The Three Top Abdominal Exercises for Women
Everyone admires beautiful abs. Women and men alike consider ab exercises to be some of the toughest exercises of all. However, this is not true. Abdominal exercise can be easier than you think. Both the upper and lower abdominal muscles need to be worked to get the best overall look and strength. There are a variety of crunch positions that will work but here are three of the best ab exercises for women who want to get great results.
Exercise Ball Crunches - This is a good one if you are just starting to exercise.
- Step 1 - Sit on the ball and place your hands on the back of your head and walk your legs out lowering your body on to the ball until your upper back and shoulders are all that remain on top of the ball. Legs should be shoulder width apart.
- Step 2 - Lift your pelvic to straighten your lower back and tighten your buttocks and contract the abdomen muscles.
- Steps 3 - Keeping your elbows pointing out to the side slowly raise the shoulders slightly being careful not to pull the neck. You should feel the crunch in the abdominals; the thighs and buttock muscles will be working too.
- Step 4 - Hold the position for a moment then slowly lower the shoulders to the ball and repeat for as many times as you can perform the exercise without straining.
Rest for 30 seconds between sets. Do 2 or 3 sets of 12 to 15 repetitions every other day.
Floor Bicycle Movement – This exercise does not require any equipment.
- Step 1 - Lie on your back with your hands behind your head and legs straight out.
- Step 2 - Contract your abdomen muscles and lift one leg bending your knee while raising your shoulders slightly off the floor without pulling your neck.
- Step 3 - Bring your elbow and knee together bending so that the elbow and knee just touch.
- Step 4 - Lower and then change sides so the alternate legs in a bicycle movement touching knee to elbow. Repeat .
Move through the positions slowly. You can vary this ab exercise by bringing the knee and elbow of the opposite sides together requiring the upper body to turn slightly from side to side. This maneuver is very effective and works the oblique as well as both the upper and lower abdominals.
Hanging Knee Raises – This is a most effective exercise but needs gym equipment (Captain’s Chair. )
- Step 1 - The body is held upright by the arms resting on padded arm bars with the feet handing down. The lower back is straight and supported by a back rest.
- Step 2 - Contract the abdominal muscles and lift both knees slowly up toward the chest,
- Step 3 - Pause and then slowly lower the legs back down to the starting position. The muscles are constantly contracted throughout the exercise.
This abdominal workout is the most effective because it works both the upper and lower abs, back and arm muscles for an overall core strengthening exercise.
The Best Results It's not enough to just focus on doing abdominal exercises. For women especially, - you can have rock hard abdominal muscles, but if there is body fat covering them you won’t be able to see them. To make these exercises not only pay off but really show off you need to consider the following;
- Eating a well balanced diet low in saturated fats
- Doing a cardio or Aerobic warm-up before a workout
- Stretching both before and after exercise for increased flexibility
- Making regular exercise part of your lifestyle
Conclusion Pay attention to what you eat and when you eat. It is as important as exercising if you want to lose weight or maintain an ideal body weight. If you want results you have to do the things that are needed to get the results. It is as simple as that. Once you get started in any exercise program it will become second nature and a part of your everyday routine. So suck in that stomach and get the beautiful abs you always wanted.
by DEBORAH PROSSER
The Three Top Abdominal Exercises for Women
Showing posts with label workout. Show all posts
Showing posts with label workout. Show all posts
Tuesday, 7 August 2007
Sunday, 1 July 2007
Newbie’s Guide to Developing Strength and Size In Bodybuilding
Newbie’s Guide to Developing Strength and Size In Bodybuilding.
In this article I will address one of the many mistakes the newbie bodybuilder make and give a simple antidote to the problem of developing strength and size for fastest result.
Most neophytes don't know how to get started in bodybuilding they spend many years doing the wrong things before they learn what the right things are. In this article I will address one of the mistakes the newbie's make and give a simple antidote to the problem of developing strength and size as a bodybuilder.
