Quote:
Originally Posted by mikemhg
Pull ups are one of my favorite exercises, and easily one of the most transferable to your daily life. I highly recommend weighted pull ups if you're looking to increase your total numbers, on any pull up always ensure you concentrate on the eccentric portion of the pull up (going down slowly) you'll break the muscle down nicely and increase your strength immensely.
I average around 20 pull ups give or take, but can do 25 on a good rested day.
|
I don't think Mike has been checking the forum, and I wish he could see this minor update bcos I want to thank him for the tip / reminder about focusing on the eccentric phase of the pull up.
I had been trying to incorporate that into my pull up since Mike's suggestion, and it was not an easy exercise. Control was poor at first, and I was only able to do a small handful of them -- 3? 4? -- initially. My form is probably also wrong, since it was burning up the back of my upper arms and forearms waaaay more than my lats.
Progress seems slow -- I think Mike made the suggestion in mid Jan, and we are almost in mid March now. But progress came gradually, and yesterday, for the first time, I was able to do a full 10 reps of controlled descend for my pull ups.
I think my form is still wrong -- somehow the back of my upper arms are more sore than my lats right now, although my lats are sore too. I still weight the same at 140. I don't think I look any bigger or more muscular. But I'm happy I am able to do something I wasn't able to before.
I found out yesterday that another friend has started taking high blood pressure meds for a few months now. I am not on any chronic illness meds right now, and I want to do what I can to keep it that way.