time.
