can any of you do chin ups?

[mommyof5boys]

i am pretty sure i can't but won't even attempt it especially at the gym for fear to look like an idiot

[DropDeadFemale]

I can do about ten if someone is holding my ankles, but without any help at all I can almost do one! lol

[CharliC]

I've recently moved on to weighted ones (I can do 5 with a 4kg DB between my ankles). I love chins- definitely one of my favourite exercises.

Don't fear looking like an idiot- it's not worth holding yourself back from acheiving your goals because you're worried about what others may think. I bet that most of the people in your gym can't do chin-ups anyway

If it's really an issue, you can pick up a chinning bar very cheaply to use at home (they have ones that hook over the door frame, so don't cause any damage when fitted). Then, once you're confident, you can start doing them in the gym.

[Ally_Cat]

I can do 2 now!

My goal is 5 by the end of the summer. I've been doing assisted pull ups and slowly keep lowering the weight. I actually tried real chin ups yesterday for the hell of it. I had to get a running start so I could jump high enough but when I got up there I did it twice and I felt like I was on top of the world

[andrerox80]

definitely try them! you might be surprised. there's nothing like banging out chin ups or pull ups to make you feel strong and accomplished.

[NoPinkDBsPlz]

try them! it will take work (assisted chins, negatives) to be able to do even one unassisted, but you will feel really badass when you do.

I think it took me like 8 months to do one. I can do 4-5 now.

[ImmaBanana]

I can do 6-7 at the most, I started off using an assisted chin up machine. If you don't have one of those in your gym grab a partner to help you out. Won't get better at them if you don't try!

[karoline8]

definitely try them! you might be surprised. there's nothing like banging out chin ups or pull ups to make you feel strong and accomplished.

this^^^I didn't think I could do them either until I was playing around with my daughter at the playground and just tried it for kicks on the monkey bars, could do 3 then...now I can do 12...so go for it

[hmotb555]

before I gained back some weight, I was able to do 2 by myself but now I can almost do 1 lol.....but try them...you never know and don't worry about looking like an idiot....there are a lot of people who look like idiots in the gym (lol) but seriously, you are there for your own personal development don't worry about what other people think! GO GET IT!

[genia824]

definitely try them! you might be surprised. there's nothing like banging out chin ups or pull ups to make you feel strong and accomplished.

What she said!! My goal for Nov. & Dec. was to be able to do 10 by Jan. 1st!! I didn't hit the 10 mark till halfway through January, but was so fired up when I made it!! The key is consistency! I've been on a "mini-cut" which has been effecting my strength, but I can still knock out at least 8. They are now a staple in my routine!

Check out this article for pointers:

http://figureathlete.tmuscle.com/art...the_pullup&cr=

[nextsuperhero]

Yup, I've been doing grease the groove style training for chin-ups & have gone from 0 to 2 in three weeks!

[heidismommy]

Try them! If you aren't comfortable doing them at the gym, try them out on playground equipment or better yet, get a bar that sits in your doorway. I used to practice them whenever I'd take my daughter to the playground. For a long time I could only do one, but the more I practiced, the better I got. Initially I'd have to kip after the first one, but it helped me gain enough strength to eventually be able to do more. But the first one is the hardest to get, once you see you can do one, it gets easier from there. Getting someone to hold your legs to support some of the weight will help if you can't yet do one. Also negatives as was mentioned above.

I got an Iron Gym bar for my doorway about a year ago (I workout at home) and it is awesome. I can do 10 consecutive chin-ups now as well as 10 consecutive wide-grip or close-grip pull-ups for 3 sets. It took quite a while after I could do a chin-up before I could do a pull-up (pull-ups are harder for many), but now I'm on par with both.

[etali]

I can't do any yet. I'm doing negatives on the door frame at home as training. My goal is to be able to do 10 pull ups and ten chin ups by the end of the year.

As for fear of failing at the gym, don't let that stop you! I bet most people at the gym are too busy with their own worries "Is she laughing at me because I can't bench enough?" to care what you're doing. Besides, if they are worrying about your performance all that means is that they obviously aren't working out very hard themselves

[erinlee01]

I can do both pullups and chinups. Pullups, 3 in a row. Chins, 5.

[triangle]

I can do about 10 wide grip pull ups. I don't know how many chins I can do but imagine more because I find them easier.