You can find more articles on training and a question and answer section, written by real bodybuilders at http://fire-iron-online.com Check it out and get your bodybuilding problems solved
I think before we go any further its important to understand that strength training for a bodybuilder is not the same as for other athletes. A bodybuilder must develop strength while building muscle size, shape and endurance, and on many occasions these goals are exclusive of each other. So let's start this discussion with how to choose the correct weight.
What does your trainer mean when he says light weight, moderate or heavy? How do you know by the weight what rep count you should use? I’ll try to simplify this all too confusing problem in just a few lines.
Heavy weight is any amount that is so heavy that on your first set you can only complete 6 to 8 reps. I think it goes to reason that on your second and third set you will not be able to complete as many.
Moderate weight is any amount that is so heavy that on your first set you can only complete 8- 12 reps. Of course less on the following sets. Finally, light weight is any amount that is so heavy that on your first set you can only complete 15-25 reps
Now there is one more thing that I want to address that is strength. Understand this, just because you are getting bigger does not mean you are getting stronger; however, if you are getting stronger you are getting bigger even if you can't see the size increase! Finally, train to get stronger, but not for strength, if you understand the principles of the Progressive Resistance System this will make more sense
The four days per week workout, the four days per week is called a split routine, because the body is split into four sections Unlike a lot of trainers I think there is a relationship between growth and total amount of sets completed in a week's time. On the three day routine you had 9 set for chest, back and quads, and six set for shoulders. In this routine the weekly sets will range between 12 and 16 per body part.
In no way do I advocate the High Intensity Training (HIT) methods that you'll find in all over the internet. I don't deny how well they work; I just feel much of the injury throughout my career has come as a result of working out with too much intensity. Age and wisdom has taught me to the never to even advocate the negative or forced reps for any reason I personally call them injury reps! But let's move on to what will work.
Some important things to understand about this routine
1. Workouts are never longer than 1 hour! Never!
2. Dips are done with no weight, except "bench dips" if you have a partner
3. "Max" represents the most you can do correctly (never do forced reps)
4. Unless I specify dumbbells, use only barbell
5. Shoulder press are done to the front of the chest not behind the neck See article my article on shoulder injuries
6. Lat pull downs are done at shoulder width never wider and only to the front of the chest.
7. Seated row are done either on a seated row machine or on seated on a low cable row machine. If doing them on a low cable row machine lean forward only enough to full extend your arms keep lower back arched. Never let the shoulders roll forward for that "extra stretch"
8. Barbell curls are done in smoothly never jerky or fast.
9. Leg press are done with full range of motion your calf should touch your hamstring at the stretched position.
10. Leg curls should be contracted until heel touches you butt.
11. Seated calf raises this exercise is harder than it appears. Calf should get a full stretch at the bottom of the movement, and completely contracted at the top.
12. Warm up and cool down with about 10 t 15 minutes of stationary bike or ski machine (I only do low or no impact aerobics, never run, never stairs,)
13. Stretch only after you have completed the workout and only for the muscles worked that day.
Workout 1 Monday
Dips4 set of 8-12 reps
Bench press4 set of 8-12 reps
Dumbbell Shoulder Press4 set of 8-12 reps
Shoulder Shrugs4 set of 8-12 reps
Workout 2 Tuesday
Pull Ups4sets of 6-8 Reps
Lat pull downs4 sets of 8-12 reps
Seated Rows4 sets of 8-12 reps
Seated Calf Raises4 sets of 15-25 reps
Workout 3 Thursday (after one day rest)
Hack Squats4 sets of 15-25 reps
Leg Press4sets of 15-25 reps
Leg Curls4 sets of 8-12 reps
Standing Calf Raises4 sets of 15-25 reps
Workout 4 Friday
Barbell Curls3 sets of 8-12 reps
Dumbbell Curls3 sets of 8-12 reps
Bench Dips4 sets of 8-12 Reps
Close Grip Bench Press4 sets of 8-12 reps
by Troy Pearsall
Newbie’s Guide to Developing Strength and Size In Bodybuilding.
