pull ups

darine

darine

Cathlete
I can't even do one!!!

I finally got the P90x (used from someone locally advertise on the net)

I will start saturday. I got a pull up bar. I can barely lift myself. Do you think with practice I will be able to do that?

I really want to... but it seems I have a long way to go. But I know sometimes our body does what we never thought we can do. Like I surprised myself once by ding 30 push ups pn my toes!!! I had no idea I can do that.

What is your experience with pull ups?

thx
 
I'm still doing them assisted.

LauraMax - Do you have a ceiling mounted pull up bar? Check out this home made gravitron on the Crossfit forum (5th post down).

http://board.crossfit.com/showthread.php?t=23545

I made a similar one for myself at home and it works great! It was much cheaper than a set of Iron Woody bands and easy to put together.

I also like the fact that it's easier to actually gauge how much weighted assistance I'm using.
 
I don't get the pull up assist... never heard of that

what is that??? I will do research on the net.... never heard of it
 
Hey, that's pretty cool! And very innovative, I swear I don't know how people come up w/this stuff!

My pull up bar is rather odd--it's a corner mounted bar. I don't really have doorways in my basement (the wood paneling isn't thick enough) & I was a little nervous about putting one on the ceiling (visions of Laura falling on her ever-growing a$$ :p). The corner mounted bar is SO awesome--it has slanted brackets so it fits nicely into one corner & is very.....ahem.........well hung. ;)

ETA: Darine, check out YouTube, I think there are lots of vids there.
 
darine said:
I don't get the pull up assist... never heard of that

what is that??? I will do research on the net.... never heard of it
Click to expand...

Pretty much an assisted pull up is any kind where you have some sort of mechanism, like bands or a counter weight (in my example), helping get you up over the bar.
 
I can do 4-5 unassisted wide grip pull ups/set and 5-6 chin ups (much easier, in my opinion). When I started doing P90X, I could barely eke out 1-2 and then I would use the chair assist with one foot on. Keep at it and you'll get there. As tough as they can be, I have to say I love what they did for my back. I'm sure the ladies on the pull up check-in would have some great advice to offer, too.

Good luck!
 
Gayle said:
I'm still doing them assisted.

LauraMax - Do you have a ceiling mounted pull up bar? Check out this home made gravitron on the Crossfit forum (5th post down).

http://board.crossfit.com/showthread.php?t=23545

I made a similar one for myself at home and it works great! It was much cheaper than a set of Iron Woody bands and easy to put together.

I also like the fact that it's easier to actually gauge how much weighted assistance I'm using.
Click to expand...


That is so cool!! This would be a great project for my DH. He does assisted dips at the gym, but it would be great to be able to do something like this at home! Thanks for the link! (And I may be PMing you in the future to get some help when we try it!)
 
I haven't even tried to do a pull-up but I already know it's something that will take me a long time to work up to. I know this because I have so much trouble with push-ups. For a long time, I did push ups on my knees and when I tried doing them on my toes I was shocked that I just couldn't get near the floor without my body completely giving way ("kissing the carpet" as Cathe has said). Does anyone else here have this problem? I figure, if my chest can't take it my back probably can't, either. The weird thing is this: All day long I lift, push, and pull heavy equipment so I can't understand why these moves are so impossible for me. At any rate, though I'm broke, by hook or crook, I'm getting Cathe's pull-up bar as soon as it's available because there's no way I can lift all of me up over a doorway bar. I wish I had an assisted chin-up/dip machine but the cheapest I've seen is $600. If I had $600 I'd get my gutters fixed!
 
First of all...

Yeah for getting P90X! :D I was the same way last year when I started. I took the fit test and just hung on the bar, I could hardly get 1/4 of the way up. I was sooo bummed. But I made it my goal to do them!! (and when I set a goal, watch out! :eek:)

I followed the chair modifications in P90X. I put my foot on the chair and used it to push my way over the bar and then lowered myself slowly back down. I still felt it in every muscle in my back!! I was able to do chinups unassisted first, about a month into it. (I find them easier, my biceps are stronger) It took me longer to do a full wide grip pullup. I still think they're tough and on a good day can get 5 in a row. But... I can do them and continue to build strength.

Another thing that I've been doing now is doing as many as I can, and then I have my dh standing behind me. He grabs my legs (kind of at my shins, I criss cross my feet) and gives me a boost when I need it. It's similar to that band shown, it just gives you that *little* bit of assistance that you need. We did Back & Biceps last Wed and I was sore for 3 days doing them that way!

Good luck! Chinups/ pullups are awesome!! I can't believe the change in my back, I can post a before/ after shot if you're interested!
 
sure

I would love to see pictures

I am super motivated and yes, I made it a goal to become stronger and do pull ups. I can't wait to start. I have all the diet too. I will see if I will follow it. It will give me an idea about what I need to eat. I am not into following it 100%. But I will follow the general idea for the diet.

Show me pics and I cannot wait for this weekend to start. I took few days off to come back strong. I will miss Cathe for 3 months.... But I am so excited! It's different and will certainly shock my body. I want to take pictures too and see changes in my body.

Yeahhh.. I am excited... as you can tell :)
 
OK...

Here you go! My first before shot- back rolls. (this picture was my wakeup call before I started P90X- yikes!!!) The after was taken in July- back muscles! I need to take some new ones!

Good luck and ask away if you have any questions!!
 

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I am also amazed at how weak my chest and back are. I just started the 100 pushup program and let's just say I have a loooooooooooong way to go to do even 1 pushup on my toes! When I was in good shape I tried a pullup and ha! what a joke! I've also had a very active job for all but the last of those past 5 years.....lifting hay bales, cleaning stalls, carrying 50lb grain bags, walking and leading 1000lb+ horses...until last year I had the best upper body of my life and I still couldn't do either exercise!
I don't even know how to *try* pullups other than with the smith bar from the ground?
 
i can't do pull ups either. what i'm doing now is using my high step and holding the top of the pull up movement and then lowering my body down slow and controled. this is negative work but it will build strength and i will eventually get to pull up my weight.
 
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