Can only do a few pullups

[Daernoth]

I can only do 2-3 pullups, and even then probably not full pullups. That being said I have been improving in the past month, but not to where I'd like to be.

What are some other exercises that would help build strength needed to pull my body weight.

 

[Drunken_Weasel]

I can only do 2-3 pullups, and even then probably not full pullups. That being said I have been improving in the past month, but not to where I'd like to be.

What are some other exercises that would help build strength needed to pull my body weight.

I have had this problem aswell.. I used to not be able to do any.. I can probobly do quite a few now though.. seeing as how I have lost over 60 pounds and added strenght.. as soon as my arms arent so sore that I can move them.. I'll give it a shot...

 

[SofaGeorge]

Just make your back routine 10 sets of pullups until you can do 80 reps in 10 sets. Pullups are the best back exercise there is. Keep doing them. The numbers will come.

 

[Drunken_Weasel]

Just make your back routine 10 sets of pullups until you can do 80 reps in 10 sets. Pullups are the best back exercise there is. Keep doing them. The numbers will come.

Question for you Sofa...

Would assisted pullups be good? .. Not sure If I can get many.. but If I can't.. just a training partner just barely givin you some help to pump some out.. would that help?... because when I could only do a few back in august or so... before I even had my weights.. It never fully wore me out enough to make me sore, or feel anything.. I just wouldnt be able to pull myself up more than a few times..

 

[makedah]

Some people use jumpstretch bands to help them improve their pullups.

Others do negatives (hop up to the bar, slowly descend. Drop. Hop up again, slowly descend).

There are tips in this thread: can you do pullups?

 

[Drunken_Weasel]

Some people use jumpstretch bands to help them improve their pullups.

Others do negatives (hop up to the bar, slowly descend. Drop. Hop up again, slowly descend).

There are tips in this thread: can you do pullups?

Thanks alot makedah. Good meeting you aswell.. It has been quite some time since I have visited the training board (due to a far to long break due to fustration of a stop in weightloss from not changing my diet around)... Hope to learn more from you in the future.. and doubtfull, but maybe I can even teach you a thing or 2

 

[makedah]

Hope to learn more from you in the future.. and doubtfull, but maybe I can even teach you a thing or 2

My, aren't you a dear (either that or you're making fun of me)! I'm good at finding info - But I'm not the source of it. Think of me as a librarian rather than a teacher.

Welcome back!

 

[Drunken_Weasel]

My, aren't you a dear (either that or you're making fun of me)! I'm good at finding info - But I'm not the source of it. Think of me as a librarian rather than a teacher.

Welcome back!

Making fun of you? HA! the only people I make fun of are myself, and a few select male members of this board.. all deserving... I respect everyone untill I have a reason not to.

 

[SofaGeorge]

Question for you Sofa...

Would assisted pullups be good? ..

I'm not sure... but my gut says NO.

I trained with my wife for 2 years to get her to do a single pullup. This meant me assisting her and assisting her... and she wasn't making any progress. Then... we switched to me giving her a boost up... her hitting the negative... and me not helping. Within 2 months she was doing a pullup that way. Then I stopped helping her at all. She made fast progress with NO help... but never made any with help. When she finished she could do 12 wide grip behind the neck pullups.

 

[Drunken_Weasel]

I'm not sure... but my gut says NO.

I trained with my wife for 2 years to get her to do a single pullup. This meant me assisting her and assisting her... and she wasn't making any progress. Then... we switched to me giving her a boost up... her hitting the negative... and me not helping. Within 2 months she was doing a pullup that way. Then I stopped helping her at all. She made fast progress with NO help... but never made any with help. When she finished she could do 12 wide grip behind the neck pullups.

Alrighty then.. so since I can already do a few... I should just hit those mutliple times a weak for mutliple sets, and watch it increase?

 

[Puddles]

Would maxing out on unasissted pull ups first, then going with some assisted ones for some extra reps be beneficial?

 

[bigliftsCNU]

Would maxing out on unasissted pull ups first, then going with some assisted ones for some extra reps be beneficial?

in the same set... sure!

 

[Daernoth]

Now if I'm doing pullups mostly for size increase in my upper back, is it necessary to have have a wide grip? The pullup bar at my school gym only goes about shoulder width, unfortunately.

 

[dk563]

i have the same problem. i lift a decent amount compared to my weight (164 lbs), but cant do lots of pullups (barely 2x8, and then not even fully)


anyone can explain why i'm so much weakier on my pull ups relative to other excesices even though i'm pretty light??

 

[Deepsquat]

i have the same problem. i lift a decent amount compared to my weight (164 lbs), but cant do lots of pullups (barely 2x8, and then not even fully)


anyone can explain why i'm so much weakier on my pull ups relative to other excesices even though i'm pretty light??

Sure , I can ....you're week!

Aurther jones (the inventor of nautilus) also says the fastest way to increase your pull up is to do negatives.
Lower yourself as slow as possible ...say 8-10 seconds per rep ...and work youself up to 30 second reps ...when you can do that you wil have a big back.

 

[Lord_Suston]

work on lat pull downs, when you can work up to your own body weight for reps then you should be able to do chins, or pull-ups easily... Negatives help but i think the positive phase is more effective....

 

[DanielBishop]

Let me share my experience....

I always had a pretty poor strength:weight ratio. But I wanted to start doing chins.... so I started with an underhand grip (palms facing you) with my hands a bit less than shoulder width apart. I could only do a few reps.... but even when I couldn't complete a full rep, I would continue doing as much of the rep as I could for a few times. Even if it was noly a few inches.

Surpringly with things like dips and chins, exercises where you use your own bodyweight, people seem to improve very fast. So after a while I was able to change to an overhand grip (palms facing forward).... and gradually, I widened my grip.

At my best, I could do 13 reps in one set with a wide, overhand grip. Nothing to write home about, but certainly an improvement.... since when I began, I could do only 3-4 with a close, underhand grip.

Maybe try building up like that. You'll be surprised how fast you improve.

 

[c-sharp minor]

I remember reading an article by Arnold in which he stated he did 50 reps of wide grip pull-ups. He did them by doing as many reps as he could continuously complete, then rest; then do as many as he could do again, then rest again. He did this till he was doing single reps, and kept it up till he hit his target of 50.

Seems a bit excessive to me, but I'm sure it would improve ones' pull-up capabilities.

 

[SofaGeorge]

Would maxing out on unasissted pull ups first, then going with some assisted ones for some extra reps be beneficial?

In this rare case... if I am working with a woman - NO.

I've worked with several women to help get them to the point they can do pullups. I've found that once they can do a pullup... they progress much faster if I DON'T help them.

I think it is purely psychological. I think they start giving up too soon (i.e., stop when it gets hard and don't push to failure.) I've seen the quickest gains when they don't get any help and just push for higher numbers on their own.

 

[Citruscide]

I have problems doing FULL pullups... as when I get to the bottom (really streched out position) my shoulder disloactes.

I have to come down like only 3/4 of the way... I can PULL UP the entire way, but I can't go down to the bottom...

C-ditty