In this article I will address one of the many mistakes the newbie bodybuilder make and give a simple antidote to the problem of developing strength and size for fastest result.
Most neophytes don't know how to get started in bodybuilding they spend many years doing the wrong things before they learn what the right things are. In this article I will address one of the mistakes the newbie's make and give a simple antidote to the problem of developing strength and size as a bodybuilder.
You can find more articles on training and a question and answer section, written by real bodybuilders at http://fire-iron-online.com Check it out and get your bodybuilding problems solved
I think before we go any further its important to understand that strength training for a bodybuilder is not the same as for other athletes. A bodybuilder must develop strength while building muscle size, shape and endurance, and on many occasions these goals are exclusive of each other. So let's start this discussion with how to choose the correct weight.
What does your trainer mean when he says light weight, moderate or heavy? How do you know by the weight what rep count you should use? I’ll try to simplify this all too confusing problem in just a few lines.
Heavy weight is any amount that is so heavy that on your first set you can only complete 6 to 8 reps. I think it goes to reason that on your second and third set you will not be able to complete as many.
Moderate weight is any amount that is so heavy that on your first set you can only complete 8- 12 reps. Of course less on the following sets. Finally, light weight is any amount that is so heavy that on your first set you can only complete 15-25 reps
Now there is one more thing that I want to address that is strength. Understand this, just because you are getting bigger does not mean you are getting stronger; however, if you are getting stronger you are getting bigger even if you can't see the size increase! Finally, train to get stronger, but not for strength, if you understand the principles of the Progressive Resistance System this will make more sense
The four days per week workout, the four days per week is called a split routine, because the body is split into four sections Unlike a lot of trainers I think there is a relationship between growth and total amount of sets completed in a week's time. On the three day routine you had 9 set for chest, back and quads, and six set for shoulders. In this routine the weekly sets will range between 12 and 16 per body part.
In no way do I advocate the High Intensity Training (HIT) methods that you'll find in all over the internet. I don't deny how well they work; I just feel much of the injury throughout my career has come as a result of working out with too much intensity. Age and wisdom has taught me to the never to even advocate the negative or forced reps for any reason I personally call them injury reps! But let's move on to what will work.
Some important things to understand about this routine
1. Workouts are never longer than 1 hour! Never!
2. Dips are done with no weight, except "bench dips" if you have a partner
3. "Max" represents the most you can do correctly (never do forced reps)
4. Unless I specify dumbbells, use only barbell
5. Shoulder press are done to the front of the chest not behind the neck See article my article on shoulder injuries
6. Lat pull downs are done at shoulder width never wider and only to the front of the chest.
7. Seated row are done either on a seated row machine or on seated on a low cable row machine. If doing them on a low cable row machine lean forward only enough to full extend your arms keep lower back arched. Never let the shoulders roll forward for that "extra stretch"
8. Barbell curls are done in smoothly never jerky or fast.
9. Leg press are done with full range of motion your calf should touch your hamstring at the stretched position.
10. Leg curls should be contracted until heel touches you butt.
11. Seated calf raises this exercise is harder than it appears. Calf should get a full stretch at the bottom of the movement, and completely contracted at the top.
12. Warm up and cool down with about 10 t 15 minutes of stationary bike or ski machine (I only do low or no impact aerobics, never run, never stairs,)
13. Stretch only after you have completed the workout and only for the muscles worked that day.
Workout 1 Monday
Dips4 set of 8-12 reps
Bench press4 set of 8-12 reps
Dumbbell Shoulder Press4 set of 8-12 reps
Shoulder Shrugs4 set of 8-12 reps
Workout 2 Tuesday
Pull Ups4sets of 6-8 Reps
Lat pull downs4 sets of 8-12 reps
Seated Rows4 sets of 8-12 reps
Seated Calf Raises4 sets of 15-25 reps
Workout 3 Thursday (after one day rest)
Hack Squats4 sets of 15-25 reps
Leg Press4sets of 15-25 reps
Leg Curls4 sets of 8-12 reps
Standing Calf Raises4 sets of 15-25 reps
Workout 4 Friday
Barbell Curls3 sets of 8-12 reps
Dumbbell Curls3 sets of 8-12 reps
Bench Dips4 sets of 8-12 Reps
Close Grip Bench Press4 sets of 8-12 reps
by Troy Pearsall
Newbie’s Guide to Developing Strength and Size In Bodybuilding.
