Maximum Fitness Potential

[valerii]

Is anyone aware of methodology to determine an individual's maximum fitness potential? Specifically, I'm looking to set realistic expectations for myself with regard to increasing upper body strength. I recently installed a pull-up bar only to realize that I cannot complete even one.

[lax854]

Is anyone aware of methodology to determine an individual's maximum fitness potential? Specifically, I'm looking to set realistic expectations for myself with regard to increasing upper body strength. I recently installed a pull-up bar only to realize that I cannot complete even one.

There is no real set maxium fitness potential for an individual. People may argue it is in the genes. Everyone has the potential to maximize their fitness abilities, however, if your goal lets say as a women is to bench 300 lbs, your goals are just not realistic. Now this is an extreme example, but it is true that our bodies will only let us go so far. Certainly, with the proper work outs and diet, your fitness goals will become more reachable as long as they are not unrealistic.

[kihun_cha]

I am assuming that you just started working out recently? If so, the pull up is not the work out that you should start with. Try to go to gym and use the work-out machines that develope shoulder and back muscle, and those machines you can insert weights. Pull up is basically lifting your whole body weight and that is a lot of weights for some people.

[lax854]

I am assuming that you just started working out recently? If so, the pull up is not the work out that you should start with. Try to go to gym and use the work-out machines that develope shoulder and back muscle, and those machines you can insert weights. Pull up is basically lifting your whole body weight and that is a lot of weights for some people.

yeah you are right in this aspect. If you do an exercise such as a pull up and lets say you can only do one rep if even that. You are putting your body under extreme stress and that increases the risk of injury. Actually, in most gyms, they have an assisted pull up machine. It is a machine that subtracts your body weight and gives added resistance inorder for you to pull yourself up more easily. Good for beginners who want to get used to the movement!

[MisterK]

Is anyone aware of methodology to determine an individual's maximum fitness potential? Specifically, I'm looking to set realistic expectations for myself with regard to increasing upper body strength. I recently installed a pull-up bar only to realize that I cannot complete even one.

The trick is to lift heavy things... and then put them down... repeat....

[valerii]

Thank you all for the tips! I tend to analyze and search to quanitfy nearly everything - my workouts included. Sounds the like the only way to determine my maximum fitness potential is the old fashioned way...plain ol' working out!

[james13f]

Start out with push-ups. You can control the muscles you work by moving your arms....you work your chest if your arms are spread wide, triceps and shoulders when they are close together.

Make sure you keep a good posture, to get the maximum effect and reduce stress on your back. Keep your back straight, feet within 12 inches of each other, and look out, not down. Remember to breathe as you exercise! (can be harder to do than you think!)

The best way to initially build up is this:

30 seconds of PU (put you knees on the ground if you can't do any more straight PUs, but KEEP GOING the whole time)

45 seconds of resting....repeat 3-5 times.

After you are able to do PUs for all 30 seconds of all the sets, lower your rest time to 30 seconds.....after you can do that, 15 seconds, and after that you're doing 1.5-2.5 minutes of PU straight!!!

It takes TIME, and you must keep doing it.

Body-weight resistance exercises are a good way to build yourself up. Push-ups, pull-ups, crunches, flutter-kicks, knee-benders...good stuff!!! Make sure you work cardio as well by running, get a good pair of shoes....check out coolrunning.com for a real good start-up running program.

Good luck! Have patience with yourself, and DON'T QUIT. You might not see results for months, but if you feel the burn it's working!!!

[Bearcat06]

Talk with The13ig13adWolf. She would be one of our fitness guru's around here.....

And if you look at her avatar....you will know why.....:D

[valerii]

Good luck! Have patience with yourself, and DON'T QUIT. You might not see results for months, but if you feel the burn it's working!!!

Thanks for the tips and motivation! Push-ups are also a struggle for me. I'm still at the modified stage (knees on the ground), but I'm steadily seeing progress.

[valerii]

Talk with The13ig13adWolf. She would be one of our fitness guru's around here.....

And if you look at her avatar....you will know why.....:D

You are a mind reader! I JUST came across a post by her, saw her avatar (which of course is VERY impressive!), and started reading a thread of her workout advice.