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Categories » Workout Programs & Photo Galleries » P90X® » Newbie question about doing pull ups with resistance bands
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Newbie question about doing pull ups with resistance bands
Newbie question about doing pull ups with resistance bands
workouts resistance bands pull up exercises
12/25/12 6:33 PM
Hi everyone,

At my request my wife bought me the P90X program for Christmas. After watching the first couple of DVDs today just to get an idea what is involved with the workouts and after going through the other books that came with the program (including the nutrition guide) I am excited to get started.

One question that came to mind while watching the first DVD and while they were doing some of the pull up exercises is this: for the guy who was using the bands to do the pull ups, it looked like the band was wrapped around something high up. If I have the bands, how can I replicate this in my own home?

Sorry if this is a dense question. I didn't see any tip in the video or any of the other material on how to work around this? It looked like most of the other exercises would be easy to replicate using the bands and the example he provided, but how to do the pull-ups didn't make sense to me.

Thank you!
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RE: Newbie question about doing pull ups with resistance bands
Answer Answer (Unmark)
12/25/12 6:58 PM as a reply to smasiello.
In my home, I have an unfinished basement. It was not difficult to loop the band over a beam initially. Over time, I realized that friction from the beam would wear at the band, so I suspended a an old aluminum walking cane between two pieces of metal strap that were already in the beams (they were there from when they held a water pipe).

If you have a door that you won't need to use during the workout, you can purchase a device to hold the band. Basically it is a piece of nylon strapping material designed to go between the door frame and the top of the door. It has a loop at the other end to put the resistance band through. When you close the door, it locks the nylon in place and you can pull on the bands to exercise. If you are crafty you can make one yourself from some nylon rope. Whatever you choose to do, make sure that it is a safe suspension. You don't want the band snapping you in the face one day.

The bands work great. You don't need to have the pullup bar. I did the program for 10 weeks before acquiring the bar. I was able to do 4 pullups right away. This from a guy who was never able to do a pullup.

I hope this helps.

Brian
P90X Certified
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RE: Newbie question about doing pull ups with resistance bands
Answer Answer (Unmark)
12/25/12 7:04 PM as a reply to smasiello.
Wlecome to P90X. It's a great program and I wish you much success with it. To respond to your question, the band can be inserted in a "sleeve" that closes into the upper portion of a door. The sleeve is purchased at a sporting goods store or online. I do not know the name of it but it is basically made of Nylon webbing and plastic and made by Lifeline. The plastic tab stays on the opposite side of the door from where you are exercising and is held fast to the doorjamb, the rubberized "cradle" is where the band passes through. Another way is to loop the band over the pull-up bar you temporarily mount in the doorway. If these aren't available to you, you may want to actually mount a bike hook or similar device for the band. I'm sure there are other options, but these three have worked for me in the past. I use the Lifeline device as it hangs from my pull-up bar.
I hope this helps. I you ever have any other questions or need some assistance, drop me an e-mail. I'll drop you a buddy request.
Congatulations on your P90X program. It really is a wonderful program.
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RE: Newbie question about doing pull ups with resistance bands
12/26/12 7:06 AM as a reply to OwenDaniel.
Thank you both for the replies. Owen, if you can think of the name of the product by Lifeline and wouldn't mind passing it along, it would be most helpful. I'll stop by the local Dick's Sporting Goods and pick it up today. If not, hopefully the people who work there will know what I am talking about when I give your description emoticon

I did buy the chin-up bar for home, but I also do a fair amount of travel for my job (about 25%) and so my biggest concern with starting a program like this is being able to use the bands when I travel and keep up the program. Being able to do this while on the road is important to me but that means that bringing equipment with me has to be easy. It seems like this can be an easy solution to that problem.
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RE: Newbie question about doing pull ups with resistance bands
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12/26/12 7:20 AM as a reply to OwenDaniel.
The easiest and least expensive way I've heard to do that is to find an old sock(like a long tube sock) and tie a knot in both ends of it. Now put the band in between the 2 knots and put the sock at the top of a door and close it securely(Hopefully there is a little gap at the top of your door to do this). The sock is soft so you won't have to worry about it pulling against something that could weaken it.






If you'd like to join a group for your P90X workouts, here's one I put up for starting 2013 off right--> 2013 - New Year, New You!!!

Kenny
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RE: Newbie question about doing pull ups with resistance bands
12/26/12 3:58 PM as a reply to smasiello.
Awesome idea! Thanks for passing it on!
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RE: Newbie question about doing pull ups with resistance bands
12/26/12 9:08 PM as a reply to KennyA.
KennyA:
The easiest and least expensive way I've heard to do that is to find an old sock(like a long tube sock) and tie a knot in both ends of it. Now put the band in between the 2 knots and put the sock at the top of a door and close it securely(Hopefully there is a little gap at the top of your door to do this). The sock is soft so you won't have to worry about it pulling against something that could weaken it.

Kenny


Kenny,

The sock idea is great! I used it today for my first day's workout and it worked like a charm. My sock was just barely long enough for this to work, but it worked great. I think I'll want to find something a LITTLE smaller to use than a sock if for no other reason than because I don't have much clearance between the door and the frame and the door bends ever so slightly to get around the sock. The door doesn't seem to mind it, but I do worry about the long term integrity of the door. Either way, it is still definitely something that I will recommend to others.

Thank you for passing along the group. I'll join after I finish this post.
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RE: Newbie question about doing pull ups with resistance bands
12/28/12 2:52 AM as a reply to KennyA.
KennyA:
The easiest and least expensive way I've heard to do that is to find an old sock(like a long tube sock) and tie a knot in both ends of it. Now put the band in between the 2 knots and put the sock at the top of a door and close it securely(Hopefully there is a little gap at the top of your door to do this). The sock is soft so you won't have to worry about it pulling against something that could weaken it.






If you'd like to join a group for your P90X workouts, here's one I put up for starting 2013 off right--> 2013 - New Year, New You!!!

Kenny
that's quite creative. I have a pull up bar but I'll have to try this.
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