Pullovers
- Thread starter Gibbee
- Start date
beachgerrrl
Cathlete
Oh, I love pullovers. 
I don't know how Cathe does the pullovers in S&H, but in other videos she uses a barbell. I have always used a dumbell.
I tried it for the first time with a barbell the other day, and eventhough I was using the same wt in both (20 lb), I preferred the dumbell. It just felt better. So, maybe try that? See if it is easier for you.
And I hope you are not worrying about matching whatever weight Cathe uses. I love when she does tell you what weight she has in each exercise, but I like it because it gives me a gauge of what to aim for. However, I have been playing it safe, and trying the same exercises with much lighter weight. I'd rather move up in the next set, than risk a joint injury, you know?
I don't know how Cathe does the pullovers in S&H, but in other videos she uses a barbell. I have always used a dumbell. I tried it for the first time with a barbell the other day, and eventhough I was using the same wt in both (20 lb), I preferred the dumbell. It just felt better. So, maybe try that? See if it is easier for you.
And I hope you are not worrying about matching whatever weight Cathe uses. I love when she does tell you what weight she has in each exercise, but I like it because it gives me a gauge of what to aim for. However, I have been playing it safe, and trying the same exercises with much lighter weight. I'd rather move up in the next set, than risk a joint injury, you know?
kathryn
Cathlete
I'm not sure why you want to substitute for pullovers: are they uncomfortable for you? Do you just not like them?
Pullovers are great because they are about the only at-home exercise you can do that more closely simulates pulldowns that you can do in a gym. Quite a few weight training books state that pulldowns work the width of the lats , while rows work more the thickness. I don't know how true that is, but the two moves (pulldowns or pullovers and rows) do work the muscle differently.
However, I NEVER do the pullovers the way Cathe does in PUB (holding the ends of the dumbbell). I can't safely hold more than a 15" dumbbell that way, because of small hands, and I look to safety first! I hold one end of the dumbbell in both hands.
If you have a weight machine that allows you do do pulldowns, you could use that instead of doing pullovers. Or, if you have heavy resistance bands (like Bline bands that are sold at www.beachbody.com , of Lifeline bands (both of these are actually more like heavy rubber cords with handles), and a way to safely attach them at the top of a door (I found a very safe and effective door attachment at www.sissel-online.com ), then you could do pulldowns that way.
Pullovers are great because they are about the only at-home exercise you can do that more closely simulates pulldowns that you can do in a gym. Quite a few weight training books state that pulldowns work the width of the lats , while rows work more the thickness. I don't know how true that is, but the two moves (pulldowns or pullovers and rows) do work the muscle differently.
However, I NEVER do the pullovers the way Cathe does in PUB (holding the ends of the dumbbell). I can't safely hold more than a 15" dumbbell that way, because of small hands, and I look to safety first! I hold one end of the dumbbell in both hands.
If you have a weight machine that allows you do do pulldowns, you could use that instead of doing pullovers. Or, if you have heavy resistance bands (like Bline bands that are sold at www.beachbody.com , of Lifeline bands (both of these are actually more like heavy rubber cords with handles), and a way to safely attach them at the top of a door (I found a very safe and effective door attachment at www.sissel-online.com ), then you could do pulldowns that way.
Gibbee
Cathlete
Thanks for the suggestions. It's not that they're painful, but I worry about impingement since I'm already prone to bicepts tendonitis, which you feel in the anterior portion of the shoulder. I may try to the bands. I hate to leave them out but if and until I get a gym membership to use a pull down machine, I need to find something besides rows of every variation!
kathryn
Cathlete
>Thanks for the suggestions. It's not that they're painful,
>but I worry about impingement since I'm already prone to
>bicepts tendonitis, which you feel in the anterior portion of
>the shoulder.
I'm careful to avoid moves that might cause impingement as well (due to past problems with one shoulder). But I find that the position I use for the dumbbell (palms facing each other with two hands holding one end of the bell)opens the shoulders (more than a palms-forward position using a barbell would) so that impingement is not really a problem.
>but I worry about impingement since I'm already prone to
>bicepts tendonitis, which you feel in the anterior portion of
>the shoulder.
I'm careful to avoid moves that might cause impingement as well (due to past problems with one shoulder). But I find that the position I use for the dumbbell (palms facing each other with two hands holding one end of the bell)opens the shoulders (more than a palms-forward position using a barbell would) so that impingement is not really a problem.