Hey guys, been doing p90x for a while now but when it came to doing the pull ups in the videos, I've always used the resistance band method. I recently bought a pull up bar and the intensity is so much higher than with the bands. The problem is, is it normal that the muscles on your back under the arm pits (lats?) supposed to hurt? Even after just raising myself up on the bar those muscles feel sore like crazy. Am I doing it wrong or is it natural. Also, is there anyway to get rid of this pain when doing pull ups or will I have to keep practicing. Thanks!

Chances are your lats are just really weak compared to your other muscles. The bands are great but they only simulate pull-ups. There's always something you can do to cheat without even realizing it when using the bands.

Once you shift to the bar you actually have to lift yourself properly and all those muscles are straining. If it's just normal muscle burn then don't worry about it. If it feels really bad then I would see someone about it, there's always a possibility you hurt yourself. Don't worry too much about not being able to do them right away, I went from 20+ with the bands to 3 on the bar. You'll get better and strengthen up any weak areas.

I completely agree. I went from resistance bands to an actual bar, and had the same experience with being sore. As you practice and progress, you'll get stronger and less sore (the soreness won't go away, but you'll more easily recognize it as being "good" sore instead of pain). Good luck!

Hi!
The first two weeks, I used the bands---then I bought a pull-up bar and boy what a difference! I coudn't even do a pull-up----I need to use a chair for help. And yes, it was hurting a lot more than when I used the bands!!! I felt muscles working that hadn't been worked with the bands!! From what I read, it gets better.

Yeah, what everyone said is dead on. As Corp_T said, your lats are just probably weak. When you add more weight to any muscle group, your muscles have to work much faster, muscle contraction works by a myosin cross bridge forming to an actin head. So if you are not putting too much resistance on your muscles, not many cross bridges need to be formed, when your body is not used to the weight, your body will just use the actin and myosin that it always has used for that weight. (That is why when you first do a few, it seems like you are going to die, haha). Once your body gets used to it, your body will compensate accordingly. So don't worry about it, it is perfectly normal. When I first started out doing pull ups, I was only able to do maybe 6 or 7 a set. But as the program progressed, I upped it significantly.

I never encountered this problem than again i didn't start doing pull ups using resistance bands. If you are still having to much soreness or cant do any kind of pull ups use this kind of bands http://www.academy.com/index.php?page=content&target=products/fitness/toning/pilates&start=0&selectedSKU=0424-00404-1897

I recently finished phase one. During this time i used all the colors and was able to do 11-14 pull ups depending on what type. The cool thing about this is that when you are doing your pull up is more natural in form and so on unlike using a chair. Now during phase to i only use the Heavy and Medium band to keep me up it's harder but it still gives me that good workout on all the muscles developing them all equally.

Well hope this helps.

I know exactly what you are talking about, this soreness is completely normal and will go away with time, just stick with it...