RFFL .... in the beginning

Okay, I'm gunna put myself out there.... I just started this program and OMG it kicked my but. I am used to a 5 day split, intense heavy workout,  I do squats with heavy weight, but jumping squats, reg squats and holding .... ouch. Anyway, tonight was round 2. I could only complete 1 chin up. I was able to get as high as my forehead, but never up to my chin.... is this normal? I feel so weak.  I was able to do everything else and even had to increase weight a couple of times, but dang, those chin up are killer.

On top of this my entire ring finger is one giant peticial hemmorage.... nice....

Please tell me this will get better... please...

What is RFFL? 

As far as chin ups or pull ups, they are very difficult to do, especially if you haven't done them before and you are doing some kind of circuit type workout and working them in to it.

It will get better! They are an amazing exercise that will increase your strength leaps and bounds over say, pull downs.

I have a routine that I stole from an Arnold S. body building book - 50 pull ups, you just do as many as you can and rest as often as you need until you hit 50, eventually you will be doing sets of 5, 10, 15 or more...

Keep at it

RFFL = Real Fast Fat Loss found on T-Nation.com. Actually I got the link from Melkor. I had been doing a routine for 3 months and had become stagnant and bored. This looked interesting , what an understatement.

The finger looks better this morning, not so red, more dark pink, like I was coloring easter eggs.....definitly think gloves will help in the future. 

edit: spelling

im actually jealous as i dont have access to a chin up bar & i would love to be able to work on them. instead i had to subsitute that exercise in the rffl program with step burpees & tricep dips.  would love to be able to pull myself up if i am ever hanging off a cliff.

The gym didn't have a chinup/pullup bar low enough for me to jump up to, so I am using the squat station. It has these step ups that I stand on, do my squat and very carefully jump up and attempt the chin up..... I know I am going to launch off this thing and roll across the floor, I just know it. I have been looking at the bar for the door way at home, maybe my alternative to the gym thing.

meganr started a helpful thread on pullups in this group just a couple weeks ago.  the reason i provided a link to it is that there are lots of ways to get around the height of the bar.  if it's too low, then raise your legs (either in front of you for some core work or behind you).  if it's too high, get either a bench to stand on or something else (dumbbell?).  i think i mentioned in this thread that i use the smith machine to do negatives:  i set the bar on the lowest setting and stand up on it to start the negative. 

i just recently got the iron gym pullup bar.  it's probably overpriced, but i really like it.  it helps, bec i can only do a couple of pullups at a time, so now i can space my sets throughout the day. 

Original Post by caloriecountingme:

i just recently got the iron gym pullup bar.  it's probably overpriced, but i really like it.  it helps, bec i can only do a couple of pullups at a time, so now i can space my sets throughout the day. 

ooooo I've been eyeballing that puppy.  Did you order it direct, or find it on the shelf somewhere?  I've got a perfect doorway for it and I think it'll be better than the pullup bar I have now.

Plus I want 4% bodyfat and the killer six pack like the guy in the commercial.    

I love how they do that.  Guy's prolly been in the gym for 5 years and eating 1300 cals of curds & whey a day for a month to get that shredded before they film the ad.  There should be a rule.  Folks like us know the deal but I feel bad for all the people who think doing pullups and pushups with that for 6 weeks will make them look that way.

w00t lil' rant there, sorry 

pistolpete, i couldn't agree more that it's sad to think some ppl believe that guy got his triceps doing dips w/this iron gym contraption. i mean, hello.  that said, i actually am totally happy w/the iron gym.  it really does fit right into your doorway w/no problem.  and it's not as tough on your hands (the calluses i have now are 5x worse what they were before starting all my pullups/negatives).

i totally bought it direct.  i did look around for it (like in stores) but didn't see it anywhere.  i'm sure i could have gotten it cheaper, but i was worried about it not working/fitting the doorway/falling apart, and i wanted the money back guarantee.

I am seriously considering installing a bar in my office doorway. Everytime I walk in or out I can do a pullup/chinup (even in dress clothes) More motivation to get up an walk away from my desk as well.