PullUpGuy’s BodyBlog

After 39 pull-ups on Wednesday, I thought that 40 today was a real possibility. Nope.  Video is on my profile page at the bottom.

Do It!

Yesterday was our local Gold’s Gym Pull-ups Contest. I had heard that a 20-something Gold’s Trainer had been training to take the lead that I had held since last August. He SAID that he was going to be able to do 30 pull-ups, but in fact knocked our 32! GREAT JOB, Wes! My record last August was 25, which won the contest by 1 rep.  Since then, I had set a new PR in Jan 09 at 33 and did not repeat until a little over a month ago.  Last week, I was fortunate to hit 34 one day and 35 the next workout.  So, I was feeling pretty good with being able to best 30 on Game Day.  When I got to the gym and heard that he had hit 32, I was just a little concerned. Sometimes, things line up where we don’t do as well as we "usually" do and I didn’t want yesterday to be one of those days.

Now, keep in mind that my REAL goal (see previous Blogs) has been to do 40 mid-grip pull-ups on my 55th Birthday, day after tomorrow! Until yesterday, I HAD NO CHANCE. But when it was competition time, the Old Man rose up! At 30 reps, I KNEW I had 35. At 34 reps, the JUST MAYBE thought flashed through my brain for the very first time.  When I completed 39 reps, I gave one last mighty pull, but didn’t budge. It was over.  I had gone SO MUCH farther that I had even DREAMED, yesterday.  My thought had been, "If I could just eek out 36, I would be progressing." Now, I had done THIRTY-NINE PULL-UPS!  I was ELATED…. until I saw the video.  It turns out that even though I was fighting for all I was worth (and the rules allowed rests as long as we didn’t drop), 4 of my final 7 reps did not get my chin all the way to the bar.  Therefore, I only had 35 GOOD reps and 4 "almost" reps. Grrrrr.

Those facts tell me a few things. I am pretty danged good closing rapidly on age 55.  I can do more than I think I can do.  I am still a LONG WAY from 40 excellent wide-grip pull-ups. BUT, I have a CHANCE to do 40 NARROW-grip pull-ups ON MY 55th Birthday… SATURDAY.  But… I am STILL gym champ!

You can see the video of yesterday’s effort on the bottom of my profile page (scroll PAST my beautiful wife and come back to her LATER).  I’ll also post the BirthDay video, Saturday, as well.

Do It!

My published goal for my 55th birthday is 40 mid-grip pull-ups.  Unless a miracle happens, that will not occur.  However, in the last 2 months, I have gone from a PR of 33 to a PR of 35 as of TODAY!  Our gym has a pull-up contest this Wednesday which gives me a CHANCE at doing 36.  They will be video recorded.  Then, a few days later, I will adjust to close-grip pull-ups so that I have a snowball’s chance in South Texas this month to make 40 reps. I’m neither holding my breath, nor am I betting on me.  But, there is a chance.  In any case, I will keep on training until I do make it to 40…. or get OLD/DIE first.  I heard that! Fifty-five is NOT OLD.

Do It!

For the past two weeks, I have adjusted my massive "rounds" (sets of different exercises) to a type of pyramiding.  I began with 25 reps of pull-ups, dips, push-ups, and 20 reps of walking lunges.  I increased reps until yesterday I was able to do rounds of 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, of pull-ups, dips, & push-ups, and 40 reps for 3 rounds of lunges and 20 reps of 3 rounds of lunges.

I FEEL IT!

Notice, not ONE "ab rep".  But yesterday during that punishing workout, two guys stopped me and said, "What we want to know is what do you do to get those abs?"  Now understand, at 54 years and 11 months, I have about 2 lbs of fat remaining on my love handles and belly button that diet MAY remove, so I’m not perfect.  But the ANSWER IS: Eat cleanly and hold perfect posture ALL THE TIME… walking, sitting, working out, running.  YOU HAVE abs… you just need to EXPOSE THEM!

Do It!

On Monday, I completed 6 rounds of 13 reps with 10 lbs on my ankles or pull-ups, dips, push-ups, and 6 rounds of 25 reps of hindu squats.

