Chin-ups - have never done one in my whole life - will I eve

SolidGoaled
SolidGoaled Posts: 504 Member
edited October 6 in Fitness and Exercise
I just reviewed vid 1 of P90X and I see it involves pull-ups. I know I can modify by using a chair - but I just wonder, will I ever be able to do one normally? Never in my whole life, at all the different weights or levels of fitness I"ve been, have I EVER been able to do a chin-up. Not even ONE.

Is it actually possible to go from that, to being able to do a few? It just seems crazy impossible. Are some people just physically incapable due to their body makeup? (I am tall and just don't have any strength in my arms.) I know I can add strength, but that won't change my lonnnnggg heavy body that I"m trying to pull up. LOL!

Replies

  • soymilkcoffee
    soymilkcoffee Posts: 171
    I feel you. I have never been able to do pull ups either. When I was kid, I was never able to go on the monkey bars. I kind of accepted that I won't be able to do pull ups and I'm okay with it. :P That's why I do Insanity (which doesn't require any equipment... or pull ups) and not P90X.
  • loved11
    loved11 Posts: 92 Member
    i could not do one pull up when i started p90. i felt just like you do now. Last week i could do 7 pull ups on my own with out the chair!!! it was awesome!!! I started off with the bands until I had more confidence, you can try that also. Sometimes its better to start there if you have not been doing any lifting. pull ups with the bar used to hurt my elbows, so i went back to bands for a bit and then when i was stronger i went back to the bar. You WILL see results with p90. just press play!!!!!!!! Nothing is impossible!!!!
  • Avalonis
    Avalonis Posts: 1,540 Member
    When I was a kid (teens), I could do 20+ chinups straight.

    By the time I graduated college, I couldn't jump up to grab the pullup bar, let alone do any pullups or chinups. It was very discouraging not being able to do chinups for a long time when I first started out, and then all of a sudden I realized I was able to do 3, 4, or even more. I'm up to somewhere around 12 now, but could probably push myself to go farther.

    You'll get there. It sneaks up on you. Do assisted chinups until you build some muscle, before long you'll be punching them out.
  • NotGoddess
    NotGoddess Posts: 1,198 Member
    I was unable to do any in August. End of November I was finally able to do 1 unassisted (no jumping to the bar, bands etc). You can do it-you just have to be willing to work for it.
  • slacker80
    slacker80 Posts: 235 Member
    Yes you will If you want to.

    One common mistake is trying to pull yourself up using your biceps. The focus must be taken completely off the biceps, and placed instead on nothing but back. Your back muscles are much larger, than just your biceps. one must invision the arms as nothing but a pair of "Meat Hooks" they're just there to hold you in place, but use your back to pull yourself. Super big difference.

    Over a year ago I would be lucky if I could do at least 2 pullups. Instead I used the lat pull down bar. Someone than told me that I should get off the pull down bar and just do what I can with my own body weight. It was some of the best advice as just yesterday I was strapping on an additional 25 lbs just to get a good set in of 15 fully stretched pullups.

    Your lats can still build substantially without the use of a pullup bar, because there are so many ways to attack your lattimus Dorsi (largest back muscle) . enough home exercises, healthy nutrition, and great effort will get you to your goal. The day you do your pullups you'll be shocked.

    Another tip....If your doing chinups (overhand position), PLACE YOUR THUMB OVER THE BAR along with the rest of your fingers, and don't wrap it around the bar. there will be much less stress and fatigue in the wrist and forearms, and also helps take effort away from biceps, that may tire you out quick.
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