So far this week has been going well in terms of staying on track with my exercise habits. Today is back and bicep day which is founded on the basic body-weight movement of the pull-up. Pull-ups are not fun, but they are really useful for developing the kind of strength that helps you climb things in nature, including trees, rocks, fences. Yes, there are a lot fences in nature these days and if you can do a pull-up you are much more likely to get to over them. Then, when you get arrested for trespassing you can escape incarceration because you can climb walls, or at least stand a better chance because of your commitment to doing pull-ups! See – pull-ups are integral to an all round function based fitness program!
Also they balance you out, in terms of physical proportion and capacity I mean. Assuming you are doing a lot of pushups, which requires pushing, lots of pushing, but you are doing no pulling, you will develop an out of balance body type. Not OK aesthetically or functionally. All push and no pull make Jack a weird looking and unbalanced boy.
There is something especially agonizing about pull-ups, especially if you are gaining weight. The main thing is that you can do them anywhere, as long as you bring a pull-up bar with you, which is not easy. This is why I built a pull up bar high enough so I have to jump up to it, which is pretty high because I’m 6′ 3″. So doing pull-ups is convenient wherever I go, as long a I’m in my back yard.
Pull-ups also hurt your hands. Not permanently, just while you are doing them, which enhances the “embrace the suck” aspect of doing them. So, if embracing the suck is one of your goals then you absolutely must do pull-ups.
If you can’t do even one, then there are options. You can buy these big rubber bands sold at cross-fit supply stores. Or, you can stand on a bench and use your legs to provide just enough assist, which looks silly, but works – I think.
Today is pull-up day for me, likely augmented with some curls and some additional back exercises. I’m excited!
Embrace the Suck by Embracing the Pull-up!
Ben Wagner (186)
Member The 365 Commitment
I can now do 10!
That’s awesome! The “muscleup” is the holy grail of pullups for me. The chimera . . .
I had fun writing that blog. Sort of Dave Barryesque with absurdities and sarcasm blended into mundane examples, but still all true.
I crack myself up!