18 pullups to 40 pullups in 13 weeks. achievable?

[scrappie345]

So im thinking about making a bet with my friend that he cant take his current pullup max from 18 all the way up to 40 for a single set by October 31st. The pullups would be with very strict form done from a dead hang with no swinging or kipping at all. ive watched him do pullups and can confirm that his current max is about 18. he is about 5'7" and approximately 185 pounds and is pretty well trained already with a 5RM of about 310 for squats, 240 for bench and 410 or so for deads. hes also been doing weighted pullups for awhile but his current unweighted max is 18 like i said. how likely do you guys think it is that he can pull this off? itd be for a good amount of money if i agree to it so he definitely has some motivation. should also note that i originally offered him the bet (it wasnt his idea) but we had the stipulation that we both had a week to actually confirm it. he confirmed he was in the next day

[whitneymmm]

So im thinking about making a bet with my friend that he cant take his current pullup max from 18 all the way up to 40 for a single set by October 31st. The pullups would be with very strict form done from a dead hang with no swinging or kipping at all. ive watched him do pullups and can confirm that his current max is about 18. he is about 5'7" and approximately 185 pounds and is pretty well trained already with a 5RM of about 310 for squats, 240 for bench and 410 or so for deads. hes also been doing weighted pullups for awhile but his current unweighted max is 18 like i said. how likely do you guys think it is that he can pull this off? itd be for a good amount of money if i agree to it so he definitely has some motivation. should also note that i originally offered him the bet (it wasnt his idea) but we had the stipulation that we both had a week to actually confirm it. he confirmed he was in the next day

Sounds possible to me. Don't underestimate the ability someone has to prove you wrong when you say "You can't do it."

[scrappie345]

Sounds possible to me. Don't underestimate the ability someone has to prove you wrong when you say "You can't do it."

im not denying its possible. just trying to measure how likely it is/isn't

[Kirra]

It's very possible. You should bet with him anyway though, don't be a pussy

[whitneymmm]

im not denying its possible. just trying to measure how likely it is/isn't

No one here could tell you. It depends on his genetics, diet, beginner status, knowledge of proper training methods, ect, ect.

[caerus13]

40 pullups is a LOT. It's a bodyweight exercise, so generally, it's tough to increase since as you get stronger, you gain muscle (MORE WEIGHT). So you can do the same amount of reps, but still be doing more work.

I don't think he can do it.

[Kirra]

40 pullups is a LOT. It's a bodyweight exercise, so generally, it's tough to increase since as you get stronger, you gain muscle (MORE WEIGHT). So you can do the same amount of reps, but still be doing more work.

I don't think he can do it.

Not if he doesn't eat above maintenance.

[Buildinmuscle7]

Its possible. It has alot to do with bodyfat tho. It depends on everyone. Alot of schools have the pullup record set by skinny track kids, not the huge guys that squat 500. So if he cuts out as much fat as he can and gets stronger, he can get it up by that time. I got mine up from 0 to 20 in a month without ever working out before. So if he trains right he can do it.

[caerus13]

Not if he doesn't eat above maintenance.

Well he'll have a tough time gaining strength not eating above maintenance. And the rest of his training will suffer. Just doesn't seem like a worthwhile endeavour.

[Kirra]

Well he'll have a tough time gaining strength not eating above maintenance. And the rest of his training will suffer. Just doesn't seem like a worthwhile endeavour.

Worthwile or not, it would be fun.

[Hut*Hut]

40 strict pull ups is a LOT of pull ups at over 200lb. Doubt it's possible in 13 weeks.

[BombDonald]

40 strict pull ups is a LOT of pull ups at over 200lb. Doubt it's possible in 13 weeks.

I gotta agree with that. 18 isn't really a number to cough at, and adding 22 to that in just a few short months seems a bit unreasonable.

[AudiRS6]

40 strict pull ups is a LOT of pull ups at over 200lb. Doubt it's possible in 13 weeks.

I agree man, I weight 225 and I remember barely getting 30 in...I know thats only 10 more but I've probably been lifting way longer

[scrappie345]

I gotta agree with that. 18 isn't really a number to cough at, and adding 22 to that in just a few short months seems a bit unreasonable.

this is what i was thinking. 18 already seems pretty well developed and considering hes already been training pullups and is pretty well trained in general, i dont think that kind of progress is attainable.

but i wasnt sure what kind of pullup programs were out there and what kind of results are generally seen on these programs

[strong_strength]

I agree man, I weight 225 and I remember barely getting 30 in...I know thats only 10 more but I've probably been lifting way longer

is this a meme saying weight instead of weigh?

i see it everywhere

[boathead]

i vote no. nonetheless, search out timberwolf...i think he keeps a journal in the over35. once upon a time he was gearing up for the world pullup record until tendonitis killed the effort. if anyone could steer you, he could. i've seen some of his videos and the man is ridiculous.

edit: here is a video i found of him. perhaps it will help in crafting a plan.

http://videos.bodybuilding.com/watch...insane-pullups

[Engineer_Guy]

Gonna have to side with those saying it's not gonna happen. Partially from the fact that you weigh 200lbs making pull ups even more difficult and most from the fact that 40 pull ups is pretty damn hard.

