How to improve upper body strength? The monkey bars challenge!

[glitterbiscuits]

There is a fascinating thread in AIBU - what could you not do if your life depended on it.

So many of us have said if we are hanging of a ledge or something we are stuck! We all have to let go and plummet!

So I want to be able to clamber out of danger.
How can I get stronger?
Firstly if I get down to a lower weight there will be less of me to pull up. Bit what else can I do?

I've never been able to do the monkey bars, not as a child, not when taking the DC to the playground.

I want to do it by the summer!

Join your local gym and get one of the PT's to familiarize you with the machines. There are exercises I can picture people doing to pull themselves up but don't know what they're called!

You'll need to take your rings off to do them.
It's bloody painful trying to grip metal with a ring digging in.

I started attempting pulling up on the playground equipment while DS was playing. It's easier to start with arms bent and work on lowering yourself with control, then progress to trying to lift yourself later.

rowing machine, (pulling really hard) , Ring rows, push ups will all help build up the range of muscles you will need. Jumping pull ups will help too, then assisted ones with one of those big elastic bands.
Deadlift will help develop your grip.

Rock climbing?

Swimming lengths, my daughter couldn't do the Monkey bars until she joined a swim club and was doing their training for an hour a week then 3 hours a week just before she gave it up.

I’d love to be able to do this also but i’d need to start by being lighter as well