queston on pull-ups

[Alpha-Male]

alright, i hate to admit this, but even though i can lat pull well over 200lbs, i can only manage 8 frickin pullups first set, first exercise, and then 6 and 5 respectively...is this okay? i know i need to keep hitting 'em in order to improve, but damn, it doesn't even seem worthwhile (even though im sure it is)...would just like to hear it from someone...thanks

AM

[SprinterOne]

It's not horrible. If you want to start improving quicker try weighted pull ups. Even if you can only do 3 or so, your unweighted reps will go up more quickly this way.

[Cuttup]

pull ups are a bytch! But thats cause they work!

[phwSSJ]

Its almost the same as going from a smith machine bench press to a REAL bench press.

Not only are you recruting more muscles but your body has to get used to it neurologically.

Just keep doing them and you will get better.


BTW pullups are one of the best upper body exercises ever!

[collar]

do u mean chin ups????
if so keep at it eventually u will start improving
they are the best.... squats are like the main excercisefor legs...... well chin ups is the main excercise for back with barbell rows imo.....

[Syndicate]

I was in the same boat a year and a half ago... On back day, start your workout with pullups... Do 50 reps in how many ever sets it takes you. Arnold used to do it and I figured, what do I have to lose? I can do 20 before I have to stop now... After you can do 15 start adding weight with the chain belt. You will grow wings off this I promise!

[cdogge]

alright, i hate to admit this, but even though i can lat pull well over 200lbs, i can only manage 8 frickin pullups first set, first exercise, and then 6 and 5 respectively...is this okay? i know i need to keep hitting 'em in order to improve, but damn, it doesn't even seem worthwhile (even though im sure it is)...would just like to hear it from someone...thanks

AM

are you doing these palms in or out?

[S.P.G]

Add one pull each workout,,

[Deezuhl]

which pull ups you referring to?? wide grip military style??

[Alpha-Male]

yeah, wide grip, palms forward, i thought were 'regular' pull-ups/chin-ups...i suck at 'em...

[4U2NV]

Keep it up bro its a great exercise and like other said a must on back day.

[Hypertrophy]

I would visit the assisted chin machine. The assisted machine does a few things for me. First, it doesn't have a bar connecting the handles. This allows me to keep my torso more erect and move straight up, contracting harder. With a bar directly over head, you have to move back slightly, which causes you to recruit the biceps. I get a much better overall contraction on the assisted machine. I can do unassisted chins, with no problems, but feel it more in the biceps because of the angle of pull due to the bar above my head. After all, working out is all about muscular contractions. . .

[devil1]

i would have to disagree with you hyper, i believe if you want to improve on free hanging pull ups you need to do free hanging pull ups. i used to only be able to do 5, on a good day. i tried everything, what worked for me was doing them once aweek sometimes twice, i would set a small goal like four sets of five. after a couple of weeks i was able to jump it up to four sets of seven. once you get them going you just keep getting better and better.

[HOLLYWOOD]

keep at it man, my suggestion is to get really good at chins, once you've accomplished this your back will blow-up! they've worked wonders for me!

[clockworks]

It took me 8 months to finally be able to do 3 sets of 10 wide grip chin ups. I was weak as f-ck when I started working out though. I used the assisted pull up machine with 80 lbs of assistance. Every workout I would lower the assistance for just one set. Every month I would _try_ to lower the assistance for all the sets by 10 lbs. Once I could start doing 3 sets of 10 on my own with no assistance, I started strapping on weight. The best I ever did with wide grip pullups was 3 sets of 10 with 25 lbs strapped to me. I've tried with 45 lbs strapped on, but could only get like 5-6 reps and only on the first set. I made a HUGE mistake of not strapping on the extra weight anymore and now I've regressed to 3 sets of 10 with no weight again. Its fairly easy though.

[Toenail Juice Z]

I tried doing chins yesterday and I couldn't even pull out 1.

I've never attempted them before BUT I've been training for so many years now, do barbell bent over rows with over 180lbsl, so I thought it wouldn't be a problem for me. What a **** I am. Gotta keep at it then.

[Smallie]

I improved on chin ups, doing the reps i could normally do, then doing iso and negatives only.

[Alpha-Male]

I tried doing chins yesterday and I couldn't even pull out 1.

I've never attempted them before BUT I've been training for so many years now, do barbell bent over rows with over 180lbsl, so I thought it wouldn't be a problem for me. What a **** I am. Gotta keep at it then.

yeah, i feel exactly the same way...and now, since i had been outta the gym for a few months, i tried 'em the other day, put up a whoppin' 6, 5, 4...whoooohoooo for me...glad i workout at a private gym, otherwise, my fellow meatheads would be

[Darkness]

Well if you were in the marines you'd be in trouble.... I can do 42...yes 42. I know a few guys that can do over 50 pull ups but they dont weigh as much as me. The best thing for you to do is do them everyday morning and night. I normally only do them once a week now, but I still do 100 reps in 3 sets.

[chest6]

Do pullups really work the back that well?? Every time I do them it seems like they work my shoulders and biceps and I dont really feel it in my back.

[boondockSAINT]

Well if you were in the marines you'd be in trouble.... I can do 42...yes 42. I know a few guys that can do over 50 pull ups but they dont weigh as much as me. The best thing for you to do is do them everyday morning and night. I normally only do them once a week now, but I still do 100 reps in 3 sets.

I just saw a friend of a friend this past weekend and he was in the military. Looked jacked. After asking him he said he can do over 50 pullups, and when I asked about pushups he said he can pretty much do them until whenever. I was very impressed.

By the way, I am also impressed with the person above who used the term "fellow meatheads".

[LittleNate]

Do pullups really work the back that well?? Every time I do them it seems like they work my shoulders and biceps and I dont really feel it in my back.

you shouldnt be using your biceps much at all....you have to really focus on contracting your lats.

[Billyspt4]

As long as you can do pullups, you're getting a good workout, just have someone spot you and make you do the rest to finish the set

[Alpha-Male]

By the way, I am also impressed with the person above who used the term "fellow meatheads".

is that a dig?

[clockworks]

you shouldnt be using your biceps much at all....you have to really focus on contracting your lats.

I found that arching your back and pulling towards your chest (not your chin) helps with that.

[IronFreakX]

if ur doing fine with ur bod ...y do u need them...?

[justin2305]

do em til u fail whether it be 2times or 20times, u will be able to do more as time goes on bro just keep at it

[HOLLYWOOD]

do em til u fail whether it be 2times or 20times, u will be able to do more as time goes on bro just keep at it

yes thank u, the only way to get stronger at something is to do it! practise makes perfect!

[Toenail Juice Z]

yeah, i feel exactly the same way...and now, since i had been outta the gym for a few months, i tried 'em the other day, put up a whoppin' 6, 5, 4...whoooohoooo for me...glad i workout at a private gym, otherwise, my fellow meatheads would be

From now on whenever its shoulder day, I make sure to go late at night.

[HOLLYWOOD]

no man i think you should think the other way with lagging bodyparts, go when people will talk smack to you so you push through plateaus or force that bodypart to work harder, this is what i do, when i work legs because my legs and calves are lagging i wear shorts so people make comments, and it makes me work harder

[Billyspt4]

no man i think you should think the other way with lagging bodyparts, go when people will talk smack to you so you push through plateaus or force that bodypart to work harder, this is what i do, when i work legs because my legs and calves are lagging i wear shorts so people make comments, and it makes me work harder

I agree alot, plus you'll really get pumped by watching or even just being around the other people.