October Pull-Up Challenge

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lbenson2006
lbenson2006 Posts: 3,372 Member
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Are we starting on 10/1 or waiting until Monday 10/3 to start? One of the parts read how it fit well into a Monday to Friday schedule, so thought I'd ask. Thanks!
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  • Ben_there_done_that
    Ben_there_done_that Posts: 732 Member
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    Yeah, I just skimmed over the advanced program and it's a Mon, Wed, Fri schedule. Guess we can start on the 3rd. Good luck!
  • Raptorbh12
    Raptorbh12 Posts: 56 Member
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    Monday or Saturday. I will start a thread for our progress over the weekend.
    I will most likely start Monday.
  • Joanna2012B
    Joanna2012B Posts: 1,448 Member
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    Went to spin this morning and then into the weight room. I am so excited they have a new assisted pull up machine. I was able to do 5 assisted pull ups using 1/3 of my body weight! I am so stoked right now! I think I will really be able to complete 5 unassisted by the end!!!
  • Ben_there_done_that
    Ben_there_done_that Posts: 732 Member
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    Congrats, Joanna! I'm looking forward to hearing how much you're going to rock at pull-ups after this.
  • Joanna2012B
    Joanna2012B Posts: 1,448 Member
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    I am digging this new machine at the gym!! I am not sure exactly how to measure my progress. Today I had the weight set at 55lbs and I did 3 sets of 5. Changed my hand position each set. I am also doing dynamic movements on my pull up bar.
  • lbenson2006
    lbenson2006 Posts: 3,372 Member
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    Great job @Joanna2012B ! I'm getting pretty excited too. Will be doing my push up piece first thing in the mornings and will be doing the pull up piece either at the gym at lunch or when I get home for the day. I might make an exception and try to knock it all out in the morning tomorrow, not sure yet. I hate to push them off to lunch tomorrow in case I have to skip and I have a function after work so I won't be home till late.
  • Ben_there_done_that
    Ben_there_done_that Posts: 732 Member
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    I thought I was taking it easy this morning on day one, starting with 8 reps. It's the one-minute recovery times that killed me. What an eye-opener. Looks like there's plenty of room to improve. haha.
  • lbenson2006
    lbenson2006 Posts: 3,372 Member
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    I pushed and got them in this morning, just in case. I will try again if I go to the gym to see if the suggested 3-4 hour break between them and the push-ups makes a difference. Also at the gym I will be able to adjust the assistance amount whereas at home, I had as much help as I could get. 1st set started at 3 assisted, then 2.5 for a few sets and final set was only able to follow 1.5. Scared for pyramid day tomorrow. Lol
  • Raptorbh12
    Raptorbh12 Posts: 56 Member
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    So today was a learning experience.
    I did a 6 rep warm up or 1st working set
    Then I put two 10lb plates in a draw string backpack and did 6 more (I felt like it was going to serrate my deltoids off)
    Next I tied the backpack to a weight belt to create a "dip belt" and this was the sweet setup. I did 6 more with 20lbs hanging.
    Then I did my 4th set of 7 reps with 20lbs.
    Then I mixed it up a little and ran a half mile to the forest pull-up bars on the edge of my community and cranked out a set of 10.
    Then I did some sprints and jogged back home.

    I should have done them all straight with the strict minute rest in between but i got sidetracked by a stick bug in my garage (attention span of a 6 year old).
  • lbenson2006
    lbenson2006 Posts: 3,372 Member
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    @Raptorbh12 can I just say you are insane?!?! LOL
    Done for today. It was definitely easier with the assisted machine at the gym versus the one I have at home, and the fact that I had the 3+ hour break after the push ups might have helped too. I was able to do the pyramid successfully through 5, failed when trying to do 6. After the final maximum effort set, I did a total of 22 assisted pull ups using the 60 lb setting. YEAH!!! It was pretty exciting!! LOL
    Now for tomorrow, any suggestions for the middle set where your hands are to be together?? Both the one at home and the gym do not have a bar all the way across so that I can do the close grip. Thanks!!
  • Raptorbh12
    Raptorbh12 Posts: 56 Member
    edited October 2016
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    lbenson2006 wrote: »
    Now for tomorrow, any suggestions for the middle set where your hands are to be together?? Both the one at home and the gym do not have a bar all the way across so that I can do the close grip. Thanks!!

    pretty much the only way to do close grip is to do reverse grip (palms towards you) or "chin-ups" as everyone calls them.
    So just do reverse grip wherever you can place your hands and you will get the desired effect.
    The chin-ups work your biceps more while the palms out pull ups work your back and lats a bit more.
  • lbenson2006
    lbenson2006 Posts: 3,372 Member
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    Thanks @Raptorbh12!!
  • lbenson2006
    lbenson2006 Posts: 3,372 Member
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    Day 3 done!! Wasn't quite sure how many to put in each terrain ingredients set so I tried 3. Might bump it to 4 next time although I struggled with the the wide grip ones a lot. On those, I'll probably increase the assistance. I really struggled with the push ups this morning and could not do as many as previous days but my upper body is getting SORE! Lol. Had upper body DVD yesterday too though, so that probably didn't help.
  • Joanna2012B
    Joanna2012B Posts: 1,448 Member
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    Day 2 and 3 completed. Not very well. I am struggling with the pull up bar at home and was unable to make it to the gym. I was able to get to 3 on the pyramid :# I have been a little scattered with the pull ups this week, I did forget them on Monday. I will go at it hard next week for sure!!
  • lmbarreto
    lmbarreto Posts: 19 Member
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    I just joined the challenge. Sorry I missed the 1st week. I will start this coming Monday 10/10.
  • lbenson2006
    lbenson2006 Posts: 3,372 Member
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    Day 4 done! Was able to do 13 successful training sets of 4 each. Trying to figure out correct # for a training set seems pretty difficult. Hopefully next week will give me a little more clarity! I think for tomorrow I will repeat day one since I tried that with a different machine. I am really liking the one at the gym.

    Welcome to all the newer members. Pretty excited to see more people willing to try this.
  • Joanna2012B
    Joanna2012B Posts: 1,448 Member
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    Holy Smokes @lbenson2006 and to think you were the one nervous! Way to go girlie!!! I hope to catch up to you someday!!
  • lbenson2006
    lbenson2006 Posts: 3,372 Member
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    That's what makes me nervous now though, am I not doing enough in the training sets...am I doing too much assistance?? I don't know what I'm doing when it comes to pull ups.
  • Raptorbh12
    Raptorbh12 Posts: 56 Member
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    lbenson2006 wrote: »
    That's what makes me nervous now though, am I not doing enough in the training sets...am I doing too much assistance?? I don't know what I'm doing when it comes to pull ups.

    Start out with minimal resistance. Put as little assistance as you can while completing the minimum amount of reps for your training set.
    This will tear more muscle fibers and create deeper micro tears which will enable them to grow stronger faster.


  • Joanna2012B
    Joanna2012B Posts: 1,448 Member
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    @lbenson2006 I don't really know what I am doing either. I did 3 sets of 5 on the assisted pull up machine last night. I was at 55lbs of assistance. I am not sure if that is good or not. I really had to work at the last set too!

    This is the one movement that I have always struggled at and I am feeling a little inadequate right now :|

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