Pull up question for you X'ers

B

briee

Cathlete
Been really busy lately and have missed many threads so I hope this isn't redundant.

For those of you doing pullups in the P90X, are any of you suffering from callouses on your hands. The worst one I have is under my wedding ring on my palm (easy enough - take the ring off) but the others are getting hard as well and very sore. I guess I'll just get used to them. My question is...I'm wondering if the bar size effects the callouses. My bar is somewhat thin. My dh is going to weld a longer bar (serious pull up bar) that will attach into the cement part of the wall in our basement. I'm wondering if a fatter bar would help. Have any of you had the chance to experience with various bars and if so which are more "comfortable" on the hands. I do have those "grips" on my bar which can slide down and I believe they are supposed to make the grip more comfortable, but some reason I hate them. I move them out of the way. I get a better grip on the bar itself. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks so much.

Briee

I have one chance and one chance only to request the size of the bar as dh is only so tolerant, once it's done it's done and I have promised to quit whining about my pull up bar which is currently installed in the doorway - yuck.
 
My pull-up tower has a foam covering on part of the bar (though not on the part I use the most!: built for a man's width, I think!), and I haven't noticed callouses (but I do 1/2 my back work as heavy pull-downs still). I did get callouses when I worked out heavy in a weight room. Then I decided that gloves were a good idea!

I don't think the bar size would have any effect on the development of callouses. It's the resistance used on the bar that contributes to them (just like if you lift really light weights, you won't get callouses, but if you go really heavy, you can), as well as the material. Maybe if the bar were rubber coated (none exist), callouses wouldn't be a problem.

The grips that you hate are most likely both for traction (so you don't slip if you are sweaty) and for helping prevent callouses. So you might either start using them, or get some gloves.
 
Hi Briee:

I am just finishing week 6 and yep, I was getting callouses. I just starting wearing my weightlifting gloves and that has minimized the problem, while still maintaining good traction.
In a sick way, I am kind of proud of them... kind of like "war wounds"! :)

Hey, I was wondering if you were having any trouble with your forearms and wrists fatiguing with the pullups?? By the end of one of the pull up workouts, that is what is burning and tapped, not necessarily my shoulders/bis/back.. Any suggestions on how to minimize/correct this?

Thanks in advance, Lynn M.
 
Lynn, when I first did chest and back, I had to have my right forearm CAST because of tenosynovitis. Wore it for 3-4 weeks and then I was fine. I don't think it was due to the pullups as much as doing pushups without stands. Once I used the stands I didn't have any problem with my forearms (at least not as much). Also, I take that back, the close grip pull ups were bothering my hand, so they are the only ones that I do on a lat machine with my hands closely spaced, but not completely thumbs touching. I am hoping this slowly strengthens my forearms while in this position so I can do them on the bar eventually. None of the other pullups have been a problem.

I have lifted heavy for some time, but I have always used gloves. I don't like to use gloves for pullups, for some reason I feel more "sure of myself" without them. Maybe that's the answer Kathryn, I have this mental block against them, as I feel "stronger" without them - ever have one of those??? Obviously there is no difference, but my head thinks so.

I just talked to my dh who said he didn't think there would be a difference with a thicker bar either. Why can't we get a rubber coated bar??? If I can find the bar my dh could weld the rest of the contraption and I promise I'll supply you guys with one at cost :7 :7

Briee (thanks for your input - very appreciated)
 
Maybe
>that's the answer Kathryn, I have this mental block against
>them, as I feel "stronger" without them - ever have one of
>those??? Obviously there is no difference, but my head thinks
>so.
>

Oh yeah, those mental blocks can be hard to break through, if not impossible. Luckily, our minds can work for us as well: I swear my workout yesterday was fueled by willpower, which helped me lift heavier than previously, even though when I was setting up my weights ahead of time, even the 8# felt heavy!

I noticed that I have a water blister on the thumb-side of my pointer finger on my left hand. Strange! Though not as bad as the @#&@ paper cut on the tip of my little finger (WHY do they hurt so much?)
 
Hi Briee:

Sorry to hear about your tonosynovitis. Glad to hear you are mostly healed!!

You are right about the close grip pullups being bothersome..those are the ones that I feel the most in my wrists and forearms too...
Maybe after finishing the P90X rotation we will have forearms like Popeye and it won't be a problem any longer! :)

Take care, Lynn M.
 
I love my callouses! I wear them like a badge of honor. As far as I'm concerned, your callouses mean you're working hard!
 
Can you all actually do a pull up with your palms facing away from you? Holy Moly! I have not tried those since high school and WOW, it is still as tough as I remember. I can do them palms facing in (about 2 in a row! is all). How in the world can I work up to even 1 palm out?

HELP!

Nancy
 
I've started P90X and I'm beginning to get them. I don't even care. I figure it's the price to pay to be able to do at least one full pullup.
 
Briee....I take off my rings at night as I had bent one lifting so I lift without my rings on. I haven't gotten any callouses from the pull-ups but I also wear gloves because I seem to get a better grip with them. Could just be a personal preference for me...:)...Carole
 
Hey Briee,

Nice to see one of the old ectochicks still around!

Like others have said, I take off all rings and use padded leather-palmed gloves. No problems with callouses. Still having trouble doing pull ups unassisted, though! Yikes!

I've been falling down on my workouts lately due to business trips and some personal upheaval, but I think I'm finally getting back on track.

How's everything going for you?

Angela
 
Nancy...start palms out at the top and lower down VERY slow, then come back up with your toe barely on the chair. You'll get stronger in time. :) :)

Carole, I still have a mental block with the gloves and pullups, I may have to look at these as badges as honor as someone mentioned up there, BUT I have yet to get my REAL badges of honor which have not yet appeared on my biceps. Those I will gladly accept without question . :7 :7 :7 :7

Hey Angela, how are you ectobuddy? Sorry to hear that workouts are a little sparse late. I've had quite a case of "lack of sleep" which has made for yucko workouts too. Life can get in the way of things!! Hope you are able to get back into it again soon...sometimes a break is good - although not too long of a break!! Have you tried the P90X??? I tried to entice AJ and our ectomate Amadeus, but they are P90X-intolerant, non-conformists as such. Wrong as they may be in regards to the P90X fad ..}( :p }( :p ..I am relieved that AJ (and Amadeus I trust) won't be working out in ponchos which is far more important in my opinion than doing pullups!!! :) :)

Briee
 
Thanks Briee! I was hoping to get some feedback. I will give it a try... it just seems so daunting! I think I can, I think I can... right? It is all in the attitude.

Nancy
 
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