Pullups and Greasing the Groove

LoudmouthLee
LoudmouthLee Posts: 358 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi, everyone!

I'm getting annoyed with myself (annoyed is the wrong word... just.. meh) about my inability to do a single pullup. I understand that this is a work in progress, and I am worlds better than I used to be. I'm not looking for a quick fix, I just get really pissed when I have to do jumping Pull-Ups and I can barely hold the negative.

I am considering just greasing the groove and just installing a pressure bar in my kitchen. Every time I pass it, I need to at least attempt 1 pull-up. Every single time.

Is this a ridiculous way? Will I see any gains? I'm not looking to join the CrossFit games, but hot damn, I'd like to be able to do 10 consecutive by the end of the summer.

Thanks!

Replies

  • rickloving
    rickloving Posts: 90 Member
    I think it is a great idea, I mounted a chin up bar above my bedroom doorframe. I would generally do as many as I could whenevenr entering or leaving the room. Started with 1 or 2...eventually could easily knock out 10-15, started using wider/narrower grips for variety. Then I moved, didn't re-install bar, and need to get back to it....
  • rassha01
    rassha01 Posts: 534 Member
    Have you been doing any specific training to get more reps? I started a program about a month ago from Scoobys Workshop (you can google it) and I have gone from being able to do 1 rep to doing 3 sets of 5. This was a personal goal. I have been doing the training 2x a week and definately see the results.
  • LoudmouthLee
    LoudmouthLee Posts: 358 Member
    Have you been doing any specific training to get more reps? I started a program about a month ago from Scoobys Workshop (you can google it) and I have gone from being able to do 1 rep to doing 3 sets of 5. This was a personal goal. I have been doing the training 2x a week and definately see the results.

    I'm a CrossFit guy (just started a week ago), and I've noticed that it's an integral movement. Trying to get better.
  • tacguy
    tacguy Posts: 196
    Pull-ups are tough, that's for sure. One method is to use a chair. You can keep the chair close and put one foot on it. This will take some of your body weight out of the equation. As you get stronger, move the chair further away, this will put more body weight into the equation. Keep doing this until you can do them unassisted.
    You can also do negatives. Use the chair to get all the way up, then take your feet off of the chair and lower yourself as slowly as possible. This can help you gain the strength needed to do them unassisted.
    Beachbody sells a product called the Pull-Up Assist. It's basically a band that attaches to the bar. You put a foot into the other end. This takes off some of your body weight and you can gradually reduce the resistance.
    Check out this video as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V4PUXDDDIY

    Good luck!!
    Joe
  • LoudmouthLee
    LoudmouthLee Posts: 358 Member
    Has anyone else used resistance bands?
  • healthyKYgirl
    healthyKYgirl Posts: 272 Member
    I have used resistance bands. Those help, but I weigh too much right now to do them without assistance. Something that is helping me build my back is inverted rows, pull-downs, dumbbell and barbell rows.
  • astronomicals
    astronomicals Posts: 1,537 Member
    I think you'd see better results by doing assisted pullups in a range where you can do at least 10 and do reps of 8 or so (dont go to failure).... This isn't because thats a magic number of reps. The reasoning is that "frequency work" like this shouldn't be to failure or it will interfere with your normal training, and typically slow progress. In other words, you could hinder recovery. It could easily hurt your bench, rows, and press.

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