Women can you do pull ups? (Page 2)
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Champion ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I have noticed that those women who can do them are pretty slender...less weight makes it easier to pull yourself up. I'm at 20.5% body fat but my lean body mass is 127 and I'm only 5'6" so as the guy at the gym says you have to pull up all those lower body muscles you have that aren't helping you. Smith machine pull ups..my coach had me do those two years ago. Lat pull downs help too, right? When I was a kid in elementary school we had the Presidential Fitness award, I easily could do everything other than the bent arm hang. I tried doing that so many times every year when we did that testing. I was a competitive figure skater so lower body stuff was easy for me as a kid. Never did anything upper body until tris and then strength training. I to love strength training, how it makes me feel, how it makes me look...my daughters 9. 11,& 13 want to do it too and they work out on a ball with hand weights at home. |
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![]() | ![]() Nope...I don't think I could even do one. I am working now on pushups, which I can do in my room--> no embarassment at the college (read: Frat Boy) gym. I like doing them but I am so so sore the next day and then I can't swim and that's a problem ![]() |
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Champion ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() lisazapato - 2007-12-10 7:34 PM Being able to do one is a secret goal I've harbored for a while too, like KathyG. But I haven't been doing anything about it. Partially because I dn't have a gym and thus have no access to an assisted machine, and don't really know how else to practice. (tips? first - I need to be able to do real pushups again, but alongside that?) We put a pull up bar in our basement. I honestly think they are harder than the ones at the gym. Maybe that is one of the other reasons I quit. That and I put on muscle like crazy! |
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Champion ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Artemis - 2007-12-10 3:12 PM Nope. Right now I have a hard time doing regular pushups, so I'm working on that right now. I would love to be able to do that - it's been one of my secret long-term goals for awhile. ![]() Yep - this is where I am too...but I also secretly want to do pullups. I think I'm going to have hubby take me to the gym and show me how to use the assisted machine...I'm just starting to venture into that section of the gym - so far my strength training has been on circuit machines and body weight training. But I'm ready to go to the scary side of the gym. ![]() |
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Coach ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() One trick is to try pullups with facing palms. You can either grab the bar with one hand on either side so your palms are facing each other but your hands are staggered, or you can grab one of the attachments for a the seated row machine...there is a smaller one with two parallel handles that are about 6-8 inches apart. Take that handle and put it over a pullup bar, then grab each handle. I find these a little bit easier to do. |
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Member![]() | ![]() I finally got 10 last week! (7 on the 2nd set & 6 on the 3rd set) It has been a long process over the last year. I had actually been to this point before (3 sets of 10), but then choose to back of the heavy strength training while pregnant. After the baby, I started over again w/ 2-3 reps; granted this was carrying a bit more weight then pre-pregnancy. I do wide grip w/ my palms facing out, but I don't wrap my thumb around the bar. I have found this prevents me from "choking" the bar & saving a bit of my grip strength. Having just said that, my grip/forearms usually fatigue first. In my opinion, the best way to get better & stronger at doing pull ups, is by doing pull ups. Even if it is just one or two. Do a set to fatigue w/ body weight & then immediately finish of the set w/ a similar exercise. Rest & repeat. If you have a partner, or ask someone to spot, tell them how many you want to get by yourself & then how many you want them to help with. Those last few the partner helps with will do alot. Side note on spoting- my preference is to have the spotter push up slightly on the back just below the shoulder blades. If I am spotting by holding their feet w/ knees bent, what happens if their grip slips or gives out suddenly? Previously posted was the suggestion of slowly lowering yourself down (sometimes called negatives because you are going in the oppositive direction of the muscle contraction- the eccentric motion). Another good way to develop strength. Our muscles are about 20% stronger in the eccentric motion then in the concentric motion. ie- if you can bench press 100 lbs (concentric motion for your peck muscles), you should be able to lower 120 lbs (eccentric motion). As with any form of lifting you are damaging the muscle so it can grow back stronger. rest at least a day between workouts. As far as body type, I am 5'6" about 135-140 lbs & about 18% body fat. Keep at it & it will come. Just my .02 |
