So a man walks up to a bar… Pullups.
Bodybuilding is a funny thing to me. What I used to dread with a capital "D" I now look forward to with a maniacal desire with a capital "M". Nothing was more dreadful then when my buddy/trainer/spotter Steve said we need to start doing pullups.
"You mean chinups… the other day I was talking chinups read about em in…"
"We can do them too but pullups are essentially blah blah blah….."
I blocked the old boy out of my mind. Essentially I will look like a nimrod for pullups are hard. When I was 18 in the Marine Corps I could only do 15 and that was after working out everyday of my life for three months now I do not want to even think about it. This conversation came up after a 8 months of working out (mainly cardio) and was begining to get some dignity. I thought those days of being so out of shape that people can not help but notice the struggling guy that is me in all my sweaty glory were over.
"Blah blah don’t worry I’ll assist you."
"Couldn’t we use the weighted lift pad."
"We’ll make more progress without it even if I have to lift you for all of the reps."
Great 4 sets of ten with a guy pushing me by the feet and then 4 sets of ten chinups with more of the same thanks to being wore out from the pullups. How can I get out of this? Luckily old Steve must of knew what I was thinking.
"You’ll progress look at dips."
Well he had a point there I could do 1 when I began those. No not one set but one as in are you kidding me one?!?!? I then thought I hurt my arm which Steve did not think that was possible with "such small of an effort" (actual quote). He let me slide that day then next week he assisted me lifting my feet for almost every one. It sucked and I simply hated arm day for after working the biceps then came the tricep routine which meant dips and assistance. My arms felt numb and would not work right at the finer things. Writing, scratching my face, turning a doorknob, or even opening the tooth paste tube sorta was impossible first couple hours after Friday workouts. I suppose people thought I was drunk (leg day would be two days before so walking was unique as well). All and all I could care less for most of my efforts were to get me home and to sleep for I was exhausted. All of this info was pointless now for I did improve and it did not seem to take too long (though I would often cheat abit by leaning forward and working the chest or not going far enough down but oh well it was a dip in my book and eventually my form would improve) so ok I’ll follow your little workout plan with the pullups and chinups.
Thank god for working out. I suppose somethings loom large in my mind but my body is often in better shape then my thinking. It was not easy doing pullups but it was not too bad (see dips) and even Steve needed some assistance. I would be woreout after back day but things did improve rather quickly and at least I was not way out of shape when I began. The shocking thing was chinups were pretty easy and after a very short time I was doing those unassisted.
Today things are great with back day. I have to give credit to old buddy Steve for insisting on the inclusion of both chinups and pullups and his method of doing all the sets with out a weighted method (clip to chest harness or knees on pad) to assist. Now I do all sets unassisted and I do my best to tear the fricking bar off the stand aka ‘cuse me while I kiss the sky…. play it Jimi!!!!
Upon reflection it seems the the harder you push yourself the more you will be rewarded. There will be more and more things that I do not want to do simply because they appear insane but I suppose I am willing today based on past success. Never say never actually means something to me today and for that I am grateful.
