Total gym pull-up bar recommendations...
 

I am looking into buying one of those pull up bars, this one is mounted on the door frame. Kind of debating if buying it or not.

Does anyone has any experience, feedback how good these total gym pull up bars are?

It depends on your goal. If you just want to tone than the pull-ups and minimal resistance ( I am picturing the Randy Courtour door gym thing) should do the job. If you want to pack on some muscle the only real way is to purchase some dumbells (2 sets - one medium to heavy and one lighter to do shoulders, rows and bi's x 10-12 reps) and a short barbell (4 ft'er) so that you can hit the tries with some skull crushers and mash the bi's with curls and 21's. To gain weight takes weight while resistance (rubber bands and body weight) tones.

Go to an gym - univesity/college gyms are dirt cheap and the girls are plentiful

Not only muscle mass, maybe a little more explosiveness and power.

I know some will laugh, but a friend lent me a copy of P90X, I am stuck on the pull ups as I dont have the bar. Currently when its time to do pull ups I just use a barbell with the heaviest weight

If your just talking about one of the simple pull-up bars (not the whole fancy door gym thing) go for it. What are they $30 or so bucks (loo around..don't go breaking the bank)? Hell get a buddy to weld you a simple door mount. Simple chin-ups and pull-ups are effective but if you are a tall person (lets say 5"10 or more) your knees might hit the floor. I'm just under 5'10 (I like to think average) and the door bar works with minimal clearance to spare, but I have to remember where the ceiling is because its not to hard to strike the noggin' at the top (not to mention on the frame). For the price I'd say its worth the try because if its not high enough you can loop some old sweaters over the bar and thrash you back with some tilted rows and perform descent leg raises (revers crunch).

From calisthenics you can gain strength, endurance and toning while *slowly* building muscle mass.

For quicker increases in muscle mass, you need to move heavier weight with fewer reps, while ensuring you are activating the larger muscle groups. (ie: squats w/ a smith machine.)

Both require proper form, hydration and diet for best effects. Both are greatly augmented with some form of aerobic exercise as well.

The advantage to the calisthenics is that most do not require any equipment; just your body, the ground and determination.

http://www.twohundredsquats.com/
http://www.twohundredsitups.com/
http://twentypullups.com/
http://www.hundredpushups.com/

I have one of the Iron Gym pull up bars. It cost $35 and has been worth it. (If for no other reason than not to have a rapid welded alternative tearing up the door frames in my house.)

- L

ya hydration is required.....the guy above has the whole weight vs muscle thing correct

stop being a bitch and just go workout at the gym. you'll gain muscle way faster than you would with a pull up bar alone unless this isn't a option for you then i say go for it

The folks here telling you to just buy a cheap door pull-up bar are right, but if you play your cards right, a gym membership won't cost you more than a dollar a day. Do that and get serious about working out. You'll never feel better.

Once you figure out a dedicated workout plan, you can create "easy" days around what you have at the house, if you're pressed for time on a certain day.

Please take it easy, I am getting back on track after long time as a surfer and cyclist, it took a week of P90X to see how fucked up I was.

I do have a freakin cardoivascular top end, but in terms of core, terrible.
'


Ok, I will give it a shot, and if wahtever well just a few bucks...
he frame sta
I do have the perfect pull up and it sucks big time. T

Give it a shot and report back. I know our door frames wouldn't hold my big ass. Hell, I swear I see the bar at the gym flex every time I hang from it haha

70% of your physique is diet, with the rest being the actual crunch time.

I know that's right. I need 250-300 grams of protein/day to maintain 195 lbs. Forget all you fat bodies. I wish I could maintain decent weight.

It does take dedication to keep solid gains, though. If you really want to be healthy and look the part, it takes a total commitment. Think about it, and when you're ready, I hear P90X is a pretty good way to begin.

Once you're ready to get yolked out, PM me.

You might want to watch the protein intake though. I've heard through the grape vine (Human health and nutrition along with A&P1/2) that a higher intake of protein then needed can be damaging to the kidneys. Also, when counting protein, take serving size into account. That piece of chicken you thought was only 25g could actually be 4x that.

Wanna keep weight on, eat fat. Pound for pound, it'll blow carbs and protien out of the water. On top of that, a jar of peanut butter a night makes the perfect snack. Calories in Vs. Calories out. Its really that simple. Screw you high metabolism pricks....... I can't keep mine up for shit haha.

The door-mounted pull-up bars suck, IMO. Mine damaged the door frame a bit, not to mention that there's not enough height to do proper pull-ups on a doorframe.

If you have the space, a standalone pull-up/dip bar is the way to go. For P90X it'd be the perfect setup IMO, with a set of dumbells for the parts where you need those.

I'm curious though about your build before I say that P90X is right for you. For those who want to lose bodyfat it's a great program. If you're scrawny and want to get a bit more cut, it's a great program. If you want to be the next Mr. Olympia, it's not for you.

Come on son! Got to the gym and stop buying stupid shit that will collect dust after a week.

http://www.isteroids.com/images/inje...njections1.jpg

Less damaging then non parenteral drugs if you want to head down that dark highway........

Options:
http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/shenand...odyweight.html

Here's a couple different pull up variations (and other exercises) that will keep you busy for a while:
http://www.crossfit.com/cf-info/excercise.html

And it doesn't matter if you go to the gym or buy some stuff. Both are a waste of money if you burn out within a couple months. Setting a goal for a lifetime of fitness is about changing habits over the long term.

Chris

I have a 35$ Iron Gym pullup bar for P90X (which is awesome BTW). The problem with them is that door frames place it too awkwardly low to the ground to effectively do pull ups. I'm only 5'6".

If you have the space, go for a standalone.

I don't know why you're pushing the gym still. I know plenty of people who get in great shape without stepping foot in a gym. Throw a tire around, do some yardwork, go run up some hills, strap a rucksack to your back and haul it up a mountain, do sprints, lift some kettlebells, etc.

The only thing I can see the OP needing a gym for is isolation exercises to build maximum muscle mass. Not everyone has this as their goal.

^cause the gym motivates people, or at least it does for me.

Valid point.

What turns me off to gyms is the inconvenience. You have to get ready, drive there, get out, swipe your access card, wait for the machine you want to use, drive back with your sweaty shirt transferring your sweat to your seats, etc. Working out at home works better for me.

Though it's better than here. There are just some weights over by the latrine here..