At a workout deadend!

Jd1360
Jd1360 Posts: 170 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
The issue in a nutshell:
- I'm trying to exercise my back - lats, specifically.
- I do the research, chin ups, pull ups, etc.
- I don't have a gym membership and can't afford one at the moment.
- I look into those nifty in door chin up bars and am told it would probably ruin the door frame in the house (it's pine?)
- I have a stretch band! Loop it over the door, try cable pull down motion - didn't really feel it in the back, more like arms.

It seems I'm a dead end, I can try the band more but I would think I would have felt at least some burn the first time - to my knowledge I have no back muscle, never worked it out.

Does anyone have any thoughts or advice?

Replies

  • Jd1360
    Jd1360 Posts: 170 Member
    Buuuump?
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    dumb bells? one arm rows?
  • Captain_Tightpants
    Captain_Tightpants Posts: 2,215 Member
    Climbing! Srsly, find an indoor climbing wall that offers affordable membership. Climbing has got to be the most total all round exercise that exists, and your back will be ripped in no time.
  • taylor5877
    taylor5877 Posts: 1,792 Member
    google pullovers. They are a lat isolation.

    I could never do a pullup then I started doing heavy pulldowns and added pullovers. I eventually got strong enough to do pull ups.

    Pullups are typically tougher for women, so doing even one is actually pretty good.

    Us guys share your pain though...I didn't do a full pullup until I was 24 even though I played 5 sports in HS including football.
  • insyweensy
    insyweensy Posts: 53 Member
    If you have a local park with a jungle gym within walking/jogging distance you could definitely use that for pull-ups and such! That's what I used to do when I was without a gym membership.
  • dward2011
    dward2011 Posts: 416 Member
    Pushups performed on an exercise ball will cause resistance along your lat muscles to strengthen and tone them. Exercise ball pushups are performed at a 45-degree angle to help target your lats.

    Dumbbell rows and bent-over rows are great exercises for strengthening your lats.

    Catch and overhead throw also works the lats.

    Lat Pullovers (Lying on bench (or floor) with feet flat on the floor, knees bent, and hold a weight in both hands or a weight in each hand over your chest, arms straight up. Lower the weight or weights straight back behind your head, until your arms are in line with your torso and parallel to the floor. Keep your arms straight, pull your arms to start position over your chest.)



    ETA: That's all I can think of at the moment....
  • AmyBecky74
    AmyBecky74 Posts: 437 Member
    I can't afford the gym either. one of the things I do is pull ups on the monkey bars at the playground, I get more "that's a good idea" tfrom people who watch me do it than those that give me a weird look :), and alot of push ups. It's hard not belonging to a gym but don't give up :)
  • Jd1360
    Jd1360 Posts: 170 Member
    Wow!! These are so great! Okay, I'm going to invest in a dumbbell for sure, if not an exercise ball and band door attachment. Thanks so much everyone!!!

Categories