Gil’s pull-up bar, positioned on a door at the bottom of the basement stairs, is my friend and my enemy. My enemy because every time I have to get on it for the workouts Gil has been designing for me (at my request), my inability to actually pull myself up drives me to utter frustration—my friend because after several rounds of “negatives” (where I only lower myself down from the bar), I can actually tell I’ve gotten a little bit stronger. Hopefully it’ll only get better from here.
January 24th, 2010 at 3:08 am
Yeah, it does take some time. Especially at first. You’ll start with one… then one and a half… then just two… and so on.
Beware, though, pull-ups can widen your chest (nothing to do with breast side) by developing the latissimus and teres muscles on your back, thereby giving your torso a V-shape; something not many females aspire to.
Just a hint…
January 25th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
yes! pullups are so hard. i don’t think i can do any. i do like those pullup assist machine thingies at the gym, though (they effectively make you lighter, so you are pulling up less weight. it’s pretty sweet).
super awesome you’re doing strength training though. yay!