I have been trying for a year to get back the type of pullup strength I had as a rock climber in high school, and as a result, have been concentrating on this for about a year now. Yesterday, after taking a couple of days off from my chin/ pull routine, I knocked out three sets of twelve reps each of wide grip pullups, narrow grip chinups and wide grip pulls bringing my head in front of the bar. I have no idea where this performance came from all of a sudden... perhaps the days off? I had been doing three sets of six to eight reps in the above before yesterday. I was stunned to say the least, and since there is no DOMS today, will be curious to see whether I am able to duplicate this again tomorrow!! Usually don't like to toot my own horn here, but I am beside myself with glee!! Overhangs beware!
Great Job Billyray! That's some good pulling power for sure. I'll bet your diet was good the 2 prior days and the rest will also help. Have you done any weighted pullups? That can really build strength fast in the 4-6 rep range when you add some plates.
You mention you've been working to improve your numbers - how many days/week did you do your pullup workout? Did you do any other back exercises to help you along? Just wondering.
That's a great goal to have reached. I think Alwyn Cosgrove has said that until you can manipulate your own body weight you shouldn't even be working with weights. So that tells me that these types of goals are something we all should be working on. Good job!
Thx for the replies. I have been doing weighted pullups for about four months, and only with dumbells in a backpack. I weigh 145 lbs. and have used 15-20 pounders for this. Can usually pull three of four reps, but will do three sets as well. I do these movements every other day, and have been doing so for about a year. Truth to tell, I think that I finally pushed myself beyond my comfort zone, ansd tried to see just how many reps I could knock out before total muscle failure occurred. Somewhat embarrassing, because I realize I should have been doing this type of training all along. John... I am unable to spend lots of time here, but you might be happy to know that an "elder statesman" such as yourself (49y/o) can do this stuff!!!
Shoot, you're about my size, and I can't do pullups worth a damn, but now I'm working on them, rather than avoiding them. When I can do what you did, I'll feel like I can die in peace. Great work!
Blackjack... I have been involved in a total body program since the seventies, and as a result, have been doing various back movements for that amount of time. I finally got tired of seeing progress in front and lateral delts, and decided to even things out by focusing intensely on the pulling type of movements in a concerted effort to hit the rear delts. I have been amazed at the shape of the total shoulder joint since, and have decided to keep this as a staple of the ongoing attempt to remain ambulatory in my oncoming dotage!Thanks for the words of inspiration found here.
Good stuff. I am at being able to do 10 right now. I would like to get up to 20-25. I am always stoked when I knock out an extra rep. Pullups are fun [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
Not sure about the prodigious amelioration, but the pullups are awesome. Few will admit but that is one hard exercise to do, even when unweighted. Great job!
Thanks for all of your replies and words of encouragement. Today will be the true litmus test. I will try to see what number of reps I can hit to ascertain if this was simply an anomaly or a fairly accurate indicator of what I have accomplished. We shall see this afternoon. I will post the results tomorrow.
O.K. here we are... the next sets: yesterday I pulled 3 sets each of wide grip pullups, narrow grip chinups and wide grip pullups with head in front... first set I hit twelve reps, but from thereon in subsequent sets was only able to knock out 10 and 10 reps respectively, although the first sets were easiest, things seemed to break rapidly from there. Used only body weight, and am thinking that more of a rest period might allow for better performance here, as that appears to be the only variable in my routine that I can account for as being changed. Hhhmmm. No DOMS today either. A good thing?
PR for Pullups!!
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