Pull Ups and Chin-ups

music815

Any ideas on how I can build myself up to doing these completely.

stealthq

Do you have access to a gym? There may be an assisted pull-up/chin-up machine. Lat pull downs will do it, too. By the time you're pulling your body weight or more you should be able to manage a couple.

LishieFruit89

Any ideas on how I can build myself up to doing these completely.

Negatives.
Using resistance bands as assistance

hesn92

A friend of mine just had a pull up bar in her apartment somewhere and she'd go try to pull herself up on it at random until she could do it. (took her several weeks I think, she is a small framed girl) You can also use a chair to assist yourself, and you can also do reverse pull ups... where you start in the up position and slowly lower yourself down.

ninerbuff

I start all of my clients on inverted pullups so they get used to pulling their own weight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1bSeAbw5kQ

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

JoRocka

negative pull ups
inverted pull ups
lat pulldown
bb rows
db rows
band pull ups
self assited pull ups (with chair or band)

lastly is the stupid pull up assist machine- that thing is largely useless- much like knee push ups do little to help getting to full push ups- it's sort of useful- but there are (as listed) so many other ways to get to where you need to go faster.

PatheticNoetic

This is one of my goals. To do these one day.

music815

Thank you guys I will give this a try because I really think it'll help build my back. I'm going to try the negatives because I have a gym in my building! Thanks again you guys rock!

tmdou1

+1 for the inverted pull ups
Also, check out this link:
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/04/25/do-a-pull-up/

waldo56

I personally think that DB rows are the best way to work up to them.

They really isolate the lats so you can feel them working individually, plus they are an excellent strengthening exercise.

As you get stronger at rows, eventually you'll be able to jump up on the bar and do a pullup without issue.

Using the lats is a big problem for beginners, all of the best ways to work up to pullups really focus on feeling the lats work (inverted rows are good for this too). Beginners tend try to use way too much arm when trying to do a pull/chin, and don't lean back and engage their lats.

Mellyajc

Pole dancing class did it for me.

dsnapp3

Good link for the nerdfitness advice. Also, the follwing is good http://www.alkavadlo.com/2010/09/16/learning-to-do-a-pull-up/