Band Assisted Chin Ups and Bodyweight Row Challenges

About a month ago I called out Muata, from Mr. Low Body Fat, to a fitness challenge. I also called out Tony from the Anti-Jared, but he is pretty busy with a new baby and what not. Instead, he launched a larger scale thing call the Missouri 60 and a stairmaster challenge against some lady. I wanted a one-on-one type of thing with Tony. Tony, if you’re reading this the call out is still there. I digress.

Initially it was supposed to be that I had to perform one full chin up by a certain date. That’s when I set up to work on my chins ups and pull ups. For the life of me I could not pull myself up. At 300+ lbs (mostly fat), it’s pretty much impossible for anyone to this. There are those few exceptions that can do it but they mainly have massive amounts of muscle that comprise their 300 lb frames. I am not a strongman, I’m just a normal fat guy. That’s when Iron Woody Fitness graciously hooked me up with some bands so that I can train. I’ve never used these things, but I can definitely say that they help!!!

On June 23rd, 2009 I officially started my chin up/pull up training for the challenge. That’s when I made this video:

Bodyweight Row Challenge
Recently, 2 weeks or so ago, Muata and I decided on a different platform for our challenge. Instead of me having to do a chin up, he thought it would better if we were competing against ourselves in a bodyweight row challenge. We would do a 5 minute set of bodyweight rows. The first number is our starting point. The challenge is to see who can beat their initial number by the largest percentage. Now, being that we are at different stages in our fitness (he is below 200 and has been maintaining his massive weight loss for years and I am still half way to my weight loss goals), this is the best route to go.

I suggest you go see Muata’s Bodyweight Row Challenge about it and check out that video of Steve Maxwell performing different variations of the bodyweight row. I’ll be at a different angle and using a different apparatus than Muata will. But we will use the same form and apparatus as we did in our first take when we perform our last. Muata’s going to be using fitness rings attached to his pull-up bar. I’ll be using my power rack and a barbell with less of an incline. I’ll get mine on video, as proof.

The starting numbers:

• Israel – 78 reps in 5 minutes
• Muata – 47 reps in 5 minutes

I know my number is going up because I’m getting lighter and stronger. I just hope it’s enough to win.

Band Assisted Chin Ups Self-Challenge
With all of that said, I still wanted to keep my challenge of being able to perform an unassisted chin up by August 1st. I decided that I’d be self-challenging myself. Did that sound right? Doesn’t sound like it’s correct, but you know what I mean. Right? So by August 1st I have to perform a chin up with no assistance whatsoever.

As you can see in the video I cannot even go half way up. It’s pretty embarrassing. But cut me some slack, I am over 300 lbs in the video. With the bands I am able to do 3 assisted chin ups at a time with horrible form, I might add. I’m looking to be able to do 3 sets of 10 assisted pull ups.

The starting numbers:

• 0 reps unassisted chin ups
• 3 reps band assisted chin ups

So, it’s on!

P.S. Tony…bring it!