I have one of those door gym things you can hang up in your doorway - they don't require screws or anything, it just hooks over the door frame. If you're too self conscious to do chins in the gym a doorgym is worth getting, they're very good!

[Bonny_Lassie]

I was kinda scared to try for fear of looking like an idiot until about 4 weeks ago when I decided to just go for it and I was able to do 5 consecutively! A very pleasant surprise!!! Now my PR for reps is 5 sets of 6, 5, 5, 4, 4.

Do not fear looking like an idiot! The REAL idiots are the ones doing little bicep curls and tricep kickbacks with 2lb dumbells for about 50 reps !

[mommyof5boys]

thanks ladies,i think that is what i might do is get one for home or try some at the playground before doing at the gym...what is the difference between pull ups and chin ups?also what are negatives?

[heidismommy]

I have one of those door gym things you can hang up in your doorway - they don't require screws or anything, it just hooks over the door frame. If you're too self conscious to do chins in the gym a doorgym is worth getting, they're very good!

That's the kind I have and I love it! I was reluctant to get one, wasn't sure how it would hold up, but it's extremely sturdy.

thanks ladies,i think that is what i might do is get one for home or try some at the playground before doing at the gym...what is the difference between pull ups and chin ups?also what are negatives?

Pull ups are done with palms facing away from you, chin ups are done with palms facing towards you. For many chin ups are easier. That isn't the case with me though, at least not anymore.

http://www.intense-workout.com/pull_ups.html

The above is a detailed explanation of how to increase pull-ups (or chins). Go to number 2 and it details negatives.

[Azide]

Try it. I didn't think I could do any and just a few days ago I tried it and I could do 3. I was quite surprised. Now I incorporated them into my routine.

[EricaJuneBaby]

It's funny I was scared to do them too at the gym for fear someone was watching but I was with my kids at the playground a while back and found I could do 4 so definitely try it because you never know!
I can do 7 now on the first set and usually one or 2 less on the other sets, though the last one is a REAL struggle and I have to say it's my fav and FIRST thing I do at the gym after warmups because I feel strong when I do them and want to be fresh with the most strength

[bearybear]

I used to be able to do them fairly easily a few years ago; now I can just about manage one!

One of my personal goals is to be able to do ten

[Blazegal]

Try them. You always gotta start somewhere.

Get yourself a chin up bar if you are still shy to do those at the gym. Aim for 10 chins a day at first. When you're home, jump on the bar and try to do at least 1 or 2. Then go back to do something else. Return to the bar 5 mins later or in different times of the day, (either before or after leaving home for work or school) and do 2 more. Repeat routine until you've done all your 10 reps for the day.

You'll build strength that way and without realizing it, within weeks, you'll definitely be able to do more than 5 in one go and show off at your gym.

[froggymom]

I can do 3!!! I have been using the assisted machine for several months and worked my way down to 0 lbs. If you don't have the assist machine, have someone hold your ankles at first. You will be able to do it. (PS, just hang from a bar, no one will look twice at you).

[KyleAaron]

i am pretty sure i can't but won't even attempt it especially at the gym for fear to look like an idiot

I think people who don't give things a go look like idiots

Most people can't do chinups the day they walk into the gym, anymore than they can deadlift double bodyweight. They have to work up to these things.

I have not seen much success with assisted chinups and the like. You can work up to chinups by inverted rows and deadlifts.



With the inverted row, you lie under a bar and pull yourself up, keeping shoulders back and down and bracing in the middle. It's sort of a reverse pressup. Your body should pivot on your heels like a door swinging on a hinge, staying nice and straight. If you find it difficult to do more than one or two of these, bring your feet in and knees up - the equivalent of doing a knee pressup. This is most easily done at the gym on the Smith machine, but of course you can do them at the park or even at home under a chair or table.

Get a total of 10 reps of inverted rows in your workout. Doesn't matter if it's 10 in a go, or 5,5 or 4,3,2,1 or even 1,1,... etc. Just get a total of 10. And it doesn't matter if you do them together, you could just pop some out between other exercises in your workout.

In your next workout, get a total of 15. And so on. Once you can do a total of 50 inverted rows with knees up, change to fully-extended inverted rows and drop the reps back to 10. Then progress from there, adding 5 reps a workout.

When you can do a total of 100 inverted rows with your legs extended, you will probably be able to do 20+ inverted rows in a go. And then you will probably find that you can do 2-3 chinups, if not more.