Today, I made 8 rounds of the same.  Those ankle weights are KILLERS on pull-ups!  I think I’m at about 168 lbs naked, so 170 with gym clothes PLUS another 10 with ankle weights.  It is the plan to make 10 rounds of 15 reps and then go for another PR.

This getting old faster than I’m getting stronger is for the birds!

Do It!

You are welcome to view the new video on the bottom of my BodySpace page.  It’s UGLY.  I just completed a run at 35 over-hand, mid-grip, pull-ups. Not only did I only get 31, if you count the last 3 cruddy ones, but I certainly didn’t get to my PR of 33… let alone the goal of 35.  It appears that I will need to work out with weights on my ankles AND I will also need to drop 10 lbs of bodyweight so that I compete at 157-160.  I’ll keep you posted.

Do It!

Hello, Legions of Fans!  Sorry that I have not posted since last week, but I HAVE worked out (except Sat, Sun, Mon).  Today, I added 10 lbs of ankle weights to my pull-ups and dips. I had them on durning push-ups and hindu-squats, but it added little to those two exercises. Due to the increased weight and my concern about BEING A FAILURE, I reduced the reps to 10 (where I started weeks ago w/o weights) and popped them off on all 10 sets/rounds.  Therefore, I will move to 12 reps for the 10 rounds day after tomorrow.

Tomorrow, my Gold’s Gym is having a push-up contest with the rotating push-up handles made by BowFlex.  I’m IN!!! and will not do a regular rotation.  I will exercise other than just push-ups.

What have y’all been doing lately?

Do It!

Art

On Saturday May 16 and today, I completed another workout of 10 sets each of 15 pull-ups, 15 dips, 15 push-ups, and 30 hindu squats.  I MUST buy the ankle weights and begin at 10 sets of 10 reps once again!  I also and about to add street running to my routine… every other day.

It is getting COOL to be an old guy in the gym!

Do It!

Last night I successfully completed 10 rounds of 15 pull-ups, 15 dips, 15 push-ups, and 30 hindu-squats! Tomorrow I will add ankle weights and begin at 10 reps again.  Training goal met!

This morning, as I was walking on the treadmill still recovering from last night’s onslaught, I thought to myself, "Self, I wonder if you can now hit 35 close-grip pull-ups?"  So, I went for it.  Talk about pain! At 27, I wanted to quit.  I rested about 3 seconds at the bottom and continued to 30, rested 3 seconds and continued to 32, rested 3 seconds and continued to 34, and came off the bar.  A new PR but  DANG! So close and yet so far… Those 40 in 2.5 months seem like a thousand miles.  I do think that if I had waited another day to try that I might have gotten 1 or 2 more reps.  But no way I’d have made it to 40…

For now… a new PR….

Do It!

Today was the second day in a row that I worked out HEAVY.  Definition of "heavy" for a guy closing the gap on his 55th birthday is certainly different than that of a 25 year old stud.  My heavy was 10 sets of 14 reps of pull-ups, dips, and push-ups, and including 10 sets of 30 reps of hindu squats.  I ALMOST made it.  The pull-ups are rotating grip, close-parallel, wide-grip, and close-grip overhand… ALL pull-ups and none chin-ups.  The wide-grips are done on rounds 2, 5, and 8.  On round 8, I could NOT make the 14th rep.  I tried twice, but muscles failed.  However, on round 10, I did 15 reps so that the numbers worked out as if  I had done the 10 sets of 14, or 140 reps.  The hindu squats destroy my legs.  SORE.

A round is one series of sets in this order pull-ups, dips, push-ups, and hindus.  I do 10 of those.  I will take tomorrow off and go for sets of 15 on Wednesday.

Now for the Fringe Benefits: PUMPED AND SHREDDED!  It has been over 2 hours since the workout and I am still HUGE & TIGHT… for me.  Chest, arms, shoulders, back, PUMPED.  Legs PUMPED. Hopefully, butt will get tiny.  Jennifer is impressed, too.  I may plan on progress photos on Wednesday after shooting for the 15 reps.  Whether I make it or not, I will be PUMPED.

Do It!