My Chin Up Plan (Adapting Exercises for Gym)

I've been working on chin up preparation exercises again. I used to be able to do 3 chin ups in a row in 2008. Currently, I can't do any--but I'm really close! So I'm working back up to them.

A chin up is like a pull up but with a hand grip that faces toward you. It's the "easier" of the two--but it sure isn't easy. So what is my exact problem right now? This is a simple body mechanics issue. I am not strong enough to lift up my body weight. Either that means: 1) I weigh too much; or 2) I'm not strong enough. Or it can be a combination, which I believe is my personal answer.

So how am I planning to achieve the elusive chin up? Well, I plan to lose 10 more pounds, which is 10 less pounds to lift during a chin up. And I also plan to get my back and arms much stronger. When both of those things happen, "lift" happens and chin ups appear.

I actually have been working on my chin up project for quite a while, but the plan was not working well enough. My back and arms were not getting sufficiently stronger. So I went to youtube.com for a new plan.

Here it is:

Now, if you review the first exercise in this video, it is standing on a chair to get into the top position of a chin up and then using your arm and back muscles to very slowly let yourself down out of a chin up position. Over and over, repeatedly.

So I went to the gym on Sunday with the plan of doing that first exercise. Things at the gym aren't the same as the video. I found a stool to use but I could not put it behind my bar because the bar was too close to the mirrored wall of the gym. So I put the stool entirely in front of bar. I then had to lean back and duck my head to get into position to do this exercise. And then when I did do it, because of the stool's strange positioning in front of me, I realized that I'd have to do the exercise with my legs bent up so that I could lower myself for the full range of motion down until my feet (at the end of those bent uplifted legs) hit the stool.

This adaptation worked. I did it over and over, probably 25 times. Some weightlifter guys came over and admired my "work ethic." Of course, I said complements back because they worked hard too. Well, it really didn't seem like such a bad exercise. It felt easier than I had imagined.

But today, two mornings later, my back, biceps, triceps, muscles in the arm pit area, and forearms are sore! Whoa, that must have been some great exercising because I'm sure feeling it now!  And friends, that was the plan, right? I'm quite happy about it. :D

So I hope this post encourages you to try to adapt new exercises at the gym. It's fun and most of them can be adapted with a little patience and some trial and error. And you get compliments from weightlifter guys. :D

What do *you* think? Do you ever go to youtube.com to find new exercises? Do you do any bar exercises that involve hanging? And, of course, anything else you'd like to say.

Have an "uplifting" day! (Yes, I do think I'm funny when I say that. Haha.)

:-) Marion