Great Upper Body Gym Workout

The best upper body gym workout is by mixing weight lifting and cardiovascular exercises such as jogging and swimming. Also, you might want to work out your lower body while you let the muscles of your upper body recover.

Fitness experts recommend at least 10 minutes of stretching and warm-up exercises before you attempt a more intense workout regimen each time. Your workout will be more efficient if you have flexible muscles and your circulatory and respiratory systems are revved up.

If you want to tone your muscles, lift lighter weights but with more repetitions. On the other hand, if you want to increase your muscles mass, lift heavier weights with lesser repetitions.

You really don’t need expensive equipment to have an effective workout regimen. There are a variety of exercises without any equipment, while others only need basic ones, like a set of free weights. There are also resistance equipment like rubber straps and springs, which offer resistance.

Never believe the cliché “no pain, no gain” because this is not at all true. Never perform any workout regiment if you feel any discomfort. Visit your doctor immediately.

Push-ups
Want to know why push-ups are still around and popular even up to this day? It’s because they work. To do this superb upper body workout, lie with your belly flat on the floor. Keep your legs together as you push yourself off the floor with your arms then lower yourself back onto the floor. Doing it slower actually intensifies the workout.

Do 20 push-ups at first. In no time you can do even up to 80.

Working out the chest
To work out your chest, lie with your back on the floor. In each hand, carry 10-lb dumbbells. Extend your arms upwards, perpendicular to your body. Bring your arms back to starting position then repeat.

To intensify the workout, include your biceps. You do this by having the elbows bent when your arms are raised at about 20 degrees. Straighten your arms, and continue lifting the weights upward.

Working out the lats
Stand on two legs, each hand should be carrying dumbbells. Inhale and, while holding your breath, bring your arms away from your body. Exhale as you extend your arms up to the level of your shoulders. Bring the arms back to starting position.

To intensify the workout, get your biceps and triceps involved by rotating the dumbbells and curling up your arms when they reach shoulder level.

Repeat 10 times.

By the way, the lats (latissimus dorsi) are the major muscles that act on the shoulders.

Working out the biceps and triceps
Let both hands grip dumbbells and place them in front of your thighs. Have one arm lift the dumbbell up to the chest then get it back to starting position. Do the same procedure with the other arm.

Repeat 10 times for each arm. However, if during the workout you feel pain in your lower back, discontinue the exercise right away and consult your doctor.

You can also use rubber resistance straps. You do this by hooking the other ends of the straps to your feet. Simply do the same procedure as with carrying dumbbells.

Chin-ups and pull-ups
For these exercises, you need to find a bar. It does not matter whether it is one you find at the gym or at the playground, as long as it is sturdy enough to support your weight. What differentiates chin-ups from pull-ups? That’s easy. Remember: chin-ups are done with the fingers toward you; pull-ups are done with the fingers away from you.

These two are great for working out the biceps, triceps, upper back and pectorals.

Never try to do more than you can the first time you workout. The intensity of your upper body gym workout regimen should be gradually built up. Pain usually results from overdoing a workout, or performing it incorrectly. While you are here, why not check out one of the top rated abs program from Michael Gear. If you are looking for great abs, click here to get started…

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