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I thought I was doing well

fsdsk Posts: 959 Joined: 2003/11/30	2004/02/09, 08:03 AM Until I had Chin-ups added to my routine - what a nightmare. Needless to say, I did not come close to achieving my rep goal. What excercises will help me build up to being able to do more than a few chin-ups at a time?
jcannuck Posts: 210 Joined: 2004/01/31	2004/02/09, 09:01 AM Do you have access to an assisted chin-up machine? It's kind of hard to explain, and they are not found everywhere, but it gives you a mechanical advantage that you can adjust as you progress. You might also recognize it as an assisted dips machine. Of course, you can always use a lat machine and change your grip.
	2004/02/09, 10:26 AM If you don't have the chin assist..... I have been able to add about 1 chin per month to my weekly 4 sets. It is a slow but very satisfying process. Its the exercise I am most proud of. I am up to sets of 5 or 6. -------------- Some times life is like herding cats. Charlie
hecdarec Posts: 2,457 Joined: 2003/12/16	2004/02/09, 11:01 AM I have founf that the best way to improve my chin ups is to chin up. The first time can demotivate you. Keep doing them, you will reach your goals. -------------- Hec da Rec in full effect.
mmaibohm Posts: 1,621 Joined: 2003/09/30	2004/02/09, 11:15 AM I cant even do 1 chin up but of course I weigh 365 lol -------------- I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it is gone past me I will turn to see fear's path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain
fsdsk Posts: 959 Joined: 2003/11/30	2004/02/09, 11:47 AM Thanks guys!
bb1fit Posts: 11,105 Joined: 2001/06/30	2004/02/09, 07:07 PM fsdsk...do chinup each and every time you go to the gym. Have a partner if you have one assist you by you having your feet crossed, and him/her giving you gentle assists as needed. Chins are something you can do each day, and especially being weak in them you want to use a technique called "priority training". You will not overtrain, but in fact get stronger. Use a variety of hand positions, underhand, overhand, shoulder width, wide, etc. with assist. Then add if you have a chain belt in your gym a 5 or 10lb. dumbbell around your waist, and use the same assist. Do this for a while, then do them one day without the weight, and you will be surprised how easy they are now with just bodyweight, as your muscles adapted to the extra "load" of the weight around your waist. Good luck, hope this helps. -------------- If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything....
Carivan Posts: 8,542 Joined: 2002/01/20	2004/02/09, 09:02 PM Keep doing them. You will see the reps increase over time, then come back and read these posts! Good Luck. -------------- "A will finds a way" Ivan Montreal Canada
Shakkai Posts: 142 Joined: 2003/12/05	2004/02/10, 09:49 AM I have been watching these posts and getting more confidence to try chin-ups again even though I know I will be defeated. ... I've always hated chin-ups because no matter how in shape I am, I could only do a few chin ups and can probably not even do 1 now. Thanks for the response bb1 and I hope to start trying them again. -------------- Look Life in the Face
asimmer Posts: 8,201 Joined: 2003/01/07	2004/02/10, 11:25 AM You can also do modified chin-ups and pull-ups on the smith machine, sett he bar so you can lie facing up with your heels touching the ground out in front of the stand (does that kind of make sense?) and grab the bar and do pull-ups with your body/core nice and tight, heels still on the ground, work up to higher bar positions and eventualyy to off-the-floor. It sounds kind of odd, but it helps build the back and shoulder coordination required and the specific strength required. -------------- "To be able to go to the gym and train hard is a joy and a privelege, even though the hard work necessitates driving yourself through considerable discomfort. Savor this privelege and blessing, and revel in it." Stuart McRobert, Beyond Brawn
Shakkai Posts: 142 Joined: 2003/12/05	2004/02/10, 11:39 AM Amy, if I had access to a gym, I'd be all over it... for me, it'll be chin-ups on the park swing set. haha -------------- Look Life in the Face
cobra93 Posts: 131 Joined: 2003/10/20	2004/02/10, 11:42 AM Chin-ups are EVIL! ha ha ha I say this because I just added them as well. I've never been so sore for so long in my life!!! All I can say is thank goodness for the chin-assist! One day I will be able to do them without assistance!!!
azredhead57 Posts: 1,651 Joined: 2003/04/11	2004/02/10, 04:02 PM Hey thanks Amy for that tip. My husband has been wondering what he could do to strengthen the muscles needed to do chins when he gets back. He has no lat machine or anything strong enough to hang from. I will tell him about this one. -------------- ~Victoria~ ...Do not be discouraged; everyone who got where he is, started where he was.--anon ...There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.--Beverly Sills
myoung6470 Posts: 75 Joined: 2003/10/30	2004/02/28, 04:16 PM I'm very grateful to Anglesnow for pointing this thread out to me. I also thought that I was making really good progress until I had to start doing chin ups. Thanks for all of the great advice everyone! -------------- Happy trails, Mike Young \"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.\" — Aristotle
ssminnow Posts: 284 Joined: 2004/02/16	2004/03/01, 08:07 AM I use something similar to this at home: http://www.megafitness.com/doorway-chin-up-bar-system.html?AID=10283340&PID=1415155 It's great because it allows for different hand positions. Also, it mounts right on the door molding and no installation required. My brother in law is 250 lbs and hangs on it with no problem. For a spot, I use a milk crate to help myself with those last few reps.
	2004/03/01, 10:55 AM I have made good progress following BB1's suggestion above. I do the chins after every workout. I did Amys suggestion prior to being able to do chin up 1. -------------- Some times life is like herding cats. Charlie