Adding weight to pushups and pullups

[Bigntasty]

I have been trying to build my biceps and chest through pullups and pushups but I think that I am doing to many reps and need to add weight. I can do 15x3 pull ups regularly and 25x3 pushups. Would it be a good idea to put weights in a backpack and then do these exercises I tried it and I could do 8x3 pullups with 15lbs in the bacpack and could do 8x3 pushups with 30lbs in the backpack.

Will this help me gain mass in arms and chest? Also do pushups help build triceps? And lastly how long should I wait between sets?

Thanks alot.

[Rare_Komm]

Whats up Big..
Here's my 2 cents.. Do you have any dumbbells at all or other free weights? Or is it simply just a chinup/pullup bar and then your two hands for pushups? I'll go off of just the equipment you mentioned. To build some size, try doing a 2 sec. count going down on push ups and then a 3 sec. coming back up. same with the pullups, try to focus on the negative. Negative's will make you grow tremendously, but a negative workout should only really be done 1 to 2's a week when training those muscle groups, b/c it's such an intense workout. Also, rest for about 60-90 seconds in between sets. You can also limit it to 30, just to change things up, but keep the intensity the same.
Hope this helps!

[Lady C]

By adding weight (in a backpack or otherwise) you are adding resistance. With the added resistance you are making yourself do more work. So yes, over time it will make you stronger.

[Klinger]

You could also use any old leather belt strong enough to hold a weight plate. The belt should be larger than you need, tho (to give you some slack). I just loop the belt right through the hole in the plate. Olympic plates are optimal. Damn hard to feed some belts through the tiny hole in a standard plate.

[Jaster]

I feel that you will never get as big as you COULD be with out a bench and free weights.

[Bigntasty]

Originally Posted by Rare_Komm

Whats up Big..
Here's my 2 cents.. Do you have any dumbbells at all or other free weights? Or is it simply just a chinup/pullup bar and then your two hands for pushups? I'll go off of just the equipment you mentioned. To build some size, try doing a 2 sec. count going down on push ups and then a 3 sec. coming back up. same with the pullups, try to focus on the negative. Negative's will make you grow tremendously, but a negative workout should only really be done 1 to 2's a week when training those muscle groups, b/c it's such an intense workout. Also, rest for about 60-90 seconds in between sets. You can also limit it to 30, just to change things up, but keep the intensity the same.
Hope this helps!

I have 2 10lbs dumbells and 2 5lbs thats what I have put in my backpack. Also I should only do It 1-2 times a week? Would it be better to do it everyother day?

[Klinger]

Originally Posted by Bigntasty

I have 2 10lbs dumbells and 2 5lbs thats what I have put in my backpack. Also I should only do It 1-2 times a week? Would it be better to do it everyother day?

I'd say give it 48 hours between chinning sessions. You need to give the lats/bis some time to recuperate, after all.

[Fighting F]

Mate,

There are much better things you can do if you have a partner, when I used to do kung fu we used to get someone to get in the pressup position facing you but with their hands on your shoulders, this make the pressups much harder.

As regards chinups, do them more slowly for the full range of motion.

Bodyweight exercises are excellent for fitness and strength, keep up the good work.

If you want any ideas for some more calisthenic exercises have a look at :

http://www.combatfitness.co.uk/

[Bigntasty]

Thanks for all your help