Women can't do pullups

2

Replies

  • HypersonicFitNess
    HypersonicFitNess Posts: 1,219 Member
    I can do 5 before doing cheaters.....last I checked I was a woman
  • ZugTheMegasaurus
    ZugTheMegasaurus Posts: 801 Member
    This is such a load of ****. Really? A single study with an incredibly small group of subjects is supposed to be convincing in some way?

    I'll add to the anecdotal evidence here. My mom is a workout badass. A few years ago, she earned the nickname "Diesel" by beating a bunch of misogynistic *kitten* in a one-armed elevated pushups contest. These guys had been harassing her for weeks at the gym about her weightlifting workouts before she got fed up and challenged them. Instant respect. She was 48 at the time; the guys she beat were in their 20s.

    Personal experience, determination, and practice makes the difference. Even if women require more work, it doesn't mean they don't do it every damn day of the week.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    They obviously weren't training these women correctly. A few months of negative chin-ups and I did 3 sets of 2 real ones for the first time last weekend. Pull-ups are next on my to-do list.
  • BelindaDuvessa
    BelindaDuvessa Posts: 1,014 Member
    From the article: "The Marines say a male recruit should be able to do at least 3 pull-ups or chin-ups, but women are not required to do them."

    That doesn't make sense to me. Shouldn't all soldiers, regardless of gender, aim to be strong enough to lift their own body weight? Maybe some women (just like some men) would have to train harder to accomplish this, but it's still doable. I keep picturing some female soldier stuck hanging on to bar in a life-or-death combat situation, having to be rescued by a male soldier. All because she wasn't required to do pullups during training exercises.

    Women are required, instead, to be able to do a flexed arm hang. Trust me, I've been there. They do stress the ability, but it's not a part of their fitness test. The arm hang is supposed to be more tuned to what a woman's body can do, or some such BS. I've seen plenty of ladies who can do pull ups just fine, often times better than their male counter parts. Sadly, I am not one of them, yet.

    However, if you have a smart phone, there is a USMC Fitness App that you can get. It doesn't differentiate between male or female for the requirements. It's a cute little app, but I was surprised when it didn't differentiate between the 2 arm exercises. It just gives me something to work towards.
  • Be_EmbracE
    Be_EmbracE Posts: 1,472 Member
    I would like to train to do pull up.. I can't to it yet :Shy:
  • MariaMariaM
    MariaMariaM Posts: 1,322 Member
    I can do about 10 front grip pull ups and 15 reverse grip pullups/chin ups.

    I guess I am not a women! ;)
  • Cespuglio
    Cespuglio Posts: 385 Member
    I can do one. I just learned how last week so :tongue: to NY Times! Hah!
  • ishtar13
    ishtar13 Posts: 528 Member
    From the article: "The Marines say a male recruit should be able to do at least 3 pull-ups or chin-ups, but women are not required to do them."

    That doesn't make sense to me. Shouldn't all soldiers, regardless of gender, aim to be strong enough to lift their own body weight? Maybe some women (just like some men) would have to train harder to accomplish this, but it's still doable. I keep picturing some female soldier stuck hanging on to bar in a life-or-death combat situation, having to be rescued by a male soldier. All because she wasn't required to do pullups during training exercises.

    a soldier is in the army; a marine is in the marines.

    Just sayin'.
  • julielittlefish
    julielittlefish Posts: 134 Member
    I saw this earlier this week. Clearly the NYT is lacking in badasses on their staff. I watched a woman in full bunker gear go through a WOD yesterday, which included, by the end, a total of pull-ups. She did them all.
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    The unassisted chin up is one of the my favorite pieces of equipment. There is no other exercise which boasts a woman's confidence when she is able to do one on her own without any assistance. Every woman I've seen who accomplishes such has this huge radiant glow about their face.
  • kaiteboo
    kaiteboo Posts: 141 Member
    bumping this for later.
    I currently can do 4 proper pullups, but I would really like to increase that number. Will look at the exercises you posted later :)
  • darleyschroeder
    darleyschroeder Posts: 322
    I've never in my life been able to do a pull up. Even when I was hitting the gym 2 hours a day and could bust out push ups and was very strong I could never do one. I was able to hold my chin up, you know, the baby option of the pull up.

