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For a very long time I avoided pullups and chinups like the plague. Why? Because they were hard and I couldn’t do them! Once I hit 11 years old they suddenly became impossible for me! I would shake, and try as hard as I could, but nothing happened. Talk about frustrating!
The fact that I could not do a pullup annoyed the heck out of me. However, I haven’t belonged to a gym in years, so it wasn’t like I was around pullup bars all the time.
Last summer my friend’s husband was talking about how much he loves pullups, and I said I couldn’t do it. He told me to try and pointed to his pullup bar, and lo’ and behold I could knock out 5 pullups!
What changed? I started doing high intensity home workouts, along with my yoga and running. All of a sudden I had the strength to do it. I’m not going to pretend they are easy for me. In fact, I don’t do pullups nearly often enough. Maybe it’s time I start.
What are some of the benefits of pullups?
They work your biceps, triceps, shoulders, lats, and traps. They are fantastic for your back, hands, fingers and forearms. They will increase your core strength. They also help prevent muscle imbalances by working the back of your body.
Plus: It will feel great knowing that you can do it! Honestly, that is my favorite part of pullups. It feels like an accompishment, and it’s a benchmark that shows how much I have been able to strengthen my body.
So try it! Keep working at exercises that challenge your whole body, and keep trying those pushups. Even if you move up an inch it’s progress!
Being able to complete a pull-up is one of my personal goals. I can bend my elbows a bit when I try to pull-up but that’s about it. So pathetically weak! I’m trying to be patient and just keep trying but it’s hard.
You will get there! That first bit is the hardest part! The fact that you can bend your elbows means you are definitely on your way. 🙂
Keep up the good work.
It is also my story! I will be very happy if one day I will make the first ever complete pull up 🙂
I seem to have trouble with swinging when I do pull ups. Do you have any advice on how to stop that? I can only get about half way up, then I start to swing back and forth without being able to steady myself.