? for honeybunch

[workout junkie]

Hey honeybunch,

I notice you post a lot of advice regarding push-ups, pull-ups, etc. In fact I have printed out many of your posts and links to doing pull-ups. I have a bunch of questions for you.

Do you do chin-ups or pull-ups?
Between reps, do you come down to the point when your arms are straight or is there a bend in your elbow? And if so, how much of a bend?
I've been primarily working on chin-ups, but I really want to work on defining my back more, so I think I need to focus on doing pull-ups too. Do you think doing lat pull-downs will help me build my strength?
Do you think lat pull-downs will make me too "wide" up top? I want to build strength and definition, but I'm already v-shaped and don't want to get much wider.
I've been beginning my workouts with as many chin-ups and push-ups that I can do. Do you think push-ups work the front of the shoulder too much? Is there another compound exercise that will help work the rear delts? I don't want to become unbalanced.

I think I've asked enough questions for now...

TIA,
Melissa

 

[honeybunch1]

I do primarily chin-ups, but I'm learning to do pull-ups also. I come down to the point of "arms slightly bent," so I don't go to a dead hang

Really, IMO, nothing compares to pull-ups for building your strength. Lots of people can push big weights when doing lat-pull downs and can't do one pull-up. Lat pull-downs will not make you too wide on top. Instead of doing lat pull-downs, I would urge you to do inverted rows:

http://www.muscleandfitnesshers.com/hers/120804/HER112004_smith_77a.jpg

http://www.muscleandfitnesshers.com/hers/120804/HER112004_smith_77b.jpg

I honestly get all the upper body work I need with push-ups, inverted rows and chin-ups - rear delts included. If in doubt, look in the mirror.

Hope this helps!

"You can't win them all - but you can try." - Babe Zaharias http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/musik/music-smiley-004.gif[/img]

 

[workout junkie]

Thanks for responding honeybunch! I don't think I've heard of inverted rows before. I like the idea of doing them until I can work my way up to pull-ups (if ever), but I don't have the right equipment at home. My husband has a lat pull-down machine so that's why I thought of using that to build up my strength. Maybe I can figure out a way to do inverted rows at home...I really like the looks of that exercise. And thanks for posting those pictures - which are worth a thousand words. That helps a lot!!

Melissa