Q&A for How to Do More Pull Ups

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  • Question
    What can I do if I can't do a pull up?
    Julian Arana, M.S.eD., NCSF-CPT
    Certified Personal Trainer
    Julian Arana is a Personal Trainer and the Founder of B-Fit Training Studios, a personal training and wellness set of studios based in Miami, Florida. Julian has over 12 years of personal training and coaching experience. He is a certified personal trainer (CPT) by the National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF). He has a BS in Exercise Physiology from Florida International University and an MS in Exercise Physiology specializing in strength and conditioning from the University of Miami.
    Certified Personal Trainer
    Expert Answer
    The best substitution for the pull up is the lat pulldown. This will work the same muscles and the only difference is that you're pulling a weight down instead of pulling your bodyweight up. You could also do cable rows, inverted rows, single-arm dumbbell rows, or bent over barbell rows.
  • Question
    How many pull ups should I be able to do? I'm 15-years-old, 5'10 and 142 lbs.
    Community Answer
    It depends. The average person can do around 4 pull ups but it differs for each individual. Are you healthy? Have you worked out your arm muscles before? Do you eat well? All these factors play into it. However, the more you train, the more you'll be able to do. I used to barely be able to do 2, now I can do over 15 and this is coming from a 14-year-old girl.
  • Question
    I'm 17, 6' 5', 192 lbs. I can do around 9 pull-ups at most, but although I've been at it for weeks, can't seem to do more. Any advice how to break this barrier?
    SethGreen
    Community Answer
    Eat enough protein, most people don't. Give your body time to rest; one full day after working out you should rest unless it's a very light day. Try some bicep and lat exercises (ones that target those muscles specifically) if you aren't already.
  • Question
    Do pull ups increase our height?
    Community Answer
    Pull ups will not increase your height. Get as much sleep as possible and eat healthily. Stand up straight and try not to slouch, as this can create back issues and make you appear shorter.
  • Question
    How do I become slim doing only pull-ups?
    Community Answer
    Attach weights to your body; the heavier the weight, the faster the result.
  • Question
    I am 11, 4'11', 84 lbs. I am only capable of doing 2 "complete" pull ups. How can I improve my score on the pull up test?
    Raphael Key
    Top Answerer
    Get yourself a pull up bar for a door frame, they cost about 10-30 dollars. Put it on the door of your bedroom, then do one rep every time you enter or leave the room. One complete rep, then after a little while, start doing 2, then 3, then 4, gradually building up.
  • Question
    How much can I increase pull up in 1 week?
    Mahesh Umrekar
    Community Answer
    It depends on your current body strength. It differs for each individual. If you are doing your routine workout regularly and have good muscle strength, then you should aim at least to increase 1 more daily than you did last time.
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