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I suck at pull ups

BRETTO Posts: 201 Joined: 2002/05/25	2002/08/02, 11:05 AM I considered myself pretty strong and fit my whole life, mainly from working physically demanding jobs most of my life, and I'm only slightly overweight. I just started doing pull ups, both wide-grip and close-grip. My program calls for sets of 20,20,15,15. On close-grips I could only do 5,3,2,1. What the hell is wrong with me? That is shameful! I kick ass on my other lifts. Can a person be so disproportionately developed that they are strong everywhere except their back,lats,etc.(whatever muscles are involved in pull-ups)? My performance has really disappointed me.
rpacheco Posts: 3,770 Joined: 2001/12/13	2002/08/02, 11:26 AM There are other supporting muscles besides the ones you've mentioned. Just as effective as doing the actual pullup is just hang there as long as you can. This develops and strengthens your grip, along with your forearms. If all you can do are 5,3,2,1...add 2 more sets where you just hang to failure. Time yourself each time and strive to hang on longer the next time around. You'll find new strength in no time... -------------- **_Robert_** Pain is temporary; glory is forever!
BRETTO Posts: 201 Joined: 2002/05/25	2002/08/02, 11:40 AM Thanx Robert. I'll give that a try. :0)
Boddhisattvha Posts: 1,226 Joined: 2002/03/07	2002/08/02, 11:41 AM I'm going to have to start this routine Rob. I finally found a bar that will work for me. Bretto, don't feel too bad. I can only do about what you're saying. -------------- Practice does NOT make perfect. Perfect practice does.
99trev Posts: 7 Joined: 2002/08/02	2002/08/02, 12:32 PM At the gym where I go, they have this cool machine called the Gravitron. It is for pullups, chin ups etc. It uses a portion of your body weight against you to do your sets. You can set it as high or as low as you want (I only do about a level 3 which is about 30 lbs towards my total body weight). If you have access to one of these machines, it works great and may help your strength training towards doing your own body weight on a regular bar.
7707mutt Posts: 7,686 Joined: 2002/06/18	2002/08/02, 12:47 PM I use something like that as well. I weigh 300 and there is now way I could do pull ups with out it right now. -------------- "When in danger, or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout" LIFT HARD AND OFTEN!!!!!!
Philia2 Posts: 4,078 Joined: 2001/10/19	2002/08/03, 02:05 AM I'm also baaaad to do pull ups....... Sigh...... it really IS annoying but my hands hurts so much (and I'm too lazy to use lifting straps). I don't have one of those smart "gravity" machines in my gym, but I flex my knees and make somebody help me to lift this heavy woman (ME!!!!) and then I control the negative movement and go down very veeeery slowly. -------------- - Nina :o) Les Victoires éternelles sont celles du coeur.
TiredRob Posts: 42 Joined: 2002/04/04	2002/08/03, 10:30 AM Don't feel bad Bretto, everyone I know sucks at pullups/chinups! Granted, I don't hang with any experienced bodybuilders, but among the few people I know who have been excersising for a few months with weights etc, none of us can manage the 20 reps called for in the ft programs. I can't for the life of me understand why Freetrainers asks this of beginners, when all the other excersis are geared just about right.. ..And as for wide grip chins.. lol ;) My 2 cents. Good luck. Rob. p.s. If you have access to machines, then it may be worth trying pulldowns for a while, building up the weight until you can cope better with pullups.
rev8ball Posts: 3,081 Joined: 2001/12/27	2002/08/03, 12:11 PM pull ups are very difficult to get started in for 99% of people, like real dips. but stick with it; they are an incredible strength and mass builder. and dont just do them with an easy grip and partial movements just for the sake of doing them. alternate our grip (wide, close-reverse, etc) and go the full range of motion. before you know it, you'll have a thick back and will be strapping on a weight belt just to add on another plate... -------------- Michael "Trample the weak; hurdle the dead!"
BRETTO Posts: 201 Joined: 2002/05/25	2002/08/03, 02:23 PM Thanx y'all. These posts really help me feel like I'm not alone in my workouts, even though, literally speaking, I always am. :0)
roni0906 Posts: 1,008 Joined: 2002/01/24	2002/08/04, 12:52 AM I use the weighted pull-up bar as well. It has really helped. I can feel the difference....remember you have to start out somewhere before you can improve. -------------- Lisa
roni0906 Posts: 1,008 Joined: 2002/01/24	2002/08/05, 07:14 PM After reading this post, I decided to try and give pull-ups a try yesterday and I did 2 on my own. I know it isn't much, but I have never been able to do them on my own before. Guess I am finally gaining that upper body strenght....YEAH. -------------- Lisa
mandre Posts: 212 Joined: 2002/04/23	2002/08/05, 09:06 PM Way to go Lisa. Yippeeee! :) Melissa -------------- Attitudes are contagious, is yours worth catching?
Lumina20 Posts: 966 Joined: 2001/10/31	2002/08/05, 09:48 PM Yah Lisa! Sounds good to me!
roni0906 Posts: 1,008 Joined: 2002/01/24	2002/08/06, 02:08 AM I have a new goal of getting to 10 unassisted now. We'll see how long it takes me. -------------- Lisa
Sempai Posts: 447 Joined: 2002/06/06	2002/08/07, 07:33 AM BRETTO like mentioned I think pull ups are one of the most difficult strenght excercise to do I have only known one man any good at them. It was a teacher in high school he did pull ups every day on the door fram to his class room only using his finger tips he would do 30 each morning. Every guy I knew would try time after time never saw one other person do them. -------------- Never be afraid to try something new. Remember the ark was built by amateurs, The Titanic was built by professionals.