Thursday, 31 May 2007
Advanced Workout: Sets & Reps
After you have figured out your form and become more than a beginner, it’s time to re-vamp your routine. The number of sets and repetitions (reps) may be considered more important than the exercises being performed. In the avenue of bodybuilding there is a variety of routines that can be effective. Effectiveness of a routine usually lies in the ability of your workout to put as much strain on a muscle without over working it. This is done much easier when keeping most of the factors in a workout constant and only making one change. This leads to the explanation on how to choose the number of sets and reps to do and how it affects your muscles. The goal of bodybuilding is to increase size and mass of a muscle. This means every set is going to be to what is called muscle failure (except the warm up). Muscle failure being the point at which you can’t move the weight anymore. Having a spotter is essential for this type of workout. For the most part the reps are going to stay consistent, meaning the variable is the number of sets. The ideal number of times your muscle needs to go to failure per exercise is four. Meaning four sets per exercise. For the purpose of this article it’s assumed that there is a proper warm up and stretching before the first four sets. The next step is to determine the number of reps per set. Each set will be to failure so technically you don’t need a number of reps to do because you are going to push the weight until you can’t anymore. This means the proper amount of weight is more important. Rather than trying to complete a certain number of reps, use an amount t of weight to hit a target range of reps. The first set’s range is 10-12. This means you want to stack enough a weight so that your muscles need to stop at 10 or 11 reps. If you can do 12 that’s ok. If you can do more than 12 you need to increase the weight. If you can’t do 10, you need to decrease the weight. The second set’s range is 8-10. The third and fourth set’s range is 6-8. The only factor left is the number of sets to do per exercise. You want to do between 12 and 20 sets per muscle. This is 3-5 exercises per muscle. In all honestly doing less than 4 exercises (16 sets) will be significantly less effective. At first glance it looks like 3 muscles would be 60 sets, which would take hours. Remember though some exercises use more than one muscle. For example 4 sets of chest press would go toward your chest sets and your triceps sets. You still want to isolate muscles when possibly. This helps track muscles so you don’t overwork them. Certain muscles can be worked as secondary muscles and primary muscles on different days. For example the biceps have a fast recovery. A lot of back exercises involve the biceps. You can work back on one day and then isolate biceps on the next day and that muscle should be able to take the extra strain. Learn your muscles to find out the right range for you. Find your body type and work with it to build massive lean muscle. Use the range suggestions for sets to fit a number of sets to each of your muscles. Because of the way your muscles are used in your body, you shouldn’t need to change the number of reps or sets you do unless your goals change. For the most part once your body adjusts to your new workout you will only need to change the actually exercises you do. This will work the muscles from different angles activating dormant muscle fiber, while still pushing them to failure so that you can gain the maximum amount of muscle.
by TOM BISHOP
by TOM BISHOP
Saturday, 12 May 2007
Home fitness, home gym as perfect solution to attain fitness in busy life
If you get tired by just climbing a fight of stairs or after running for a minute then you are not absolutely fit. A fit person is capable to do some amount of physical activity without getting tired at all. Fit body is free from every kind of ailment. A fit person would not get unwell or sick every third day. In fact, he has the capability to fight against every kind of change in the environment, diet etc. He would not be affected by small changes in diet, lifestyle or environment. In the busy life, where it becomes difficult to give time to your dear ones; imagining taking time to go gymnasiums etc seems something next to impossible. The only solution to maintain fitness is by doing exercise at home. Various kinds of strategies are adopted in order to attain fit body. Working out at home has become popular in recent years and health & fitness equipment and home fitness machines continue to be a common mode of exercise. Convenient, safe, and effective, home gyms are very practical. Home fitness has emerged as an easy and convenient way to get fit body. Home fitness is fitness at home. Home fitness does not mean fitness without exercise; infect it means exercising at home with taking care of diet and other factors.
