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Sub for wide grip chins and sissy squat?

JessicaR Posts: 467 Joined: 2002/08/12	2002/08/14, 01:48 PM I'm new to ft, 29yo female, have been working out for five or six months at home with dumbells only and just signed up for the Lean and Tone program. Since my equipment (and my budget LOL) is really limited, I'm looking for a substitute for the wide grip chins, or a way to rig up a chin bar at home cheaply. Any ideas? Also the first program I signed for was Progressive Gains (switched to L and T), and the first assigned leg exercise was a sissy squat. I'd never done this exercise and when I tried it I felt a real strain on my knees. OWWWWWW! Would a standard squat with weights be an okay modification if that shows up on my L and T schedule or is there a better substitute? My knees aren't the best but can handle squats, lunges, etc so I hate to mark them in the injury section - I need all the thigh and glute options I can manage. LOL I've been lurking around here for a few days and I'm really impressed with this forum! Lots of nice, helpful people of all fitness levels, which is exactly what I was looking for. I'm really looking forward to learning from all of you.
mikencharleston Posts: 1,585 Joined: 2002/01/09	2002/08/14, 02:02 PM Hey Jessica - you can rig a chin up bar pretty cheaply in a doorway (assuming you have one you won't mind putting some screws in) by getting some galvanized pipe from the hardware store. They'll also point you to a bracket to hold it. If you don't want to tell them why - just tell 'em you're going to hang some winter coats. :) For your quads - substitute what you're able to do. Stay away from the ones that cause you pain - regardless of your fitness level.
rpacheco Posts: 3,770 Joined: 2001/12/13	2002/08/14, 02:07 PM You can find chin up bars at your local park or school playground...for free. As far as sissy squats, I agree with Mike that you should stick with the exercises that don't cause pain. There are many forms of squats...I personally don't like sissy squats. -------------- **_Robert_** Pain is temporary; glory is forever!
JessicaR Posts: 467 Joined: 2002/08/12	2002/08/14, 02:32 PM Thanks for the quick response, guys... I just realized I can do chinups on my laundry pole in the backyard but I'm not sure how long that old hunk of rust will hold up. LOL I actually have done them before at the playground with my daughter, so that's an option, too. I'll have to talk to my hb about installing a bar in a doorway. Sounds like the best option to me but I'm only about five feet tall so my bar would probably hit him about mid-forehead. :) Taking your advice on the sissy squats; right now my knees are passable and I'd like to keem them that way! Thanks again.
BRETTO Posts: 201 Joined: 2002/05/25	2002/08/14, 02:59 PM Most chin-up bars for a doorway, like at Wal-mart, are too narrow for an exercise like wide-grip chin-ups because they are made to fit within the width of a typical doorway, of course. But recently I saw a really cool bar that extends forward slightly (into the room) and then extends outward to make it wide. It was for sale at a "fitness store"...ya know, one of those places that sells heavy exercise equipment. I think it was about $25.00. You might also want to try Academy if you can't find one of those specialty stores near you. Good luck! :0)
JessicaR Posts: 467 Joined: 2002/08/12	2002/08/14, 05:14 PM Great, thanks, Bretto. I think I can swing $25, that's not too bad. At this point I really can't do many overhand style pullups so it will be a challenge. :)
BRETTO Posts: 201 Joined: 2002/05/25	2002/08/14, 06:44 PM Attention everyone. Don't take too much advice from Bretto. I thought sissy sqats were those times when I sit down to pee because I'm too tired to stand! LOL :0) Sorry...don't mean to be too crude. :0)
Suzis43 Posts: 17 Joined: 2002/08/05	2002/08/14, 06:46 PM Bwahahaha...speaking of sitting to pee, you outta see us wimmin's thigh muscles from squatting over a public toilet!
JessicaR Posts: 467 Joined: 2002/08/12	2002/08/14, 06:59 PM LOL Suz... I've been wondering for a while... why spend so much time on those darned inner thighs??? Thanks for clearing that up for me... :) LOL Now I can enter a public restroom with confidence! ============ Quoting from Suzis43: Bwahahaha...speaking of sitting to pee, you outta see us wimmin's thigh muscles from squatting over a public toilet! =============
roni0906 Posts: 1,008 Joined: 2002/01/24	2002/08/15, 05:29 AM Try squatting to pee in Okinawa. The toilets are on the floor like a whole in the ground so you gotta get really low. Man, when I was pregnant I thought I would fall in the damn toilets over here. -------------- Lisa
BRETTO Posts: 201 Joined: 2002/05/25	2002/08/15, 10:51 AM lol! lol! lol!
JessicaR Posts: 467 Joined: 2002/08/12	2002/08/15, 03:59 PM Oh yes, I'm familiar with those after spending a month or so in southern Africa... personally I'd rather take a leak in the grass. :) Also a nice, low squat. LOL My thighs got a real workout that summer. :)
bull32 Posts: 4 Joined: 2002/08/17	2002/08/19, 06:45 PM Hi all
Lumina20 Posts: 966 Joined: 2001/10/31	2002/08/19, 07:51 PM um, hi there!