Newbie with pull-up goal

sktuggle · May 2012

I am just starting to do some weight training and have decided that before I turn the big 35 in October, I want to be able to do ONE pull-up unassisted. I am very weak in the shoulders and upper body, so this is going to be a hard challenge. I hope it's attainable! Anyone out there want to join me?

PANZERIA · May 2012

I will!!!

I've never been able to do a pull up, so I'm hoping to do ONE!!! before the end of the year. =D

flyerjessi1 · May 2012

I will!

I can only do assisted pull ups and want to be able to do at least one without!:happy:

rmhand · May 2012

I will jump on this motivation band wagon. I suppose I will have to start trying unassisted more often.

nermal6873 · June 2012

I'll join too! I'd love to be able to do one by the end of summer (mid-August). Hopefully that's not too lofty of a goal...

Bunnybeesweet · June 2012

You can do it ladies!!!! And it is so worth the effort. I am a very narrow shouldered, petite, 40 year old and I just achieved my first un-assisted pull-up this week! I've been using the Lifeline revolution band during my P90x2 workouts. About a month ago I started doing "negatives" (going as slow as possible on the way down of the last 3 reps of each set) and really pushing myself every time i workout to use less support. I made marks on the band and numbered them so I could keep track for logging each exercise.

This is by far the most satisfying, empowering and exciting fitness achievement of my life.

NOW I'M WORKING ON DOING 2 IN A ROW!!!!!

juliebeannn · June 2012

me tooo!!!

my goal is to be able to do an unassisted pull up by my first tough mudder on 10/21!

somigliana · June 2012

Oh, good luck.

It's my goal as well. I was using the gym assist machine at first, but it gives you equal assistance all the way to the top - and I haven't made much progress beyond the initial gains. I've just ordered a set of three pull up assist rubber bands & have starting doing negatives.

nermal6873 · June 2012

I found this video that shows some tips for training to be able to do a pull-up and thought I'd share

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oblWkK88_Vw&feature=plcp

Hopefully this helps someone!

firefir1122 · June 2012

i am so in!!

deninevi · June 2012

I'm working on increasing from 4 to 5 and eventually to 10 chin ups. I'm still on just one pull up-hope to improve in this area as well.
Here is a great article on how to go about getting to your first chin up/pull up.

http://www.myomytv.com/a-guide-to-pull-ups-learning-and-progressing/

ndnmomma · June 2012

Good luck to you. I can do one unassisted maybe two on a good day lol. I will get there one day I will be able to do 5 in a row maybe more, so anyway good luck to you! :drinker:

AngelAura777 · June 2012

I will! I have always wanted to do an un-assisted pull up!

findingmyhappyplace · June 2012

I am aiming for 2 sets of 5 chin ups right now. When I started out I couldn't even do 1! A really useful way to get started is to just do the lowering down part, so stand on a stool, grab the bar, release your feet and lower down super slowly. Also doing push ups with your feet raised (on a stool for example) is good practice. Push ups use some similar muscle groups but with less body weight, so raising your feet is a great transition move to chin ups because it increases the amount of resistance on those muscles.

MissMaggie3 · July 2012

Jumping in here late, but please can I join in? I decided today that doing one pull up is my current life ambition. I'm doing negative chin ups with no serious difficulty, and assisted pull ups, but I'm a long way from doing them (or even one) unassisted.

Can anyone advise about which kind of bands (i.e. light, medium etc) to get? I'm about 119lbs, if that helps.

deninevi · July 2012

MissMaggie, I never used the bands. I did negatives and inverted rows-on TRX and the Smith machine. Also lat pull downs-if you do them on your knees, you will get more of the back, butt involved and that helps a lot. You should try to do a chin up-if you can do negatives with not so much difficulty, than I bet you can do a chin up.

MissMaggie3 · July 2012

MissMaggie, I never used the bands. I did negatives and inverted rows-on TRX and the Smith machine. Also lat pull downs-if you do them on your knees, you will get more of the back, butt involved and that helps a lot. You should try to do a chin up-if you can do negatives with not so much difficulty, than I bet you can do a chin up.

Thank you Deninevi. Trouble is, I'm working out at home and don't have access to machines; I put the bar across the top of my squat stands to do the negative chin ups, but can't do lat pull downs. I'm going to try solution 1 on this link, but was also thinking of the bands as in solution 2:

http://experiencelife.com/article/clear-the-bar/

But I will try a chin up next time - thanks for the encouragement!