Fitness without exercise and physical activity is not possible. In home fitness one can get hold of the equipments at home and perform various exercises. Home fitness machines are a way of exercising that comes with the convenience of being right at home. Some activities like running, skipping, swimming, cycling, and aerobic exercises are helpful in maintaining fitness. Home gym is another option in which you just require to join any station from the multi station home gyms near your home. Here you can get the quality of the health club strength training in the comfort of your home. A home gym offers a complete strength building workout for the entire body.
Home fitness acts as a perfect solution for the people who wish to remain fit but due to busy schedule can not afford to go to gyms or health clubs. People interested in home fitness can take some handy sort of machines like portable cycle, walking, jogging etc. even small weights can be kept in the home gym that would enable an individual to have weight lifting exercises. In nut shell the idea behind is to attain fitness and in this busy life home fitness or working out at home comes out as the perfect option to maintain good health.
by JOHN PARKER
Fitness without exercise and physical activity is not possible. In home fitness one can get hold of the equipments at home and perform various exercises. Home fitness machines are a way of exercising that comes with the convenience of being right at home. Some activities like running, skipping, swimming, cycling, and aerobic exercises are helpful in maintaining fitness. Home gym is another option in which you just require to join any station from the multi station home gyms near your home. Here you can get the quality of the health club strength training in the comfort of your home. A home gym offers a complete strength building workout for the entire body.
Home fitness acts as a perfect solution for the people who wish to remain fit but due to busy schedule can not afford to go to gyms or health clubs. People interested in home fitness can take some handy sort of machines like portable cycle, walking, jogging etc. even small weights can be kept in the home gym that would enable an individual to have weight lifting exercises. In nut shell the idea behind is to attain fitness and in this busy life home fitness or working out at home comes out as the perfect option to maintain good health.
by JOHN PARKER
Thursday, 19 April 2007
Monday, 16 April 2007
Triple threat: get the benefits of bodybuilding, powerlifting, and Olympic weightlifting in one super program
Think back to the first time you heard the word weightlifting. The term probably brought to mind images of curling dumbbells, bench pressing, and pumping iron until your veins popped out. But take a little time to flip through our workouts and you'll realize that there are all kinds of ways to lift weights, for any number of end goals.
The term weightlifting is very specific, and if you want to sound intelligent in a room full of athletes or strength and conditioning coaches, you should know that it technically refers to the kind of lifting done by those guys you see wearing singlets in the Olympics. Olympic-style weightlifting involves every muscle in your body to move the bar at high speeds--usually lifting it from the floor to above your head--and it's one of the best training methods there is for building sport-specific strength and power.
A more popular weight-training style, is powerlifting, in which a trainee works to lift as much weight as he possibly can on the squat, bench press, and dead-lift exercises. (Note: Eking out sets on the bench with poor form and weights that are too heavy for you does not constitute powerlifting.) Finally, there's bodybuilding, in which guys train for maximum muscle size and leanness and then step on a stage in little more than a G-string in order to be judged on their progress. Bodybuilding training involves blasting each of the body's muscle groups with ever-changing workouts to develop a muscular, aesthetic look.
While most guys lifting iron utilize just one of these methods, we don't see any reason you can't have your cake and eat it, too, combining all three for an athletic, strong, and awe-inspiring body. The following program is designed to deliver just that--the best results the whole of weight training can produce.
