[WolfLady]

I have been looking for the bands, no one in town stocks them so I'm broadening my shopping horizons. I hadn't forgotten your recommendation.

However, I did happent to go to one of the larger gyms in town and discovered an actual contraption entitled "Chin/Pull Up Assist Machine". You kneel on a pad and it gives you a measure of support depending on the resistance you put on. I was tempted to give it a go, but being my first time at a public gym and not being able to find any staff that weren't busy I figured it would be safer to let it go just for the time being and concentrate on building more stength (and having less arse to drag up there..).