I had a dream

marylynndrake

In this dream I did a pull-up. Well actually, not just a pull-up but various pull-ups with my hands in all kinds of positions and I even did one where I was essentially laying on my side. It was awesome! I've been reading that several of you are doing pull-ups and I got on the assisted pull-up machine the other day. But I really haven't done anything. Wondering- for you who do pull-ups- why do you do the pull-ups, when did you add them, what have you noticed about your fitness after adding them? Thanks!

engodwin

So totally not what you're asking but.... The Mister called me into the other room and asked if I could do a pull up. I laughed and said No. BUT! I actually surprised myself when I did not 1 but 2! WOOT Not even sure how that happens. Haven't been working on them specifically.

marylynndrake

Engodwin: that's awesome! Congrats! Maybe I'll be there someday

canadianlbs

marylynndrake wrote: »

Wondering- for you who do pull-ups- why do you do the pull-ups, when did you add them, what have you noticed about your fitness after adding them? Thanks!

i wish i did do pullups but not yet.

how they got into my life had nothing to do with me really. i belong to this group of women who lift that meets once a month or so, and a lot of women really wanted to do 'at least one' because it was their big "badass" move. so the facilitator/trainer scheduled a pullup-101 type workshop and i was at it. that was around a month ago and i made it a slow extra project.

in terms of badass factor, i still don't really see them as all that sparkly. i'd much rather be able to do a good barbell clean from the floor, myself. but i'm on the bandwagon and working towards them for a couple of reasons:

- main one was how compound they were. huge core turn-on. i got into them because it's like a plank with afterburners, on super-premium gas. i was sore for days afterwards.
- because i hate rows. i hate, hate rows and have never felt like i was getting any benefit from them. the pullup thing turned on so many lightbulbs about 'engaging' and turning on upper-back and shoulder muscles that i've never really made the connection about before then.
- i love the whole lats factor. i want me some lats.
- shoulder health. i'm just doing accessory/beginner stage exercises with the pulldown bar still, but i really feel it's been huge in terms of adding extra stabilization muscle and protective 'bulk' around my shoulder joints. it's a big deal for me and i'm really feeling the benefits in terms of finding bench and ohp not nearly as twingey/impingey as i was before. it's pointed me what direction to go for getting my rhomboids and traps in on the act, which helps a huge amount with posture and keeping my shoulderblades neutral.
- left/right equalizing. you should have seen how most of us corkscrewed towards our dominant side while we were pulling ourselves up to that bar ;-) this has always bugged me and been something i'm trying to minimize. guess i like how a pullup actually shows you what's going on there, so i'm finding it gives a better change at correction and making the lazy side work too, compared with just trying to figure out if a barbell is following a level path.

marylynndrake

That sounds like a great group! These are great reasons, canadianslbs. I am so new at weightlifting and my lower body is so large compared to my upper. I'm still not sure I want it to be a goal (but I guess I'm leaning that way since I'm even dreaming about it)! I almost made a fool of myself on the assisted pull-up machine the other day- almost dropped the entire weight from the highest point when I was trying to figure out how to dismount! I think I'll try some more on the playground equipment before going to gym equipment. Thanks for the reply!

threnjen

Canadianlbs what an awesome list thank you!! I usually try to do some work on the assisted pullup machine at least once a week and now I definitely want to keep that up.