BODYBUILDING
Except for the G-string part, it's what most of us start doing intuitively from the moment we first pick up a weight. Well, sort of. Mindlessly repping out curls with a dumbbell can yield some decent size gains for a beginner, but to develop well-proportioned muscles, a true bodybuilder must train his whole body with a variety of exercises and intensity levels. Bodybuilding requires short to moderate rest periods between sets (no more than 90 seconds), and moderate to high rep ranges, such as eight to 12. You also need a good number of sets and a slow lifting tempo to exhaust the muscles and see that they repair themselves to become larger. It should be noted that in our program, you won't be isolating any muscles (as many bodybuilders try to do). One reason is that, despite what our forebears on Muscle Beach may have thought, you can't isolate a muscle--even raising one eyebrow requires a coordinated effort from several muscles. So why waste time trying? Another reason is that research has shown that the more muscle you work with a single exercise--and in one training session overall--the greater hormonal response you generate within the body that tells muscles to grow. That means greater gains and shorter workouts.
POWERLIFTING
The point is to develop maximum strength, so you'll need to use very heavy weights and longer rest periods (up to five minutes). As a result of the intensity of each set, you won't be able to do many of them (you'll thank us), so three sets will suffice. You'll get plenty of work in on the squat, bench press, and deadlift, but since we know you're not likely to start competing as a powerlifter, we're not going to train you to peak in these lifts alone--we've tailored this part of the program to developing overall strength. However, notice Exercise 6 in Workout B (powerlifting day), as it will be the only exercise on that day that you won't want to load up the bar on. This move is designed to develop great strength and stability in the hips and quads, which will improve your performance in all three styles of lifting. It will be particularly effective in preparing your body for the posture and core strength you'll need to be a good Olympic-style weightlifter in Workout C. Start with an empty bar, and make sure you complete all your reps without losing your position.
OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTING
If you played high school football or basketball, you're probably already familiar with the barbell clean or one of its variations. It's among the best exercises for total-body power, and it has been used for decades to make athletes more explosive in a number of sports. It's also one of the first steps lifters take in preparing for the clean and jerk and the snatch--the two lifts contested in weightlifting competitions. The goal for the clean, as well as every other exercise in Workout C, is not to lift heavy but to lift with maximum speed, ripping the weight off the floor and/or thrusting it overhead. We're serious about lightening the weight here, as too heavy a load will reduce the power you can generate. Ideally, you would use bumper plates (rubber weight plates that bounce when you drop the bar, allowing you to abandon a missed lift and land the bar safely on the floor) for this kind of training. Nevertheless, we've modified certain weightlifting exercises so that you can still reap the benefits of all-out explosive training without risking injury to yourself, those around you, or the gym floor. (You'll make good use of a medicine ball, which you can fire into the floor without incident.) Because you're moving so fast with these exercises, you won't be able to do many reps; you should end your set when you can no longer maintain your rep speed.
THE PAYOFF
Here are the specific benefits you'll reap from working all three types of lifting into your overall fitness training
BODY BUILDING Apart from greater muscle size and leanness (we can probably stop right here, can't we?), you'll increase your capacity for maximum strength, as increased strength is partially correlated with gains in muscle size. You'll also prevent injuries and ensure muscular balance, since bodybuilding allows you to focus on weak points and the proportional relationship between muscles.
POWERLIFTING You'll develop great strength, and, if you're eating generously, appreciable gains in muscle size. Powerlifting also hardens up bones, tendons, and ligaments, making you more resistant to injury and aging. Want to be the guy in the gym who can lift the most weight on any given exercise? This is the way to get there.
OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTNG You'll improve speed and, ultimately, strength. You'll be able to jump higher on the basketball court, get off the line quicker in football, and hit harder when you block guys on the other team. With the exception of the heavier weight classes, weightlifters also tend to be very lean--a testament to the fat-burning properties of the training.
