Quick question please...pull ups/pull downs

I'm doing back tonight....is it better to do all 3 sets of pull ups? or all 3 sets of lat pull downs, or can I do 1 set of pull ups then one set of pull downs and then back to the other?...or should I do one set of lat pulldowns one week and then pull ups the next week?....I can't master pull ups on my own and use an assisted machine which I kneel on.....I'm soooooooooooooooooo waiting for the day I can pull myself up without using the machine at all...I've advance little on it so far but love that feeling as I'm pulling myself up ..wheeeee......sorry, but I do love it.....my poor arms trying to pull me up...lolol.....hard work...I'm also aware that I don't want to settle for doing lat pull downs just cos they are a bit easier...I wanna push myself the best I can....what does anyone think please?....
One more question so I don't have to keep posting and getting on your nerves...lol...with abs...I do 3 different exc, for 3 sets at 20 reps, 3 times a week .....I have no visible abs at all and am working on the flubber front the best I can.....should I be doing a bit more do you think? 
 
3 sets of flutter kicks
3 sets of leg raises
3 sets of crunches, just raising my sholders up...sometimes I do the bike ones.
 
I know it's a lot to do with diet and I'm trying my best to get that under control, but is this enough?  thanks anyone who has the time to read and respond
 
Hope your day is good and now I'm off to have my yoghurt and 'nana...nom nom nom....:)

Pull downs are better but there's nothing wrong in doing lat pulldowns. You can do lat pulldowns with different bars which allow you to target the back in a different way than what you could with pull ups. Personally I do whatever I feel like I'm on the mood for when I go the gym but saying that I've not done pull ups for over a year cos I can't do them without assistance myself and the gym I'm at now hasn't got the machine.

Not sure what flutter kicks are but I can guess. I prefer weighted exercises for my abs, rope crunchies and hanging leg raises in particular or even knee raises with a weight propped between my feet. That's more than enough that you're doing but be warned it does take some doing to get those abs through, in fact mine only came through properly last year for the first time and I was in kids clothing!!

Thanks Kitty...flutter kicks I got out of an american muscle mag...I'm trying to zone in on my lower abs (I know you can't spot reduce tho')...and I lay on my back with my hands sorta under my bum a bit, then legs straight and kick them up and down (small movement)...I think I may do 25 for that one....errrm...the hanging leg raises?  that is the straight leg one right? hanging from your hands? jeez...I couldn't get my legs up...I tried it when I saw a bloke do it at the gym....I can do the knee raises tho but trying not to swing around like a plonker is harde than the knee raising...lololol....I'm gonna do that one, and try with a small weight...errrm..5kg? is that too light?..rope crunchies...kneeling on the floor with the rope thing with the blobs on the end and bringing it down either side of your head and kneeling over frontwards right?.......I think I'll do it on alternate days to the ones I am doing as I know I shouldn't go bonkers...lolol...oh!  too late for that I guess....durrrrr...thanks again...much appreciated....

As Kitty says, using different bars for pulldowns will hit different parts of your back, also rowing movements -single arm db, cable or machine!  If you don't feel you are benefiting from a pull up yet, leave it till you are stronger.

Abs will be getting worked with all your exercises, cardio and diet will get them visible!

Yep you got the descriptions right there and yes hanging leg raises with straight legs. I used to swing like mad but can stay pretty still now. I find them harder now that I've put some weight back on LOL!! Used to get strange looks in my old gym doing them as no on else did them at all.

As Hazel says your abs will also get targeted through other exercises so no need to train them everyday really. I do mine on a back day and maybe a leg day cos I superset the HLR with hyperextensions

I read somewhere, or maybe was told by a gym instructor, that the abs are one muscle group you can work everyday without the risk of injury.  Is that right?  cos I love doing abs (am I strange..? ) and try to do some everyday.  Still can't see any muscles tho !!! 


Sorry to hijack your post NorthernGal !  Hope it's going good for you.


