P90X series and the pull up bar

[amybajamy]

I'm thinking about buying the P90X series, but I'm wondering if the pull up bar is a big part of these workouts and if so which workouts use it alot. I can't even do one pull up and I'm wondering if I can do something different or if even trying to do the pull ups is good enough. I don't go to a gym so I don't have access to a lat pull down machine. Does that mean these workouts are too advanced for me. I do lift weights regularly with Cathe and would say I'm probably at an intermediate level. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Amy

 

[amyg]

Amy-

The bands and door handle are a great substitute, and Tony has someone using those every time they do pullups. I used the bands from sissel rather than beach body and have been happy with them. I did ask for a bar for my birthday, though, and have been struggling ever since, LOL! DH who doesn't work out can pop out about 10 just walking into the kitchen... x(

P90X are humbling for all of us. If you want a bit of a preview, there is a check-in for those of us helping each other out!! HTH

 

[mspina]

You can definitely get a LOT out of these workouts using only the band set-up. I started with the bands, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE using them for back work. Recently, I got a Power Tower so I can work on doing "real" chin-ups and pull-ups, but honestly, I got it not out of a feeling of necessity, but rather from a personal goal of wanting to be able to do these things - I do not feel like I need one to get a lot out of the program. Now that I have the tower, I try to do assisted work for the first set (using a stool so that I can "cheat" with my feet), then I use the bands for the second set. I won't ever give up the band work - I really love it, and find it incredibly effective.

If this is the only thing holding you back from getting P90X, hit the BB link right NOW and order this series! I started week 3 today, and I LOVE it beyond words. It's phenomenal.

m.

 

[hippahips]

>I do not feel like I need one to get a lot out of the
>program. Now that I have the tower, I try to do assisted work
>for the first set (using a stool so that I can "cheat" with my
>feet), then I use the bands for the second set. I won't ever
>give up the band work - I really love it, and find it
>incredibly effective.

This is true. I started with the bands, too. I bought a set from fitness1st.com and used the one with the most resistance. If you concentrate on squeezing your shoulder blades at each rep, you'll get a real good back workout. I got the doorgym from gymcor.com eventually, but I stopped doing P90X then. Just couldn't stick to it. I learned to do chin-ups and pull-ups by adding them to Cathe's back segments. You can also sub pullovers for some of the exercises. Just focus on leading the move with your elbows so you feel it in your upper middle back.

Pinky

 

[stephanied]

Hi there
Can you send the link for P90X? I have read about them here, and cant seem to find them on-line. What is it all about?
Thanks
Steph

 

[kathryn]

When I started P90X, I didn't have a pull-up bar or bands with a door attachment, so I subbed heavy 1-arm rows (alternating arms each set) and pullovers for the pull-ups and chin-ups. Then I got the heavy set (the "extreme" set?) of bands from BB, with a door attachment from www.sissel-online.com (the door attachment from BB is laughable, and not something I trusted to keep the band in place in the crack at the top of the door).

 

[instantblue]

All of the workouts that include "back" have pull ups (Chest & Back Legs & Back, Back & Biceps), but like everyone else said, you can definitely modify with bands. Don't let the pull ups scare you off: P90x is definitely something that can be personalized to your own fitness level. For almost all the exercises, Tony tells you to set a personal goal and do your own best. You do a lot of recording so you know what you did last time and what you can do next time. It is definitely a workout that is customizeable to individual fitness levels. But it also allows you to push yourself and make huge, personalized gains.

Also, if you do want to get the pull up bar, you can use the back of a chair to help push yourself off of. The videos show how to do this, too. I started with 2 feet helping me up on the pull ups, and now after 7 weeks of p90x, I can do a few unassisted, and several more with just one foot on the chair to help me out.

 

[amybajamy]

Thanks so much everyone for your suggestions and advice! I definitely want to get that series. The pull up bar was scaring me, but now that I know there are ways to modify I want to go ahead and get P90X. Hopefully some day I can do some pull ups. Thanks again!

Amy