Building muscle

So,
Maximum Stretch put up a bar for me to do pull-ups on in our basement.
I will let everyone know when I have actually achieved my first pull-up.
Can't figure out if I am just that weak, or am I that heavy that I can not pull-up my own weight. Every time I go downstairs for something, I give it a try.

keep up the good work!

Packsy alot will do with how you grab the bar if you grab the bar with your hands faceing forward much harder do them with your hands facing you as you come up on the bar makes it easier then when you have your strength built up a little try doing them both ways, works different muscles that way.

when i lived in boise i met a guy at the gym with a massively huge back. i asked him how he did that and he told me pullups. hands very wide apart and palms facing out. well i started doing pullups. at the time (12 years ago) i was about 230lbs. i could lift myself up about 3". 2 months later i could do half a rep. each time i would lift myself as high as my strength would let me and hold it till i gave out. i would do this 5 ir six times twice a week. 6 months after starting i could do it two times. a year later i could do about 4 to 5 reps. that was 12 years ago. now im about 29bs and still workout. i can do taht same pullup about 35 times on my first set and 10 times by my 5th set. its a great overal upperbody, back, arm, and grip workout. especially good if you are a bow hunter. stick with it. everything in this life just takes time.

packsy, get someone to stand behind you and as you hang on the bar bend yr knees and have them give you just a little support by lifting yr legs at the ankles....you'll find it a little easier and they can reduce the amount of help over time until you can do it on yr own!
Hands toward you will give you a lot of bicep exercise...hands facing away exercises the lats!
Other good way to just improve muscle tone is doing push ups! To begin with you can cheat by having yr knees on the mat but later as your core gets stronger, you'll be able to straighten yr body up and do them properly!

Try the program on 20 pullups.com. You will be amazed at the improvement you can make and it is free.

Thanks for all the great advise.
I can actually pull myself up about 3", and I can feel additional strength each time I do it. I am doing it with my palms towards me.
tap - I will try just pulling myself up and holding it as long as I can.
Bert - I will check out the site.

I can actually pull myself up a little and hold it. I can feel it in my armpits and back. I think it is rally starting to help. I hope to shoot my bow sometime this weekend, but I do have lots of stuff going on.

Packsy,keep up the good work.

Something easier then the pull-ups is to just pull your bow back and hold as long as you can. Your actually using the muscles needed. You can also get rubber tubing or rubber bands, (i get mine from my physical therapist) comes in different colors for different resistance. Tie a knot in one end and close it in a door. If you know a therapist ask them.

Packsy, for drawing your bow, you need to develop your 'rotator cuffs'! Get a dumbell of suitable weight and do ' bend over one arm rowing' pulling the weight up to your shoulder rather than your side! There are other exercises too ...ask yr Gym instructor! Good ole 'push ups' will help a lot! Keeping 'form' is very important in exercise...not only to build the right muscles but prevent injury!
Of course for archery, the best thing to do is just draw the bow a hundred times a day spread throughout the day! draw it 5 times and put it down! Reduce the draw weight right down and then slowly increase it until you can pull it at peak easily! You must be able to draw it without gritting your teeth nor holding it above your head and pulling down.