I was a scrawny little weakling growing up, the wimpy girl in gym class. I was fast, but I was not strong. I always tried to be sick on Presidential Fitness Test day, I hated it with a passion. Its probably the root of my adult performance anxiety. I could not do the dreaded CHIN/PULL UP test! It was embarrassing!
Fast forward 20 some years….I still can not do a single (or even half of one for that matter!) CHIN UP or PULL UP! That is going to change!
This is all I’ve got
Weak!
I introduce LB’s Project Pull Up! This is for all those inner wimpy kids out there that never acquired the upper body strength to hoist their bodies skyward and RISE ABOVE THE BAR! I know I’m not the ONLY ONE…am I??? I challenge those of you who cannot complete a single pull up to join me. And those who can (I’m jealous!)..…you can join in too, or at least mentor us weaklings!
The challenge is to either be able to complete a FULL pull up or chin up (just one is all I’m asking for!) in one month’s time or improve on the number of pull ups you can consecutively do.
Who’s with me? The challenge is on going, you can join at anytime. If you decide to take the challenge, post about it, put up the button, whatever you feel like to spread the word to other wimpies like us.
Some great ways to help build the strength required to do pull ups include:
- Build grip strength by just hanging from the bar for 30 seconds reps
- Dumb bell rows
- Body weight rows
- Assisted pull ups with a chair or machine at the gym
- Negative pull ups
- Flex arm hang
Check out nerdfitness.com for demonstrations on some of these exercises
Send your pull up action shot pictures to jogforjoubertsyndrome@yahoo.com and I will link you in each week with my progress.
Week 1: probably 80% assist with a chair
Good luck, hope you join me!
BTW, I know in one picture I’m doing a chin up (palms facing me) and in the last picture I’m doing a pull up (palms away). Pull ups are supposedly harder, they are both equally challenging for me at this point. I will be starting with chin ups, then hopefully progressing to PULL UPS!
They way pull up bands that help, they basically tie together and wrap around the bar and the bottom of your foot. They help with pull ups, hard to explain
http://rubberbanditz.com/pull-up-bands/
BDD recently posted..My Mother
yeah, ive seen these. i might get one of those. using the chair assist is hard when no one is around to hold it for me. it slides on the hardwood floors. plus i never know how much help im giving myself at any given time. thanks! BTW…how many pullups can you do?
LB @ My Reason to Tri recently posted..Random Friday Facts
I’m in!! I’ve been looking for something new to try!
Just an FYI for anyone who doesn’t have a pull up bar – I use Cathe Friedrich’s Push Pull Tower http://shop.cathe.com/STS_Push_Pull_Tower_p/760.htm
It allows me to sit on the floor and do pull ups that way. However, I haven’t yet successfully done one…. EVER.
Kim recently posted..What’s Up?
yay! glad youre doing the challenge with me! thats a pretty cool piece of equipment!
LB @ My Reason to Tri recently posted..Random Friday Facts
I’ll join in the fun. I just did 2, so my goal is 3. What helps me is carrying a 20+ kid around, push-ups, and assisted pull-ups!
Kiley @ DailyVitaminF recently posted..WINNERS
whoop whoop! thats awesome that you can do 2! im pretty pitiful with pushups too! i need to work on those too! glad youre joining in the fun!
LB @ My Reason to Tri recently posted..Random Friday Facts
Okay, I’ll admit when I saw the title I thought you were going to be talking about some huge accomplishment on the mommy front with potty training!
Do they have a pull up bar at our Y? I don’t have one at home. I’ll guess I can do a chin up but I’m 99.9% sure I can’t do a pull up.
AshleyR recently posted..Lake Logan Aquathlon 2011
haha, we have made leaps in bounds on the potty training front. she is going to school in big girl underwear now!
they do have one of those assist pull up bar things at the Y. i was going to use it yesterday, but was too pooped after my swim/run brick.
LB @ My Reason to Tri recently posted..Random Friday Facts
oh, i so want to be able to do one. i need to figure out this – i mean how to even start……
feener recently posted..post vacation depression
theres a couple blogs i found that have step by step workout plans for beginner pull ups. that one i posted above was a pretty good one. im starting at square one too!
LB @ My Reason to Tri recently posted..Random Friday Facts
This is my goal too! I can *almost* do one. Would probably be closer if we had not been to the beach again which meant missing my personal trainer appt. (I am so not motivated to do strength training solo). I used the bands initially, but have progressed to just a little assist. I wrote about my goal back in mid-July. My son was so able to show me up with his skills….
http://kristanswimbikerun.blogspot.com/2011/07/chin-ups-my-inspiration.html
Kristan recently posted..feeling unprepared
wow! thats pretty good! he makes it look so easy!
LB @ My Reason to Tri recently posted..Random Friday Facts
Sold! I can hold a plank forevs, I can hold the flexed arm hang for as long as you like…but I CANNOT do a pull up to save my life! I’ll head out this weekend to find a pull up bar. You’ve got me excited about this challenge!!!
yay! im glad youre joining us! im beginning to think there is some genetic code that we are missing….the pull up gene haha!
LB @ My Reason to Tri recently posted..Random Friday Facts
So glad I am not the only one with horrible upper body strength. I remember getting an F in PE once because I couldn’t do even 5 pull ups. : /
5!!!! wow, thats a lot!!! i would have gotten an F-
I feel like i have decent upper body strength, but dont understand why i cant do a pull up!
LB @ My Reason to Tri recently posted..Random Friday Facts
pullups are hard! I think I can do 3. oof.
you are my hero…in the pool and now on the pull up bar!
LB @ My Reason to Tri recently posted..Random Friday Facts
I’m in!! There is now a pull-up bar in my house and I’m going to use it for this challenge!
Posting your challenge button on my blog, too
goodie!!! glad youre joining us! thanks for posting the button on your blog too!!!
LB @ My Reason to Tri recently posted..Random Friday Facts
Well, at least you look hawt doing it!! I have one of the pull up deals and should totally join this!
Jess @ Blonde Ponytail recently posted.."Bradley" Owned Us
yes you totally should do it!!!!! you rocked the push up challenge, i know you can bust this one up!
and if i cant do the exercises, i will at least look good trying!
LB @ My Reason to Tri recently posted..Random Friday Facts
Yipes…..okay okay okay, I’m in. I’ve NEVER been able to do even a half of one. I can’t even do the monkey bars!! That was SUPER embarrassing at recess. Watching all those monkey-like boys do it….lol. Okay, THIS IS FOR THE MONKEY BARS!
haha! i wasnt very good at monkey bars either. we are totally going to ROCK this challenge!
LB @ My Reason to Tri recently posted..Random Friday Facts
Your stomach is awesome.
Your back is awesome.
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Yes, I know I’m ridiculously behind on blogs. Determined to catch up. Sooooooo… When I opened this, I was sure it was about potty training. Bwahahaha! My arms are so wimpy. I’ve never been able to do a pull up. Really should work on that.
Lesley @ RacingItOff recently posted..One of Those Days…
wow! Would probably be closer if we had not been to the beach again which meant missing my personal trainer appt. Yes, I know I’m ridiculously behind on blogs. thats a pretty cool piece of equipment!
Lindsay Ortega recently posted..Arthritis Tips
I’ve NEVER been able to do even a half of one. Well, at least you look hawt doing it!!
Magdalena Miller recently posted..Many Cures
haha! EVER. and if i cant do the exercises, i will at least look good trying!
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