Lakeslass x

Hey there,

Thanks everyone and Lakeslass...I'm not fussed about hijacking, feel free...:)...I don't train my abs every day, only 3 times a week, but I do focus when I'm doing them...ya know......I get in the gym, I find my corner past where all the big blokey blokes are and I gt on with it and don't even look up half the time...lolol...I'm fairly focussed....althooooooo' I did the other week actually walk into a really BIG bloke!  he was quite alarmed at the time I think cos he was the size of a bus and how I didn't see him I truly dunno!!!..lololol....totally scared myself to death...muttered sorry about 50 foooking times!!!..durrrrrr......I should look up now and again I guess....hahahaha...errrm...oh 'eck I've gone off the point now, if there was one in the beginning! usually not in my case...hahaha...yes abs...I'm not gagging for abs but I would like a teeny peek of one at some point....and would I recognise it if did pop out one day in the shower?....I may have to drive myself to A & E just to make sure it is an ab!...lololol...kitty?....I tried the straight leg raise tonight again, just to see if I could, ya know playing about ....I just can't do it...I must have truly crap core muscles, that or the weight of my bum just won't allow my legs to get up there...hahaha...but I did do about 12 bent leg raises with ....ahem....(the shame the shame)....a weeny 2.5kg between my feet which kept sliding off and plopping onto the floor much to my irritation....practice makes perfect hey?....100 lines Northern Gal....I will persevere and I will not stop.....lol.....thanks for all your comments and help...it is helping me hugely....whooo hooo....grrrrr...gizza weight guv!

Abs do get worked everyday with the other exercises you are doing. There's no need to work them directly everyday. Training them everyday won't even guarantee they will show. Most women hold bodyfat in that area and 1000 sit ups a day won't spot burn it.....if it did don't you think more women would be showing their abs in a bikini

NG, you don't need a heavy weight doing the knee raises. It's difficult to do them without someone placing the weight between your feet so try them sat on a bench but bring the knees up towards your chest.

Ta Kitty...I will do that.....I just got back  from the gym about an hour ago...had a great workout and a 25 min run tonight....bit pooped but am now off to roll around under the quilt with a chocolate horlicks then get some sleep...been up and out since 5ish this morning....long day.....yawwwwn....have a good nights sleep yourself......oh, and I hope your leg/lower back? is feeling better today...must be worrying for you....gunite all.......:)

Lakelass, don't think it is possible to hijack a NG thread

Doing some basic core excercises will help, improve posture, strength etc.  Things like planks, side planks.  The knee bends can be done with ankle weights (maybe easier?) but slow, controlled movements feeling the muscles working should be sufficient to begin with.  Keep up the enthusiasm!

Hi Hazel...thanks for your comments...and really sorry 'bout my posts...I'm really trying not to do it...please don't bar me?.....I love working the weights and I love finding this site....I'm really sorry.....i did a eally short one to kitty this morning.....phew...took some doing but I'm getting there....I just wanna tell EVERYTHIIIIIIING!!!!!...lololololol.....I do the plank...that is one hard thing ain't it?....but I'm much better at it now....whey haaaay.....cheers...and sorry again.....

Don't apologize!!  It's quite funny and great to see someone who loves their training so much

Northerngal thanks for dropping and and finding the time to read my tale of woe feel free to come back when you like, ask questions, leave comments, lowering your body fat will help to expose your abbs, so up your cardio, clean up your diet and the best of british luck to you. 

Northerngal

under the quilt with a chocolate horlicks

 
Hi if you're trying to cut the fat I would check out the calories in a horlicks, although maybe it's the light one and you didn't say. I used to LOVE ovaltine years ago untill I realised just how many calories were in it!
xx

Hello hifi...thanks for that...it was a lite one, I got them in little sachets and I have them with water...i don't have one every night...maybe twice a week when I have a really long day, and also if I'ts too late for me to eat something before I go to bed...I wuz thinking a drink like that would be better than nothing.....thanks again...i am questioning my whole diet now...i did post it on the diet page and on the whole its good but I'm obviously doing something wrong cos I can't drop this last half stone if I tried..I think my portions are too big maybe, or I use too much olive oil...I don't eat rubbish at all, I don't like chocolate and most everything I make is tomato based so its gotta be the portions....I'll get there in the end I guess.....I'm also going to to up the cardio a bit as Scrubby said..altho I do a fair bit...20 to 25 mins HITT after my weights and one long run about an hour on one day inbetween and boxing class once a week which is circuits with boxing gloves and kettlebells and stuff..really hard.....but may I can do more.....I'm sure I can if I try.....lol...

early morning cardio seams to be the thing, everyones doing it  fast walk for 45min before breakfast, 6 days a week rest on 1 day