Ever since I’ve started Crossfit, pull-ups have been my enemy. It’s not so much that I dislike them, but they were my greatest weakness and something with which I really struggled. I hated having to use multiple bands to actually do a pull-up, so I decided that my weakness was going to become my strength!
First, I looked into at home pull-up bars. Luckily, while we were in Pennsylvania a few weeks ago, Tommy found his old over the door pull-up bar that he bought in college, so I was able to save myself my money there. Next I needed to find something that would help me actually do a pull-up. I saw that Corrie Anne bought the Rage Pull-up Assist Bands, and they were the closest thing to the bands we use at Crossfit, and weren’t ridiculously expensive. The bands give me 90 pounds of resistance and so far I need to use all of them, but I can get about 10 pull-ups out at a time.
I set up my little station in my basement and I’ve been practicing my pull-ups on the days that I don’t go to Crossfit. I’ve also taken the pull-up assistance bands to the park where there are pull-up and dip bars, and they work great! Overall I feel myself getting stronger and my pull-ups getting easier. My Crossfit coach always told me that the only way to get better at pull-ups is to practice them and he was so right. It is really amazing how quickly out bodies adapt and how much easier a move gets when you do it on a regular basis.
My goal is to be able to do an unassisted pull-up by the end of the year and I’ve got a bit less than 5 months to accomplish it. I think I’ve got this!
What’s your “weakness” in the gym? Can you do pull-ups?
My goal is to be able to do some unassisted pullups eventually! I’ve been working on them at crossfit but probably need to practice some more!
Lauren Seserko recently posted..MIMM #5 7/15/2013
I never have been able to do an unassisted pull up. But then again, I never worked at it very much. Another way to get better at them is to practice the “lowering” part of the movement. Assist yourself to the top of the movement using a chair or something, then lower yourself without touching the chair. And repeat.
Good luck with your goal. I have a feeling you’ll surprise yourself and be able to do MORE than one very soon 🙂
Debbie @ Live from La Quinta recently posted..Easy Curried Seitan Stuffed Avocado. Vegan
I think unassisted pullups are sooooooo much easier then assisted ones. I feel like when I use a band I rely on it more and I let my body rest at the bottom which makes it feel heavier. I used t hate pull-ups but now that I can do them I love them!
YOu totally got this!!! 🙂
Kierston @candyfit recently posted..Beyond Face Value…
GO GET IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m still working hard on them too. I like the EMOTM idea!!!!!
Corrie Anne recently posted..Boyd & Pippa’s Best Sunday Ever
Thanks lady! The parks in my area are pretty great when it comes to having \”adult playgrounds.\” A new one is opening soon and it has a bunch of cool stuff like body weight leg press thingies. We may or may not have snuck in over the weekend when we saw an open gate. 😉
Also, that looks like a really fun park!!!
Corrie Anne recently posted..Boyd & Pippa’s Best Sunday Ever
Pull ups are so hard for me! I can’t do a real one yet. It’s one of those long-term goals I’ve been working on. My trainer estimated that when you can pull down around your weight on the lat pulldown then you usually are able to do a pull up. I’m almost there!
Ashley @ Life and Fitness recently posted..Practice Ride
Awesome job! Keep at it!
Pull-ups are the bane of my existence as well! I get very frustrated because even with assistance I don’t feel like I’m progressing at all, but I am progressing by leaps in bounds in all other areas in CrossFit! I do have to admit that because I get so frustrated with them, I don’t practice them enough and often opt for ring rows instead during WODs.
I would LOVE to get an unassisted pull up one of these days…I really need to make it a priority. It looks like you are well on your way to getting there…57 assisted is pretty badass!! Keep up the great work!
Sarah @ RAD Living recently posted..Cauliflower Puree
Thanks! I knew that I wasn\’t challenging myself enough and using bands that made it way too easy. Time to quit the bands!
I too struggle with pull-ups. I’ve dropped down a few band sizes, but still have a long way to go. I’ve got a bar in the basement and should be practicing them more. My goal was to be able to do an unassisted one by the end of the summer. I better get my butt in gear!
Cathy recently posted..The Sunday Six
I can’t do pull ups at all which makes me a little bit anxious when I think about the possibility of falling off the side of a cliff and grabbing onto something just before I go all the way over and knowing that I might not be able to pull myself back up… not that I have an over active imagination or anything, haha!
Rach recently posted..Bethany & Trey Family Photos
I need assistance for my pull ups too, but I like using the one at the gym because I can measure my progress with the amount of plates I use. Keep it up!
Alison recently posted..Tuesday Thoughts
5 months is plenty of time….you can totally do this! 🙂
My weakness is pull ups as well. Sometimes I swear I have NO upper body strength!
Maureen recently posted..Smoothie Nation
Pull ups are my greatest weakness! I can never do them! I think I will always needs assistance.
Pull-ups are definitely my nemesis. I think that it goes back to doing the Presidential fitness test in elementary school and having to do the flexed arm hang and I couldn’t do it! Now I have this mental block. Good for you to keep at it and you’re doing great.
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted..Old School Blogging – List of Fives
great goal, you are going to nail it, I am sure 🙂
Thought you might find this interesting: http://www.chrisstroud.net/health-fitness/pull-up-progression-template-for-crossfit/
Corrie Anne recently posted..Boyd Bear Complex
Looks great!
Pull ups is easy way to me for workout.
Is that Juniper park in the picture? It looks like it!!
I congratulate you, it seems to me that you are very practical when explaining how the bars are made, the truth is, I do want to make bars but I don’t even do half of them but I think that with your recommendations I will make a few. Thank you.
Congratulations on your progress so far you are a great goal setter! And you will kill it
Patrick recently posted..What Muscles Do Hammer Pull Ups Work? Muscles Worked While Doing  A Pull-Up With Hammer (Neutral) Grip