[billstickly1]

possible yes, probable, not even close

[scrappie345]

Gonna have to side with those saying it's not gonna happen. Partially from the fact that you weigh 200lbs making pull ups even more difficult and most from the fact that 40 pull ups is pretty damn hard.

just if you guys didnt read the OP close enough i wouldnt be the one doing the challenge. my friend is 5'7" 185ish. if i take the bet i would be betting against it. so i think im starting to like my chances more

[Engineer_Guy]

just if you guys didnt read the OP close enough i wouldnt be the one doing the challenge. my friend is 5'7" 185ish. if i take the bet i would be betting against it. so i think im starting to like my chances more

I'd still say no.

[MinusP]

I'll say yes, if he really wants to beat you.. body exercises, things that use your own weight are easy to adapt to in my opinion, I remember when I was young going from 12-15 push-ups to over 50 in a short time, im talking like 2 months.. at the same time I was in a competition with my friend and would do push-ups at school even when I had to go to the bathroom..

I could do 8 pull-ups (hardly) just 5 months ago.. now I can do 20 on a fresh set without breaking a sweat.. and I only do pull-ups once a week.. so you can imagine if he was serious and went ahead and did pull ups 3 times a week or more..

if he is serious about beating you, he will.. only you know how committed this guy would be to winning that bet, and that answer is directly proportional to how likely it is he will accomplish it. If the bet was against me, I'm 100% sure I would win it..

[bodycamera]

I think he can do it.

[kwhitte]

Nope going from 18 - 40 strict form in 13 weeks will not happen.

Some of you are saying you never did pull ups and started out doing like 8 and got up to about 20 in a1-2 months. BEGINNER GAINS for an excersise. I am in the Marine Corps and 20 strict form pullups is needed for a perfect score for that portion of the test.

In three months he will not go from 18 - 40 pullups. It took me about a year and a half to do over 40. Going from 20 - 30 was still relatively easy gains, but 30-40 ha.. Three months simply isn't enough time plus his diet needs to be in check. Also would need to lose some weight most likely unless he already has a low BF%.

[MinusP]

Nope going from 18 - 40 strict form in 13 weeks will not happen.

Some of you are saying you never did pull ups and started out doing like 8 and got up to about 20 in a1-2 months. BEGINNER GAINS for an excersise. I am in the Marine Corps and 20 strict form pullups is needed for a perfect score for that portion of the test.

In three months he will not go from 18 - 40 pullups. It took me about a year and a half to do over 40. Going from 20 - 30 was still relatively easy gains, but 30-40 ha.. Three months simply isn't enough time plus his diet needs to be in check. Also would need to lose some weight most likely unless he already has a low BF%.

I agree with the beginners gains thing, but when i did that again i was only doing pull-ups once a week.. 4-6 sets.. nothing mind bending.. so what is to say if someone doubled, tripped their efforts (without seriously over training I mean and leaving back workouts to JUST pull-ups and nothing else to prevent that) would they not make that much more of a gain? Guy is starting at 18... you said going from 20-30 was relatively easy.. an extra push and i dont see why not..

[InsanityWolf]

If he cuts 10-20lbs he'll be up to 40 in no time.

[kwhitte]

I agree with the beginners gains thing, but when i did that again i was only doing pull-ups once a week.. 4-6 sets.. nothing mind bending.. so what is to say if someone doubled, tripped their efforts (without seriously over training I mean and leaving back workouts to JUST pull-ups and nothing else to prevent that) would they not make that much more of a gain? Guy is starting at 18... you said going from 20-30 was relatively easy.. an extra push and i dont see why not..

When i say relatively easy i mean didnt take to long..took about 2 months to go from 20-30. From 30 -40 took months over 8 months. He can not do it in 3 months. Unless he is a freak. Which like you said hes been working out awhile and such. He would not be able to go from 18-40. Go to a gym and see how many people you see doing over 30 pull ups. NOT MANY

[freenick]

I have been doing pullups from February but still cant do more than 10 (last exercise on my routine though..so muscles are pre exhausted). Maybe one of the reason is that I have been bulking, but considering the strength increase I had (gauged by compound lift improvements) the improvement in my bodyweight reps are quite insignificant.

So I really dont think 18-40 is possible in 13 weeks. Infact 40 pullups is a very high number for seasoned bodybuilders as well, unless the person is extremely lean and has low bodyweight.

[SgSpartan]

Possible yes.

Probably no.

I've been training for pull-ups, and I know how hard it is.

[stowellomite]

IDK from my Marine Corps experience where dead hang no kick pull ups are a required part of your PFT I could see him getting to around 30 if he drops some weight in that amount of time. I have always found pull ups to be a strength + endurance exercise and I am guessing he doesn't run all that often. The guys that were successful at pull ups are typically track star types.

[BarryRabkin]

I would definitely take the bet. My friend is fit and only weighs about 130 pounds. It took him 6 months to get from 20-30 pullups with a good diet, and he hasn't been able to break 30. I don't know anyone personally that's broken 30 actually. It's a safe bet he won't make it. It wouldn't hurt to add a rule for the bet, no more than 5-10 seconds between reps though so he can't rest between reps, that's the only way he could pull off that man reps that quickly. I'll throw in some money on this bet, it's an easy win.
-Barry