I've done a bit of reading today on my absolute least-favorite exercise, the pullup. Why are they my least favorite? Cuz I can't do them. My husband has told me to hang on the bar as a way to increase my strength. I just read about doing negatives as a way to build up to pullups. Anyone used this method? It's worth a shot, so I'm thinking about doing negatives during the workouts that include pullups. Thoughts?

what are negatives?? i am myself not fund of pullups because i cant do them... how are you doing with pushups?

Negatoves are where you jump up or use a chair to get your chin above the bar and hold yourself above it for a few seconds (after you step off the chair and are hanging freely), then slowly lower yourself a few inches, hold there, lower a few more inches and hold there, etc. Not sure how good I'll be able to do it, but I'll try anything that will help me do pullups.

In the P90X+ Upper Body workout they do negative pull-ups.

I think it could help you. It is worth a try.

I have also heard just hanging from the bar for as long as you can with a weight in a backpack can help. I would start with like 5-10 lbs and go from there. (I haven't tried this myself, but heard it from a friend who was a former Marine and no stranger to pull-ups).

I remember in middle school the alternative to doing pull ups was holding your chin above the bar as long as possible. My friend could hang there for ages but not do any pull ups, and I could never hold my chin above the bar but I could do pull ups. They don't work the same muscles.

I'm not sure how you're doing on the pull ups, but I find when I start with my arms bent (rather than extended all the way), it's a lot easier to get up. (like when they tell you that you're cheating). But cheating is a way to help you get started working on them if you can't do any. Not sure if this helps....