Yes, You Can! Chin-Up Plan
There are a lot of things that I can’t do. I can’t juggle. I can’t tap dance. I can’t speak Spanish. I can’t eat dairy without making a room smell like old lady fart passing through an onion. And I can’t not quote Lord of the Rings every chance I get.
YOU….SHALL….NOT…. PASS!!!!!!!!
It’s especially funny whenever we’re walking around the city and Lisa wants to go down Newbury St or something and do a bunch of window shopping.*
Anyways, yeah, there are a lot of things I can’t do. Which reminds me: I can’t whistle. Weird, right?
And I’m sure it’s a mentality that many people share with me. We all know our limitations. But lets be honest: I’m sure if I put my mind to it I could learn to juggle; or speak Spanish; or not eat a metric shit-ton of cheese whenever I go out to eat.
With the exception of a few obvious examples (I’m probably never going to punch a great white or be a fighter pilot), I can easily turn any “can’t” into a “can” with a little time and effort. And yes, some will power too. I mean, goddammit I love cheese.
The “I can’t” mentality never rears its ugly head more so than in the gym – especially with women. And especially when it comes to lifting weights.
Whenever I begin working with a female client and mention to her that one of my goals is to help her bang out some unassisted chin-ups I usually get a stare that suggests I just asked her to climb Mt. Everest, and then that’s followed with a ubiquitous “dude, I can’t do that!”
I think that’s a bunch of bologna, and it’s why I was elated to team up with Women’s Health Magazine to develop the Yes, You Can! Chin-Up Challenge.
It’s a 6-week program that will undoubtedly get people outside their comfort zone and (hopefully) help many realize that doing their first unassisted chin-up isn’t as insurmountable as they originally thought.
I know a lot of women read this blog, and I’d LOVE to get as many of you involved as possible. Below is a video that my friend, the lovely Jen Ator, filmed demonstrating the moves involved, and you’ll have to pick up this month’s (September 2013) issue of Women’s Health to get the full details as far as the breakdown of the actual program.
On top of that we encourage everyone who participates to share their progress on Twitter and Facebook using the hashtage #ChinupChallenge.
So what are you waiting for? It’s time to kick gravity in the nuts where it counts and prove once and for all that, yes, you CAN do it.
* = Or whenever she tries to walk into the bathroom. Or anytime she wants to drag me to the latest Nicholas Sparks movie. You know, stuff like that.
Comments for This Entry
James Wise
the thumbless grip just looks weird.August 12, 2013 at 10:26 am |
Megann
I wish more women wanted to do this, and I hope this helps them do it! There are very few things more satisfying than banging out more chin-ups than most of the men in my gym.August 12, 2013 at 11:53 am |
TonyGentilcore
I do too Megann. Hopefully this article and challenge will be the impetus that some need to get after it.August 13, 2013 at 5:40 am |
Fitness Facts You Should Read August 12, 2013 - Integrate Performance Fitness - Palo Alto, CA Personal Trainer
[...] Yes you can! A chin up plan [...]August 12, 2013 at 8:59 pm |
Heidi Childers
Awesome! Hope this helps more ladies doing chin-ups and pull-ups... I've been working towards it for the last few months. Almost there! :)August 12, 2013 at 9:09 pm |
TonyGentilcore
Great to hear it Heidi!August 13, 2013 at 5:40 am |
JB
I have been looking for this! Been trying to do a pullup since the beginning of the year. Seem to hit a plateau at a certain point.August 20, 2013 at 8:45 pm |
TonyGentilcore
Well, I hope this helps!August 21, 2013 at 6:52 am |
photokat
I definitely gave my trainer the "YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS" crazy eye when he introduced me to chin ups. I'm not 100% unassisted on mine yet, but I'm getting there and loving doing chin ups.August 21, 2013 at 9:20 am |
TonyGentilcore
You'll get there in no time Kathryn. It's just a matter of staying consistent!August 23, 2013 at 3:05 am |