If you can’t do a pull-up… well, that’s perfectly fine! But that doesn’t mean that you will NEVER do one or that you CAN’T do one!

Believe me. You CAN do a pull-up. It just takes some baby steps!

Last week I posted a way for you to master the perfect pushup. Here’s a Women’s Health plan (with a bonus Cross Fit cardio modification) that can get your muscles in pull-up shape in no time.

Work a few of these moves into your workouts 2-3 times a week for a beautiful back, sculpted shoulders & fabulous abs.

You’ll need…

A pull up bar.

Time needed up to 12 weeks

Strategy According to Sal Marinello, C.S.C.S., a personal trainer in Millburn, New Jersey, it’s important to approach pullups in baby steps: Start with step 1, do each exercise twice a week until you master it, and then move on to the next.



Step 1: Flexed-arm hang

Stand on a bench under a pullup bar. Grab the bar with an overhand grip and position yourself so your chin is right above the bar (A). Bend your knees and take your feet off the bench and hold for as long as you can (B), then come down and rest for 60 to 90 seconds. Repeat 3 times. When you’ve mastered 3 25-second holds, move to step 2.



Step 2: Negative pullups

From the flexed-arm hang position, lower yourself down as slowly as you can until your arms are fully extended. Place your feet back on the bench and let go of the bar. That’s 1 rep. When you can do 3 sets of 3 super-slow (around 20-second) reps, you’re ready to take on step 3.



Step 3: Mini pullups

Starting from the flexed-arm hang position, lower your chin to about 2 inches below the bar, then pull yourself back up. Lower yourself about an inch more with each rep until you can fully extend your arms and pull all the way back up. Aim for 3 sets of 2 reps each.



Step 4: Pullup

From a dead hang, have a friend slightly boost your legs as you start the pullup. Do one rep at a time with a minute of rest between pullups until you hit 3. When that becomes too easy, ditch the helpful boost and lose the rest between pullups. Keep challenging your now buff arms by adding reps as you’re able.

For beginners, I often start with step 1 & 2, but I also use this little Crossfit move to get them used to the movement.

Crossfit Cardio Jumping Pullups

From the floor, jump with hands outreached to grab the pull up bar. Use the momentum of the jump to pull yourself up. Lower down quickly & repeat. These are cardio pullups, and while you’re not actually doing a full lift & lower, the speed and motion of the movement will still target the right muscles and give you an extra calorie burn on the way. Work your way up to 50 and you’ll REALLY feel it.

Click below for a demo of negative pull-ups, which is a decent place for anyone to start. Good luck kids!