We’re about to find out what I’m made of. Hopefully muscle! That’s what I’m going to need to do my first chin-up. That’s the goal for today… in my quest to do a pull-up (my New Year’s resolution). I’ve been training my lats, abs and biceps for the last month with Keith Banner from Mitchell Brothers Training. I know I’m getting stronger. But I don’t know if I’m strong enough yet.
We’ve been building up to this. I’ve been doing chin-ups, with a little assistance.
I’m getting some help in the pic above with a 20 lb. elastomer resistance band (and Keith nearby to catch me if I completely fail).
“This effectively adds 20 lbs. of assist, or makes you 20 lbs. lighter, depending upon how you choose to view it,” says Keith. “It is simply another step/tool in allowing the neuromuscular juncture (muscle memory) to adapt to what moving your very own bodyweight feels like.”
So, today, when Keith and I meet up for our next training session, I won’t look down and see the resistance band under my feet providing me with the extra assist in getting my chin over the bar.
We’ll find out if I can do a full-on, no-assisted, honest-to-goodness chin-up.
And THEN… I’ll be taking the next step to a pull-up.