Pull Up/Push Up Madness

[OakLeaf]

You can do eccentric pull-ups - that's how most things I've looked at recommend building. Boost or climb to the pull-up position, then let your feet hang and lower yourself as slowly as you can until your elbows are nearly straight - then repeat.

You can also do pull-ups in a semi-supine position to a low bar, sort of TRX-style. It won't work the exact same muscles as doing them vertically, but it will help build.

I need to do some... V, you are awesome as always!

[Crankin]

We do so many reps in my strength and core class, it's nauseating. Really, some of it is the time, 5:30 AM, with no cardio warm up. The gym opens at 5:30, the class starts, boom. I have no problem doing cardio at this time of the day, but I am so weak in my upper body, this stuff is doubly hard. Lifting the smallest weighed bar is painful, not like I can't do the reps, but more like it I feel like my my neck is going to implode from just balancing the bar behind me. I have started using teeny weights (3 lbs and 5 lbs) for most of the stuff. I can do about 5 regular push ups, and a lot of the ones on my knees. It's doing them after I've done 5,000 reps of other stuff that sucks. Tricep dips on the step with 2 blocks, I can do. Sit ups, I'm fine with those, in many variations. I can really see how bad my balance is. Even the overweight, out of shape people can do those things and I am putting my foot down or shaking. It's amazing I can ride!
Hey, I am still going, but it seems like my body just hurts all of the time since I started. I will not go to the boot camp class until my foot heals, but I fear that would cripple me!
Not seeing any changes in my body, but it's only been about 4-5 weeks. Generally, when I have done personal training I've seen changes almost right away. I am not sure I want to spend the $; I don't love my new gym. The classes are fine, but the people are not friendly at all.
No wonder I prefer to just do cardio .