Tag Archives: upper body

Featured Exercise: Burpees

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Featured Exercise: Burpees

Primary Muscles: You name it, it’s working.

Ok, I think the name says it all.  Don’t ask me the etymology of the word, but the image you’ve conjured up in your mind probably fits the bill.  If you’re not familiar with the Burpee, it is a great total body exercise that does not require any equipment, yet leaves you feeling like you’ve just completed a full gym workout.  There are a few variations for all fitness levels, which you will find in the video below.  Give this one a try, if you dare…

Workout of the Day: Circuit

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Circuit:
Modified Pull-ups x 10
Push-ups x 20
Abdominal Crunches x 30
Squats x 40
Mountain Climbers x 50
(perform each exercise back to back with minimal rest, then rest for 90 sec and repeat 2-3 times)

This is a great full-body, circuit-style workout.  Get the heart-rate up and boost the metabolism with this workout that’s sure to leave you soaked and spent.  Enjoy!

J

Featured Exercise: Cable/Tube Standing High Row

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Featured Exercise: Cable/Tube Standing High Row

The upper back is one of the most important areas of the body that requires our attention in our exercise routine.  Because the bulk of the physical activity we do in our day-to-day life happens in front of us, those muscles (the chest and shoulders especially) become overly tight and unequally strong compared to their counterparts, the muscles of the upper back and rear shoulders.  Since muscles keep each other in check, this imbalance can create postural problems and can make one susceptible to future injury.  For this reason, we need to keep the muscles of the chest and shoulders flexible, and the muscles of the upper back strong.  However, upper back exercises are some of the most difficult to perform on your own without some form of equipment.  Short of pull-ups or the modified pull-ups that I featured a few weeks back, you need some implement to assist you.  The following exercise can be done in the gym with a cable machine or can be done at home or outside using a very inexpensive tool called resistance tubes.  They come in different thicknesses and can be purchased at any sporting goods store.  The have handles attached to the ends and usually come with a door anchor for home use.  The greater the thickness, the more resistance and the more difficult the exercise.  For a couple of dollars, you can add dozens of potential exercises to your routine.  One of these is the Standing Tube/Cable High Row.  Here’s what you do:

Set the cable machine at its highest height with handles attached, or set the tube anchor at a height at or above your head.  Grasp the handles and stand with feet slightly wider than hip-width apart and knees slightly bent.  With arms extended in front of you and up towards the cable/tube attachment, set the shoulders down away from the ears and pull the handles towards the chest.  Keep the elbows close to your body and use the muscles of the back and arms to perform the movement.  Slowly return the starting position.  Avoid using the neck and keep the shoulders down throughout the exercise.  Exhale as you pull, and inhale as you return.

Start getting that posture back!

J

Workout: Basic Strength Training

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Workout of the Day: Basic Strength Training

So you’ve decided to replace one of those cardio workouts with a strength training workout.  Don’t know where to start?  Try this one out.

Circuit 1
Push-ups x 15
Reverse Lunges x 15 each side
Ab Crunch x 25
(Repeat)

 Circuit 2
Chair Dips x 15
Chair Squats x 15
Prone Cobra x 10
(Repeat)

 Do all three exercises in the circuit back to back, then rest for 60 seconds, and repeat the circuit one more time.  All of the highlighted exercises have been “Featured Exercises” in the past, and have links to instructions.  For instructions on any of the others, just leave a comment and I will be sure to explain.  Push-ups can be on your feet or kneeling, whichever you need.  You can feel free to add weight to the Reverse Lunges and Chair Squats with dumbbells, a medicine ball, or anything that adds weight like water jugs or small children (I have used this one myself).  For a greater challenge, increase the repetitions on some of the exercises, or do 3 sets instead of 2.  Be safe, and always stay within your level of fitness!

J

Workout #11: Functional Strength

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Workout of the Day #11: Functional Strength

Circuit #1:
Dumbbell Squat + Shoulder Press x 10-15 reps
Dumbbell Row x 10-15 reps
Ab Crunch x 20-30 reps
(2-3 sets)

Circuit #2:
Dumbbell Chest Press x 10-15 reps
Dumbbell Walking Lunges x 20-30 reps
Opposite Arm/Hip Extension x 30 sec each side
(2-3 sets)

Circuit #3:
Cable Tricep Extension x 10-15 reps
Cable Arm Curls x 10-15 reps
Plank x max time
(2-3 sets)

This workout is a great functional strength gym workout.  As we’ve been talking about adding some strength training work into your cardio routine, here is one such workout.  This one is structured with 3 circuits.  Each circuit consists of 3 exercises done back-to-back with minimal rest in between (just enough time to transition between exercises).  Repeat each circuit 2-3 times.  I would start with 2 sets just to get the feel of things.  Find weights that bring you nearly to maximum fatigue in the repetition range described.  That will be different for each person, so I have not posted any weights with the exercises.  As always, keep the movements controlled and use proper form.  Happy Lifting!

J