A few months ago, I was scared every time I jumped up to these bars. I still did it, but I was never sure I’d make it.
I was still doing pull-ups by yanking with my whole body. Then I finally made the brain-lat connection, which I talked about in a previous post, and everything changed. My pull-ups started feeling more efficient because I was finally using the muscles I was supposed to be using.
And before anyone corrects me: this is a neutral grip pull-up, not a chin-up. Chin-ups are underhand, not a parallel grip. And yes, I also do overhand pull-ups (see previous reels). The internet correctors are everywhere, for real.
I started working toward my first pull-up after 60 while recovering from a partially torn rotator cuff, after more than two years of dialing back upper body work. I had long arms, little upper body strength, and a body that was definitely not recovering as it used to at younger ages.
So the fact that I’m almost 63 and can jump to the bars, do the pull-ups, and walk away without feeling wrecked still feels a little magical to me.
It was not a straight road. I had setbacks, including injuries to both elbows, and I had to stop certain workouts for a while. But I worked around it. I recovered while I kept training in whatever way I could.
If I’ve learned anything, it’s that feeling strong in my 60s helps a lot with the setbacks and weirdness that come with Aging. Not because strength prevents everything, but because it grounds me.
It’s interesting how learning to do pull-ups after 60 has become about so much more than pull-ups. It’s been about patience, stubbornness, setbacks, recovery, and realizing my body is still willing to learn.
What’s one thing you’ve done scared, but did anyway?
#pullupsafter60 #pullupdrills #thisis62
