Replacing machine weights with Chinups and Pullups

marathonic

My routine in the gym at the moment includes the following (3 days per week):

Leg Extension
Leg Curl
Lat Pulldown
Shoulder Press
Leg Press
Back Extension
Chest Press
Seated Row
Biceps Curl

I also do pushups, situps and french presses with a triceps bar at home. These replaced other isolation machines.

I'd now like to add in chinups and/or pullups. I tried them today after my normal workout and managed 4.

I'm thinking it may be a good idea to do chinups before my session once a week and continue with the Lat Pulldown until I'm able to do a set of 10 chinups. Then replace the Lat Pulldown with chinups (2 days) and pullups (1 day) for 3 sets to failure.

Is this a reasonable plan? I think the chinups could also replace the biceps curl as well. What's your thoughts on this?

Tommy Taylor

why you not doing the following ???

incline bench press
squats
dead lifts
bend over rows
dips
shrugs
dumbbell flies

mrpink6789

Just do the chin ups/pulls ups instead of the lat pull down. The more you do them the better you will get.

marathonic

I'm taking it one step at a time trying to make easy, small improvements in my routine.

The ultimate goal is to do Starting Strength after I get a trainer to show me the lifts.

From your list, after I've got the chinups down, I'll probably be replacing the Seated Row and the Back Extension (???) with bent over rows.

I just want to make sure that each improvement is an actual improvement before moving onto the next.

Also, my gym doesn't have a rack which may pose problems later but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Tommy Taylor

Ya your right start of slow and make sure u doing the lifts right

get a personal trainer as soon as you can CAUSE the sooner u know how to do the compound exercise squats deadlifts ETC .the faster u should grow

marathonic

Thanks to the two of you for the advice.

Okay, I'll just skip the Lat Pulldown and do chinups/pullups going forward - I'd thought that so little of them wouldn't do much good so was considering keeping the Lat Pulldown for quantity but I suppose, as you say, the quantity of Chinups should improve pretty quickly anyway.

Could the chinups also replace the biceps curl or would they not hit the biceps hard enough?

irishpunter

Sorry lads but what's the difference between a chin up and a pull up? Is it just a difference in the grip?

gymsoldier

irishpunter wrote: »

Sorry lads but what's the difference between a chin up and a pull up? Is it just a difference in the grip?

Chinup


Pullup