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Pro ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() No I can't really do a pull up either. A while ago, my SO, put me up on a bar that was attached to a high ceiling and couldn't do the pull up and I an almost freaked out because I was afraid of falling. |
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Member ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Hadn't tried for about a year and recently had a& go and discovered i could do around 3x3.. so need to work on this.. I can only bench around 80 pounds at present so I guess as this goes uop it will help too. 5'6 around 130 and around 18%BF Have been working on squats more recently ![]() |
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Extreme Veteran ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I am pretty sure I can do ZERO! I do think it is pretty dang cool when a female starts doing pull-ups and I think it kinda shocks the men. But, since this thread has been started I foresee a new challenge for myself. |
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![]() Did anyone post this yet? It's how to work up to doing a pullup. I love this woman's blog, mostly because she has almost my exact height/weight/bodyfat proportions. But I am not looking to be able to do a pullup, so I haven't tried this yet. www.stumptuous.com/cms/displayarticle.php?aid=51 |
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Champion ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() DMW - 2007-12-11 3:45 PM Did anyone post this yet? It's how to work up to doing a pullup. I love this woman's blog, mostly because she has almost my exact height/weight/bodyfat proportions. But I am not looking to be able to do a pullup, so I haven't tried this yet. www.stumptuous.com/cms/displayarticle.php?aid=51 Great article with lots of helpful tips!!! My coach thinks this is a good goal for me...cool..may take 6 month maybe longer but come next summer my upper body will be stronger. His suggestion for me for a grip is palms facing each others since I did separate my left shoulder 6 months ago as it is easier on my shoulder. I find it super cool that many of us women have this goal.
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Expert ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Hah! I'm still working on "guy" push-ups! I can do 10 girlie push ups in a row now! |
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Champion ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() well, right now I am a big lazy slob, but last winter I worked out at the COOLEST gym in Madison, WI: The Monkey Bar Gym. All bodyweight, all the time, with a real emphasis on progression and perfecting form. Anyway, I have one of these "Jungle Gyms" info here It's so easy to use, and as you get stronger and stronger you can change the angle until you are doing a full pull up. Start out with the rope at 60 degrees, and when you can pull up 10 x perfectly, slowly reduce the angle until you are pulling yourself up at 90 degrees. Y'all would love it! Videos from the gym are here |
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Master ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() possum - 2007-12-11 8:54 PM well, right now I am a big lazy slob, but last winter I worked out at the COOLEST gym in Madison, WI: The Monkey Bar Gym. All bodyweight, all the time, with a real emphasis on progression and perfecting form. Anyway, I have one of these "Jungle Gyms" info here It's so easy to use, and as you get stronger and stronger you can change the angle until you are doing a full pull up. Start out with the rope at 60 degrees, and when you can pull up 10 x perfectly, slowly reduce the angle until you are pulling yourself up at 90 degrees. Y'all would love it! Videos from the gym are here I've read about the Monkey Bar Gym!!! I'm so jealous you've worked out there |
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Master![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() When I was a kid in elementary school we had the Presidential Fitness award, I easily could do everything other than the bent arm hang. I tried doing that so many times every year when we did that testing. I was a competitive figure skater so lower body stuff was easy for me as a kid. Never did anything upper body until tris and then strength training. Jeez Kath, that brings back a flood of memories! I was one of the smaller kids in my class, so the bent arm hang during the Presidential fitness test was one of my few moments of athletic fame growing up, ha ha. Don't know how many pull ups I could do now though, I doubt very many. On the other hand, most of the best runners and bikers I know have skinny little T-Rex arms, so I don't worry too much about building up arm strength. Then again, most of them aren't trying to become better swimmers I guess. |
