For those who can do pullups......

NinjaMom

NinjaMom

Cathlete
In order to do unassisted pull-ups, do I have to be able to lift/pull down a weight load equal to my current body weight while performing lat pull downs?

I have a Hoist home gym and have been trying to increase my weight load for lat pull downs in anticipation of STS pull-ups but I'm still unable to lift my total body weight. So if I weigh 120 and can only lift/pull 90 lbs, then chances are I'm probably not strong enough yet to do a pull-up?

I'm just trying to justify buying a bar when I may not be strong enough to use it. I know I can do assisted pull-ups but how is that different from doing a lat pull down? Aren't you using the same muscles?

What do you guys think....Thanks!

JJ
 
Hi.

I don't do lat pull downs since I don't have a machine that can do them in my home and don't work out with weights at the gym.

I just wanted to say that pull ups (assisted) have made such incredible changes in my back! OMG, I've never seen definition like I have since doing pull ups!

I hope someone can answer your question!
 
An assisted pull up is a regular pull up using your legs to help you up when you can't do it with just your u/b strength.

You can use a chair or they even sell bands made specifically to assist.
 
I still can't do pull-ups yet, but from the reading that I've done on the subject, there are several better intermediary steps to getting there that use the bar than lat pull downs.

Assisted pull ups are better because your still pulling a lot of your body weight up, as opposed to have your legs in a fixed position and pulling weight down. I also think the pull up uses more core as well. And...well...it's just plain harder to do a an assisted pull up than a lat pull down.

IMO, you'll get closer to pull ups by having a bar. The assisted versions of the pull up are still very beneficial for building strength.
 
I was not able to do ONE pullup when I started P90X. I seriously hung on the bar & thought there was NO way that I would be able to do them. But Tony on the DVD's shows ways to help assist. I used the chair for pretty much my whole first round. I would step on the chair and help myself over the bar and then slowly lower myself down (well, at first it was more of a drop down!). Go as slow as you can on the way down (negatives) and that will really help you build up strength. It worked for me and now I can do full pullups- wide grip, close grip, and a lot of chinups (hands facing in, they're a lot easier than a pullup with your hands out). Like Wendy, I've seen huge changes in my back & whole upper body from doing pullups!

I don't know about lat pull downs so hopefully someone else can answer that question.
 
Thanks for your responses.

I assumed that heavy lat pull downs worked the muscles the same way as assisted pull-ups so I figured why bother with a bar right now. But it appears the best way to build the strength is just to do them rather than try to build up to lifting my body weight first.

Time to go shopping for a bar. Any good suggestions? I'd prefer not to drill holes in my door frame but not so keen on the tension models.

JJ
 
I have the one from Beachbody. It fits in your doorway & you don't have to drill holes. You just slide it into place & slide it back out. I use it in my bedroom doorway and it works great! I love it!

You can click on my page below & if you aren't part of MDB, click on play the game (it's free). Then you can shop for products, click on accessories. Shoot me an email if you have any questions!
 
I'd like to jump in here and ask another question regarding pullups. I am currently doing the 4DS rotation. Should I add in trying to do pullups on the day I do chest and back? Or maybe a different day? I can't do any yet and would like to start (my 12 yo DD can do 10 so I have something to aspire to).
 
I think adding them in on your Chest & Back day would be fine. And maybe another additional day a week to start with. My dd's can do them too, it's amazing how strong they are! (and it helps that they have a lot less body weight to pull up! ;-) )

Really try working the negatives like I talked about above. Use a chair to get over the bar & slowly lower back down. Use different hand positions too (hands in, hands out, wider grip, closer grip). HTH!
 
JJ

Just wanted to say thank you for your question and for everyone who responded. I cannot do any pull ups and really would like to get the strength especially before STS arrives at my door. I am going to start trying to do them using Jess’ method. I guess using a chair to pull myself up and then slowing going down on my own.

Thanks for the motivation!!!
 
Ooh boy...I love chins & pull ups!! I spend at least one day a week doing that as my sole training along w/ a cardio of choice.

One thing to remember for both is that you have to be super strong in the core. Strengthening your core should be a big focus in your training with a mix of heavy weights abs, no weights, balance moves, etc.

Of course, strength everywhere else is also quite important. Lifting heavy was a big push to helping me able to conquer this goal. I agree with working on the negatives of the movement...also holding longer at the top, and holding halfway down for a count of ten.

Wheeeee!!!


Debbie


Everyone is entitled to an opinion. It's just that yours is stupid.
 
As of right now, there is nooo hope that I will even be able to one pull-up. That said, I am still stoked to try because I know I will see great results by just trying to get ther! I think I am going to buy a power tower. They have them at Dick's and are about $100. I don't think DH will let put a pull up bar in the door way :(

But, at least the power tower won't take up a bunch of room--and I can do knee raises and aspire to doing hanging leg raises! Ouch! I'm sore just thinking about all that!
 
IMO, lat pulldowns don't help with doing pullups. The only to do them is to DO THEM! I started with one chin-up, and progressed from there. They are cool to do because they are so tough, and you'll feel so accomplished and strong when you can actually do them. I have the Iron Woody bands to do assisted's. Chinups are supposed to be the best exercise for biceps, too.
 
Don't lose hope. Seriously, I thought it was a joke when I first tried to do them. Just keep at it and you'll keep seeing progress. Like Cakebaker said, you'll feel so accomplished once you can do them!! In the new P90X+ DVD's, there are all kinds of great ab moves using the bar too, so you can use it for more than just pullups!
 
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