Karl Matt Button │ Apex Fitness Adv. Profile picture
Jul 20 14 tweets 4 min read Read on X
Pull Up Strength is an indicator for health and longevity.

But most people can't even do one.

49 year old client Eric is now doing weighted pull ups with ease.

Here's how you can go from zero to pumping out pull ups for fun:

(Instant bookmark)

= Thread =
Pull Ups are a killer bodyweight exercise

Being able to do these is a show of strength, health and longevity...

But also they also develop your lats, traps, delts, and biceps.

But most can't even do one pull-up

Never fear. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
I am going to show you exactly to use negative (eccentric) reps to for from zero to pumping out pull-ups for fun.

If you follow this plan to a tee.

In weeks you will be hitting pull ups and building a lean and strong physique.

Wide shoulders, narrow waist, yes please.
Eccentric (lengthening) has massive benefits:

⚬ Increase load on the muscle
⚬ Decrease energy demands on the muscle
⚬ Increase muscular strength
⚬ Increase mechanical tension (key driver for hypertrophy)

And we can use these to quickly increase your pull up strength
1. How to perform Eccentric (Lowering) Reps

⚬ Find a block or bench to stand on
⚬ Start in the very top position of the pull-up rep
⚬ SLOWLY lower yourself down over 4 SECONDS to a full stretch
⚬ Be honest with yourself on speed and use ZERO momentum
2. Program

Stage 1 - 6 sets of 2 reps (eccentrics only)
Stage 2 - 6 sets of 3 reps
Stage 3 - 7 sets of 3 reps
Stage 4 - 8 sets of 3 reps
Stage 5 - 9 sets of 3 reps
Stage 6 - 10 sets of 3 reps

* Make sure each eccentric rep is done perfectly and be honest with your rep speed...
The speed at which you go through each stage will vary

Once you can do 10 sets of 3 reps with eccentrics (*perfect form) then retest pull up strength and you should now be able to pump out multiple pull ups

Then recycle the original program but with full rep pull ups...

Boom!
Can't do any 4 second eccentric pull ups?

That's cool too

Start with with rack chins or inverted rows and use the SAME progression outlined, until you can do eccentrics and go from there

No excuses...
This is all about laying out your volume intelligently to get more loading and increase your progressions and strength

Remember we are looking to increase strength over TIME

Increasing pull up strength & reps will help you craft wide shoulders and a narrow waist for the V Shape
To Summarize?

1. Use 4 second eccentric movements
2. Program over time (week/months)
3. Gradually increase reps then sets
4. Retest for pull up strength
5. Recycle eccentric program with full reps

Get ready build a body to be proud of...

Just a reminder, Eric is 49... (also cranking muscle ups...)
PS.

Are you interested in.

Optimizing your health and performance:

• Shred 25-45lbs of stubborn fat
• Develop bulletproof confidence
• Change the Trajectory of Your life

And get a high performing physique for life.

Results guaranteed ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Image
PS.

Want access to a 1:1 VIP system with a 15 year track record with zero guesswork?

▫️ Torch fat
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▫️ Life a longer and better life.

Results guaranteed.

DM me APEX for more info and let's chat.
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If you enjoyed this post:

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I'm here to help you:

• Shred Fat
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• Optimize your health and fitness permanently

Start today.
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So I put together the APEX High Protein Database.

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More from @KarlApexFit

Jul 19
Can't get to the gym?

A set of dumbbells is all you need to get lean and strong.

Here are the Top 10 exercises you can use to hit every muscle group at home:

(Videos of each included)

1. Bent Over Rows
1. Bent Over Rows

Muscles targeted:

⚬ Rhomboids
⚬ Lats
⚬Traps

Tips:

⚬ Pull back through elbows
⚬ Avoid excess momentum
⚬ Pull elbows towards hips (not straight up)
⚬ Squeeze each contraction (quality execution is key)
2. Split Squats:

Muscles targeted:

⚬ Quads
⚬ Glutes
⚬ Hamstrings

Tips:

⚬ Stay facing forwards
⚬ Slow eccentric
⚬ Stop just before back knee hits the ground
⚬ Embrace for discomfort

*If you have knee issue move front foot further forward to avoid knee going past foot.
Read 17 tweets
Jul 17
If all I had was a set of dumbbells and a bench, these are the 11 Exercises I would use to get in the best shape of my life:

(Videos of each included)
1. Incline Dumbbell Rows:

Target - Back:

Cues:

▫️ Chest glued to bench
▫️ Drive elbows back & in, not just up
▫️ Squeeze shoulder blades together at the top
▫️ Control the negative—no free falls
▫️ Use straps to avoid grip fatigue

Quality reps = bigger, stronger back.
2. Incline Dumbbell Press:

A great chest builder (+ delts and triceps)

▫️ Control the eccentric
▫️ Keep elbows at ~45° angle
▫️ Full range—deep stretch, strong lockout
▫️ Drive through your palms, not shoulders

Simple. Effective. Press strongs.
Read 16 tweets
Jul 14
Wondering how long you'll live?

Let's test it.

Here are 3 Simple Longevity Fitness Tests you can do now (and how to improve them):
1. VO2 Max (Cardiovascular fitness):

VO2 Max measures oxygen use during intense exercise, showing heart-lung efficiency.

Higher levels cut heart disease & mortality risk and boost longevity.

Aim for above-average (e.g., 35-45 mL/kg/min for middle-aged adults)
Test it:

Cooper 12 Min Run Test:

How it works: Run as far as possible in 12 minutes on a flat surface (like a track or treadmill)

Equipment: Stopwatch, measured track or GPS watch.

Calculation: Use the formula: VO2 max = (Distance in meters - 504.9) ÷ 44.73

*If you have a lower base or cannot run, try the 3 minute step test.
Read 15 tweets
Jul 13
Building muscle is your key to longevity and health.

But don't waste a decade trying to figure out what works.

I've built 45lbs of muscle over the last 17 years.

These are the 7 most important training tips I wish I knew when I first started:

= Thread = Image
Muscle is one of the biggest indicators for longevity.

And it's how you lift that matters.

You need "mechanical tension"

The force/tension exerted on muscle fibers during a lift.

The more tension you generate, the more fibers you recruit and stimulate, leading to growth.

But
Most people completely ignore this when they workout.

▫️ Terrible exercise selection
▫️ Crappy intensity
▫️ Terrible form

Letting their ego get the better of them by swinging weight around.

Stop spinning your wheels with basic errors...

This is what you need to do...
Read 17 tweets
Jul 12
Everyone on the planet should be lifting weights.

But most don't know how to start.

I've been training for the last 17 years...

If I was starting from scratch, this is the exact workout plan I would follow to get in the best shape of my life:

(Videos of every exercise included)

= Thread =
Start with 4 simple workouts per week.

Upper/Lower/Upper/Lower is the split.

For each workout:

⚬ 3 working sets/exercise
⚬ 6 - 12 reps/working set
⚬ Rest 3 minutes between sets

Here is the workout plan (print this off):

(Videos of every single exercise below) Image
1. Chest-Supported T-Bar Rows
Read 23 tweets
Jul 9
After 17 years training and coaching, here is every peice of fat loss advice I could come up with:

1. Stop drinking alcohol.
Or at least limit it. Alcohol kills your metabolism, messes up hormones, increases hunger, and wrecks sleep. Minimize to maximize results.

2. Discipline is the most overlooked asset for health and fitness success. Learn to prioritize long term goals over short term gratification.
3. Your number 1 priority to lose fat has to be a caloric deficit. In a caloric deficit you are GUARANTEED to lose fat. Image
Read 23 tweets

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