u/MaceFlow

I currently do pullups at the park just once a week. Usually 15, 13 then 12, to total 40 pullups. Long breaks between sets though. Progress has been very slow, and I'm thinking I might try weighted pullups.

I tried a while ago with a 20kg vest. I did at least one rep, not very convincingly. I can't remember if I did any more, but I stopped because the base of my neck cracked and felt terrible for a few weeks after. Does this mean the weight was too heavy or is it because I used a vest?

I take a 30kg sandbag to the park also, which I suppose I could chain to a belt, but I presume that'd be way too heavy.

Should I go super light, ankle weights or something?

Any tips on how to start would be appreciated. Goal is to not crack my neck, use something that I can take while walking to the park with my rope and sandbag, and to finally make progress.

I've been comfortably carrying a 30kg sandbag on my shoulders to walk to the park where I do my workout. Today I got my first rucking backpack with two 15kg plates. I assumed it would be easy, but no, 30kg in the pack is too heavy for me. Felt like it was cutting off circulation, and my neck felt strained. I took a plate out and 15kg feels much better.

But then... with the 15kg pack on, I added the 30kg sandbag to my shoulders, so 45kg total. This felt comfortable. Not too heavy at all.

My math isn't mathing. I suppose two 15kg plates is harder than a 15kg plate plus 30kg sandbag because of weight distribution? I'm confused.

Any tips for a rookie would be appreciated.

EDIT: Thanks all for helping out. Day 1 today. Just a short walk with the 15kg pack. Felt fine. I could hold my phone and chat while walking, so not too strained or anything. I'll stick with the single 15kg plate for a while and might revisit the extra plate when I'm less of a rookie.

I'm new to the world of callisthenics. I've been doing pullups and can get 15 in a row, though I don't know if my form is ok. I recently gave the front lever a go, thinking it would be impossible for me. I'm a long way off, but I surprised myself and I think front lever is a realistic goal to work towards. I'm going to start practising. I'd like to also give back lever a try, just to get a baseline. I suspect that's not a realistic goal in the foreseeable future, but I'd like to see how I go. I just don't know how to try. I see videos of people hanging from a bar, and rolling backwards to get into position, then rolling fowards to finish. Is there a more rookie way to do this? I don't want to roll back, realise I'm out of my depth, and get stuck!