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Champion![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() possum - 2007-12-11 8:54 PM well, right now I am a big lazy slob, but last winter I worked out at the COOLEST gym in Madison, WI: The Monkey Bar Gym. All bodyweight, all the time, with a real emphasis on progression and perfecting form. Anyway, I have one of these "Jungle Gyms" info here It's so easy to use, and as you get stronger and stronger you can change the angle until you are doing a full pull up. Start out with the rope at 60 degrees, and when you can pull up 10 x perfectly, slowly reduce the angle until you are pulling yourself up at 90 degrees. Y'all would love it! Videos from the gym are here Looks like a very fun place. Lucky you that you got to workout there. You find and do lots of very cool stuff Possum. Jungle Gym seems like a good workout if you don't have access to a gym or they don't have the stuff to help so we can work on pull ups. I think it is so cool that so many BT women have this dream. |
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Extreme Veteran![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Mimir98 - 2007-12-11 9:16 PM possum - 2007-12-11 8:54 PM well, right now I am a big lazy slob, but last winter I worked out at the COOLEST gym in Madison, WI: The Monkey Bar Gym. All bodyweight, all the time, with a real emphasis on progression and perfecting form. Anyway, I have one of these "Jungle Gyms" info here It's so easy to use, and as you get stronger and stronger you can change the angle until you are doing a full pull up. Start out with the rope at 60 degrees, and when you can pull up 10 x perfectly, slowly reduce the angle until you are pulling yourself up at 90 degrees. Y'all would love it! Videos from the gym are here I've read about the Monkey Bar Gym!!! I'm so jealous you've worked out there Right? MiMi's MoKeY BaR GyM Keep workin' it girls...get that chin over that bar! |
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Expert![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() possum - 2007-12-11 8:54 PM well, right now I am a big lazy slob, but last winter I worked out at the COOLEST gym in Madison, WI: The Monkey Bar Gym. All bodyweight, all the time, with a real emphasis on progression and perfecting form. Anyway, I have one of these "Jungle Gyms" info here It's so easy to use, and as you get stronger and stronger you can change the angle until you are doing a full pull up. Start out with the rope at 60 degrees, and when you can pull up 10 x perfectly, slowly reduce the angle until you are pulling yourself up at 90 degrees. Y'all would love it! Videos from the gym are here Wow, that looks SUPER cool, and inexpensive too! Maybe I'll ask for one for Christmas. When I was in 8th grade (and could do all the pushups I had mentioned previously), I trained on my grandma's walker. She had fallen and needed the walker, but got better and then it was just sitting around. I put it in my room and every day I'd sit on the floor with my feet sticking out forward, grabbed the handles and pulled myself up a few times. It was great because it was essentially assisted but still enough to help. Then I'd do dips with my feet quasi-dragging in the floor. Just doing that for a month or two made me ripped. But then I stopped doing it and lost it all |
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Expert![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I'm a guy and a CFer and I can't even list how many girls have come into the CF gym I workout at laughing at the idea of ever doing a pull-up and then after several months they can do one, or two, or more. Pull-ups are hard but you can do just about anything if you take the right approach and put the work in. Kipping pull-ups are a great tool, as are the jumpstretch bands. Here is a little secret, doing a kipping pull-up requires just as much work as doing a regular pull-up, the difference is you are spreading that work around more of your body instead of just isolating it in your back and biceps. Another important thing to note, if you are hanging off a cliff or something your going to do anything you can to pull yourself up. Kipping is a very functional real-life skill to have. When I first started CF I could do about 7 pull-ups, now I can do about 23 or 24 deadhang, or 50 kipping. I know there is plenty of controversy around CF, but one thing I know for sure is that it makes you better at pull-up. There is a dark side to the kipping pull-up though, it can tear your hands up! Because your hand is rotating around the bar it can cause some nasty blisters and ripped calluses once you start doing a lot of them. Eventually your hands will adapt but it takes a long long time. |
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Pro![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() You ladies motivated me. I'm going to start carrying the key to my gym with me and whenever I leave or come back to the house... 2 pullups. |
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Champion![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I have no idea. But, I'm guessing it's a no... |
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Pro![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I'm not a woman so no! I'm working on this as I include wide grip pullups in my core workout. Currently up to 9. Last year (IIRC) when I was ~ 8 lbs lighter and working out more I got up to 2 sets of 10. How quickly you lose it. When I was ~20 I could do 3 one arm pull ups, those were the days! |
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