    I've seen women do them, but jeesh, they are grueling.
  • SomeoneSomeplace
    SomeoneSomeplace Posts: 1,094 Member
    I actually can't do them now because I haven't done any sort of upper body work outs in 10 years but back when I did gymnastics, at 13 I could do them easily.
  • Bunnybeesweet
    Bunnybeesweet Posts: 165 Member
    I can! i started working on them at age 40 and on a good day I can do sets of 2 pull-ups and sets of up to 3 chin-ups. on a bad day I jump and just practice negatives.
  • Crazy4Healthy
    Crazy4Healthy Posts: 626 Member
    Those women in those videos are freakin' amazing, especially the first one. I aspire to do pull-ups and have been working on reverse pull-ups to get there. I will make my goal, just gotta keep pushing. :smile:
  • Cait_Sidhe
    Cait_Sidhe Posts: 3,150 Member
    I will someday be able to do this unassisted.
  • Tempe729
    Tempe729 Posts: 270 Member
    I can do pull-ups! (unassisted) :happy:
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I just did 4 unassisted in a row then 4 chins in a row back to back.
  • Verity1111
    Verity1111 Posts: 3,309 Member
    I'm a 6' female. Challenge accepted.
    LOL That was awesome. I bet they'd be like hey hey hey let's not get out of hand now. Lmso. xoxo You lucky one :]
  • Carfoodel
    Carfoodel Posts: 481 Member
    I just got a pullup bar as I am going to start the p90x as soon as I have finished the 30 day shred and I tried to do one and felt so puny - I thought it was just me!

    I had to get the resistance bands - but I am going to just keep on trying until I get there - I thought it was just harder as I hadn't done the correct type of toning combined with my height and the fact that I am still 220 lbs. I am still trying to do proper press ups too, but am improving with planks too to build up my core.

    I honestly thought in my head that anyone fit could do them and it was me just being a weakling - I have a new perspective on it now, thanks.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Apparently :indifferent:
    http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/25/why-women-cant-do-pull-ups/

    These ladies don't agree! Inspiration training
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8O4C64c84uI
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf7rMkAir-w&feature=player_embedded

    And these are the two main exercises IMO you should do if you want to do a pullup
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peKdTXpL6I8

    That should say "most" women. The blogger did make some valid points.
  • 3foldchord
    3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
    One of my goal is to do one freaking pull up
    One is TWO, because one might be just a fluke, but with two I know it's me and not a random miracle.

    Yes, I know females can do chin-upa, pull-ups; but I also know that personally my arms have always been very weak so it will be a lot of work for me to get there, but I will.
  • natalie412
    natalie412 Posts: 1,039 Member
    I can do at least 5 in a set - I credit kettlebell workouts. I don't do them regularly, but if I am outside playing with my son, I'll grab a tree branch and do a few!
  • blushingmama
    blushingmama Posts: 111 Member
    I can't YET.... but I will.

    I'm not offended, plenty of men can't do a single one either.
  • Be_EmbracE
    Be_EmbracE Posts: 1,472 Member
    Yeah!!! Managed to do ONE pull up last nite n hang chin uP for a min yea! Improved.. XD
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    I am fairly certain that women who can do pullups have hidden willies.

    In fact, to support my theory, I present the following for evidence: a woman at my gym can do about 20 of them, but while doing them, she grunts in ways that would put most powerlifters to shame.

    Now, we all know that women don't grunt in the gym, so she must really be a man.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I am fairly certain that women who can do pullups have hidden willies.

    In fact, to support my theory, I present the following for evidence: a woman at my gym can do about 20 of them, but while doing them, she grunts in ways that would put most powerlifters to shame.

    Now, we all know that women don't grunt in the gym, so she must really be a man.

    <
    no hidden pecker!!
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    I am fairly certain that women who can do pullups have hidden willies.

    In fact, to support my theory, I present the following for evidence: a woman at my gym can do about 20 of them, but while doing them, she grunts in ways that would put most powerlifters to shame.

    Now, we all know that women don't grunt in the gym, so she must really be a man.

    <
    no hidden pecker!!

    Dammit...there goes that theory. Hmm...you must be on steroids then, because according to the media, women can't be strong without them, and we all know that newspapers are always right...especially the editorials.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    I am fairly certain that women who can do pullups have hidden willies.

    In fact, to support my theory, I present the following for evidence: a woman at my gym can do about 20 of them, but while doing them, she grunts in ways that would put most powerlifters to shame.

    Now, we all know that women don't grunt in the gym, so she must really be a man.

    The only hidden Willy I have is in my underwear drawer. It's blue and vibrates.
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    Can't do them yet, but being able to do pull-ups is definitely a big reason I started lifting heavy.

    I am able to do actual push-ups now....several in a row. Before, I was stuck using the girlie-modification. But it's amazing how the bench press, deadlift and shoulder press are helping with that :laugh:

    I WILL do some damn pull-ups in the near future. Screw you New York Times!!

Categories