Adjusting his workout routine on the fly defined Jay Cutler’s bodybuilding career. In a recent YouTube video on March 23, 2026, he shared pull-up alternatives for a wider back. He also broke down the rep range he follows and the different grips that can be used.
In the 2000s, Cutler cemented himself as a Mr. Olympia champion after dethroning Ronnie Coleman. His reign was short-lived, with Dexter Jackson taking him out at the 2008 Mr. Olympia. This set the table for Cutler’s iconic comeback a year later, where he reclaimed the Sandow trophy with an all-time best look.
Back training was pivotal to his success, and Cutler hasn’t forgotten the techniques that shaped his Mr. Olympia physique. While pull-ups were challenging when he was pushing the scale at over 260 pounds, he explains below how alternatives were key to overall progress.
Jay Cutler Shares Pull-Up Alternatives to Build a Wider Back
In a recent video, Cutler shared that pull-up alternatives are ideal for heavier individuals who struggle with the conventional pull-up. At his max weight, Cutler aimed for at least eight reps.
“The pull-up alternatives. There’s a lot of different back variations, especially the regular pull-up. A lot of people have trouble doing pull-ups. I know when I was at my heaviest weight, it was really hard for me to do enough repetitions, where I would try to at least focus on eight.”
He listed the assisted pull-up machine, banded pull-ups, and partner-assisted pull-ups as viable options:
“You have our advanced machine, which is the assisted. Now, most gyms have these. If your gym doesn’t have it, you can use a band, you can use someone to kind of guide your legs, give you a little push. But, ideally, you want to try to put these into your routine.”
According to Cutler, these are great width-builders, and he added that you can adjust the grip based on personal preference.
“This is a great width-builder. There’s different grips you can use.”
“The wide grip, the close grip, the reverse grip, whatever suits you, but you always want to find the alternative to doing this movement, and like I said, the assisted is probably one of the best that can help you get through those reps and get that full contraction,” shared Jay Cutler.
Aside from width, achieving back thickness was also a priority for Cutler, as both were needed for a lights-out back double biceps and rear lat spread. He credited close-grip and wide-grip pulldowns for helping him with muscle development.
Cutler still boasts a strong and thick back in retirement at 52. He believes pull-up alternatives are the secret and urges lifters to include them in their routines.
RELATED: Jay Cutler Shares Exact Leg Day Routine That Built 4 Mr. Olympia Titles
