<p>I can not even do a pullup right now but I've been going to the gym for 4 months. I'm not a very strong guy, but don't pullups just require lots of practice and endurance?</p>
<p>How long would it take me to be doing 5-8 pullups with no assistance?</p>
<p>Even with a haphazard approach, I was able to add one pullup to my count every other day, just by trying to do as many as I could once each day.</p>
<p>It worked for me, and I was no stud. The most I've ever done in my life is 9, and I did that only once.</p>
<p>First of all, to help with your pull-ups refer back to the nagatives talked about in this thread. I talked to my PE teacher about it an he said it helps build more strength than the pull-ups themselves. Once you can do one unassisted, just grab something and practice whenever you can. Just like Zaphod recently I've been upping my max by one every other day or so. I'd say you will be able to get to 8 pretty quickly (a month maybe) after you can do one, so long as you are committed. Don't forget about the negatives though. Supposedly they will help a great deal nomatter what fitness level you're at.
Good Luck.</p>
<p>In my case, I had to do negatives only for a few days before I got to one.</p>
<p>I was (and am) such a slug. :o</p>
<p>Is there some type of routine I should follow when using negative pullups? I'm not sure how many to do per set, how much I should rest, and how many sets to do.</p>
<p>Here are some workouts I do with the Marine Options in the unit:</p>
<p>1.)11 sets of 4 pull-ups and 15 push-ups</p>
<p>2.) 15 pull-ups/55 pushups, 13 pull ups/45 push-ups, 11 pull ups/35 push-ups</p>
<p>3.) 3 sets of Max pull-ups then Max push-ups</p>
<p>4.) 4 sets of 11 pull-ups with 20 push-ups</p>
<p>5.) Pyramid, starting at 3, up to 8 and back down, with 15 push-ups in between</p>
<p>I really threw myself into this. When I started with them, I could only do about 6 pull-ups. Now I can pump out 20 on a good day. I started doing this about two months ago.</p>
<p>It's best if you can have a partner to spot you on the pull-ups and just help you buy pushing up by the small of your back when you get tired. When you get exhausted, complete the set or pyramid by doing negatives.</p>
<p>Hope it helps you...I know it did wonders with me.</p>
<p>I found the best way to improve pull-ups is to do the ladder method. also do negatives once in awhile. I also found using a weightlifter's strap on some sets works some of the other muscles.</p>
<p>When I turned 50 I could still do 20 pull-ups. This year, 51 I've hit 17 so age is slowly killing me. The key for me was to do them several times a week. Currently, I do only one set, before and after I run, three times a week. Even when I was at the boat school, dive school etc, I've always knocked out a set of 20 first and then did one or two sets afterwards several times a week. The KEY is to keep doing them. The pull up as the push up is easy to work in any day. I've even done them off the undersides of stairs, on angle irons, tree branches. It doesn't have to be a perfect pull up bar. </p>
<p>If you can't do more than a few, use a chair and use assisted pull-ups and when you can't do any more, jump to the bar and do negative pull ups. I was impressed with the Marine Corps workout for pull-ups. I was never that disciplined just got my butt up on the bar. </p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>
<p>Doing the breast stroke will also help you if you are a swimmer. I probalby couldnt do 5 before i started swimming and after swim season i am up to 13 or 14. It also helps me to think of them in groups of three rather than 1-13..that way i can think "oh i only need one more to finish this group of 3" when really i'm going from 11 to 12. But it seems easier to me to think of them like that...perhaps it will help you. It also helps me to not think about being tired, just think about doing a few more...as soon as you think you're tired you become tired and your mind exagerates it. These are more mental approaches than physical techniques but every little bit helps!</p>
<p>Stupid question: Is it just a matter of how many pull-ups you can do in 2 minutes total, or do you have to hang for the whole time?</p>
<p>You have to be hanging for the whole time. Last I recall, there was no time limit on the Pull-ups.</p>
<p>Back in the day, it was a matter of how many you could do without dropping off the bar.</p>
<p>I don't even remember a time limit. You simply pumped them out until you couldn't anymore or until you hit the max number (whatever it was).</p>
<p>get a pullup bar in your doorway... once i go to college i dont think thatll be an option.. something about drilling into the walls being not allowed. if it was allowed, not only would i install a pullup bar in my dorm, but i would hang a hammock! dorm with a hammock.... mmmm</p>
<p>I had a pull-up bar that didn't require you to drill...you just twist it and it extends into the doorway. Granted, you have to twist pretty hard to get it to support you. The first time I did it, I didn't tighten it enough, did one pull-up, and it fell, with me still hanging on. I landed on my back with the wind knocked outta me. I had to laugh at myself.</p>
<p>As for the hammock...a good friend of mine in the unit rigged one up without drilling. It works perfectly and is very comfortable. You have to us a little ingenuity, but it can be done.</p>
<p>surfing helps me with pull ups. i can easily do 15-20 pull ups without touching the ground.</p>
<p>it seems like surfing would help with pushups more.</p>
<p>nope, ever see the lats on a surfer?</p>