Once you can do at least 1 chinup, you can do 10. Again, doesn't matter how many in one go, just build up the total. Once you're doing 50 chinups total, you'll be able to do 5+ in one go.

Regular deadlifts with the weights and/or reps increasing in every workout will also build your back strength and make you able to do chinups. If you can deadlift 125-150% your bodyweight, and your body composition is not overfat, you will be able to do chinups.

Just think of how awesome you'll look pumping out 10 chinups when none of the other women in your gym can do any, and most of the men can't either. Think of how funny it'll be hearing all their excuses why they won't even try.

[IronOrchid]

I can do chin-ups, parallel grip too. But I really like doing pullups.
It takes time and persistence, and anyone can do it if practice regularly.

[andrerox80]

I think people who don't give things a go look like idiots

Most people can't do chinups the day they walk into the gym, anymore than they can deadlift double bodyweight. They have to work up to these things.

I have not seen much success with assisted chinups and the like. You can work up to chinups by inverted rows and deadlifts.



With the inverted row, you lie under a bar and pull yourself up, keeping shoulders back and down and bracing in the middle. It's sort of a reverse pressup. Your body should pivot on your heels like a door swinging on a hinge, staying nice and straight. If you find it difficult to do more than one or two of these, bring your feet in and knees up - the equivalent of doing a knee pressup. This is most easily done at the gym on the Smith machine, but of course you can do them at the park or even at home under a chair or table.

Get a total of 10 reps of inverted rows in your workout. Doesn't matter if it's 10 in a go, or 5,5 or 4,3,2,1 or even 1,1,... etc. Just get a total of 10. And it doesn't matter if you do them together, you could just pop some out between other exercises in your workout.

In your next workout, get a total of 15. And so on. Once you can do a total of 50 inverted rows with knees up, change to fully-extended inverted rows and drop the reps back to 10. Then progress from there, adding 5 reps a workout.

When you can do a total of 100 inverted rows with your legs extended, you will probably be able to do 20+ inverted rows in a go. And then you will probably find that you can do 2-3 chinups, if not more.

Once you can do at least 1 chinup, you can do 10. Again, doesn't matter how many in one go, just build up the total. Once you're doing 50 chinups total, you'll be able to do 5+ in one go.

Regular deadlifts with the weights and/or reps increasing in every workout will also build your back strength and make you able to do chinups. If you can deadlift 125-150% your bodyweight, and your body composition is not overfat, you will be able to do chinups.

Just think of how awesome you'll look pumping out 10 chinups when none of the other women in your gym can do any, and most of the men can't either. Think of how funny it'll be hearing all their excuses why they won't even try.

i'd say 20+ inverted rows in a go would = way more than 2-3 chin ups! based on what i can do, at least. def a good way to go.

and i also like people's suggestion to try them at a playground if you're too self-conscious at the gym, although you really shouldn't be. but i get it.

[KyleAaron]

i'd say 20+ inverted rows in a go would = way more than 2-3 chin ups!

Usually, but it depends a lot on the individual, how their body is built - some do some exercises more easily than others, eg short legs and long arms makes a better deadlifter than squatter - and also exercise technique. 10 rows where your chest touches the bar are better than 20 where you come halfway up, but if I'm not there watching I don't know which the person is doing.

So we fudge it and allow for individual variation in body and technique, and give them more reps than they're likely to need. Does no harm to do a few extra.

I'd be more self-conscious at a playground than a gym - you're supposed to be trying and failing at exercises in a gym. But it doesn't matter in the end, just get the thing done wherever you do it.

[kimm4]

definitely try them! you might be surprised. there's nothing like banging out chin ups or pull ups to make you feel strong and accomplished.

Agreed.^^

Pull ups on back day, chin ups for bis.

BW and weighted...good stuff!

[mommalu]

Pull ups are one of my favorite exercises!! I even do weighted pull ups with a 10# weight strapped to me

These are my wide grip pull ups
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aUH0gFrIFw

[discdoggie]

I can do many chins! Wide-grip pull ups, I manage 10 m,y first set, then usually 7-8 for the next two. I do have an Iron Gym, and they just feel easier on that than at the bars at the gym...I don't know why. Maybe the way the grip is positioned?

For some reason, they really seem to impress people. Whenever I need and ego boost, I'll bang out 3 sets at the gym.