My gym doesnt have much equipment as its a ladies gym so theres actually nothing for me to do a pull up on. Even if there was I wouldnt even know if I could do one or not...Are there any alternative exercises?

My gym doesnt have much equipment as its a ladies gym so theres actually nothing for me to do a pull up on. Even if there was I wouldnt even know if I could do one or not...Are there any alternative exercises?

Lat Pulldown Bar?

My gym doesnt have much equipment as its a ladies gym so theres actually nothing for me to do a pull up on. Even if there was I wouldnt even know if I could do one or not...Are there any alternative exercises?

http://www.muscleandstrength.com/exercises/smith-machine-bodyweight-row.html

I think this variation is sometimes used to prepare people for regular pullups. I don't think it is exactly like a pull-up, but I think it's a good exercise.

http://www.muscleandstrength.com/exercises/smith-machine-bodyweight-row.html

I think this variation is sometimes used to prepare people for regular pullups. I don't think it is exactly like a pull-up, but I think it's a good exercise.


That's a good exercise, but more horizontal plane vs vertical. So that carries over a bit more to rows.

Candyce, either lat pulldown working up to bodyweight so that you can do chins/pullups, or you could use a resistance band for assistance on a regular bar:

gLMA9dMUQDA

(There are several variants of that you can dig around on Youtube for)

When you say there is nothing to do a pullup on, is there a squat rack? If so, just put a bar in the pins set pretty high...

My gym doesnt have much equipment as its a ladies gym so theres actually nothing for me to do a pull up on. Even if there was I wouldnt even know if I could do one or not...Are there any alternative exercises?
If your gym doesn't have something you can pull up on, you might want to look for a new gym. :) There have been some ladies gyms I've looked into that would not have allowed me to reach my goals, so I got my own equipment instead and have been working out at home.

Pull-ups are hard, and will take a bit of practice. You'll notice lots of threads here where beginners (men and women) can't do even one. So it's great if you could work out something to use for assistance, like a resistance band. The other alternative is to work on negatives (start in the pull-up position and lower yourself down slowly) until you're strong enough to actually do the lifting part of it.

Here's a good thread on it from another forum:
http://board.crossfit.com/showthread.php?t=24511

That's a good exercise, but more horizontal plane vs vertical. So that carries over a bit more to rows.

Candyce, either lat pulldown working up to bodyweight so that you can do chins/pullups, or you could use a resistance band for assistance on a regular bar:

gLMA9dMUQDA

(There are several variants of that you can dig around on Youtube for)

When you say there is nothing to do a pullup on, is there a squat rack? If so, just put a bar in the pins set pretty high...


There is actually a squat rack maybe Ill try that. Or well work up to that at least.

Yeah my gym is a bit crap for machines...the mens gym is massive compared to ours which is a bit unfair. Weve got your standard machines but nothing more. I think theres about literally only under 20 machines.

Machines aren't really the best option for most exercises. Barbells and dumbbells generally work more muscles at a time during exercises because of all the stabilization you have to do in space with BBs or DBs. Machines lock you into a fixed path and may or may not fit you properly, so they can actually be harder on the joints and riskier.

IMO, if you've got a squat rack and free weights, that's all you need anyway. Add in an occasional cable machine and you're good. Ignore the machines for the most part :)

There is actually a squat rack maybe Ill try that. Or well work up to that at least.

Yeah my gym is a bit crap for machines...the mens gym is massive compared to ours which is a bit unfair. Weve got your standard machines but nothing more. I think theres about literally only under 20 machines.

I think we have 12 :) in a gym for for men and women, plus one squat rack a dip/pullups staion and a few benches and one set of dumbells and some plates for the barbells.... as Andy says as long as you have a squat rack and free weights, that's what counts.

I do pullups in the squat rack sometimes too :)

If the "men's gym" is so much better, why don't you lift there?

I've never heard of a Men's only gym - perhaps they are afraid of being shown up by the women.

My gym doesnt have much equipment as its a ladies gym so theres actually nothing for me to do a pull up on. Even if there was I wouldnt even know if I could do one or not...Are there any alternative exercises?

Sure. Inverted rows.

http://www.muscleandstrength.com/exercises/smith-machine-bodyweight-row.html

I think this variation is sometimes used to prepare people for regular pullups. I don't think it is exactly like a pull-up, but I think it's a good exercise.

Put the heels up on a bench so that the body is horizontal and that would be an inverted row. Notoriously harder to do than they look.