WORKOUT A BODYBUILDING
1A DUMBBELL OVERHEAD SQUAT
SETS: 4 REPS: 8-12 REST: 30 SEC. TEMP: 302
1B SWISS-BALL PISTON ALTERNATING CHEST PRESS
SETS: 4 REPS: 8-12 (EACH SIDE) REST: 60-90 SEC. TEMPO: 302
2A ALTERNATING BACKWARD LUNGE W/ ROTATION
SET: 4 REPS: 8-12 (EACH SIDE) REST: 30 SEC. TEMPO: 302
2B SINGLE-LEG DUMBBELL DEADLIFT W/ROW
SETS: 4 REPS: 8-12 (EACH SIDE) REST: 60-90 SEC. TEMPO: 302
3A ALTERNATING FORWARD LUNGE W/ROTATION
SETS: 4 REPS: 8-12 (EACH SIDE) REST: 30 SEC. TEMPO: 302
3B SWISS-BALL PISTON ALTERNATING ARNOLD PRESS
SETS: 4 REPS: 8-12 (EACH SIDE) REST: 60-90 SEC. TEMPO: 302
DIRECTIONS
FREQUENCY: Perform each workout once per week. resting at least a day between each session.
HOW TO DO IT: Follow the specific instructions for each workout below.
WORKOUT A (BODYBUILDING): Perform each pair of exercises (marked A and B) as alternating sets, resting 30 seconds after the first exercise in the pair and 60-90 seconds after the second one. (So you'll do one set of 1A, rest 30 seconds, then one set of 1B, rest 60-90 seconds, and so on for all the prescribed sets for that pair.) Afterward, move on to the next pair.
WORKOUTS B (POWERLIFTING) AND C (OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTING): Perform each exercise as straight sets, completing all sets for one exercise before moving on to the next.
WEIGHT: For Workout A, use the heaviest weight that allows you to complete all the prescribed repetitions, plus one. for each set. Be careful not to go to failure. For Workout B. use the heaviest weight that allows you to complete all the prescribed repetitions. For Workout C, be conservative and start every exercise with a weight that you're sure allows you to complete every rep with maximum speed. You may want to start with an empty barbell, or a five- or 10-pound plate on each side.
TEMPO: The first digit is how many seconds you should take to lower the weight. The second digit is how long you should pause at the bottom (when your muscles are under the most tension). The third digit is how long you should take to lift the weight. A "O" means to move right to the next digit, and a tempo of "X" means to complete each rep as quickly as possible while controlling the weight.
WORKOUT B POWERLIFTING
1 SQUAT
SETS: 3 REPS: 3-6 REST: 3-5 MIN. TEMPO: 212
2 DEADLIFT
SETS: 3 REPS: 3-6 REST: 3-5 MIN. TEMPO: 212
3 DUMBBELL ALTERNATING LATERAL LUNGE
SETS: 3 REPS: 3-6 (EACH SIDE) REST: 3-5 MIN. TEMPO: 212
4 BENCH PRESS
SETS: 3 REPS: 3-6 REST: 3-5 MIN. TEMPO: 212
5 WIDE-GRIP SEATED ROW
SETS: 3 REPS: 3-6 REST: 3-5 MIN. TEMPO: 212
6 CROUCHING BARBELL SNATCH PRESS *
SETS: 3 REPS: 3-6 REST: 3-5 MIN. TEMPO: 212
* For the crouching barbell snatch press, perform a squat, and then, from the bottom position, press the bar overhead for three to six reps. That's one set.
WORKOUT OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTING
1 BARBELL CLEAN *
SETS: 2-3 REPS: 3-5 REST: 4-5 MIN. TEMPO: X
2 SNATCH PULL *
SETS: 2-3 REPS: 3-5 REST: 4-5 MIN. TEMPO: X
3 PUSH PRESS
SETS: 2-3 REPS: 3-5 REST: 4-5 MIN. TEMPO: X
4 ALTERNATING MEDICINE-BALL PLYO PUSHUP
SETS: 2-3 REPS: 3-5 (EACH SIDE) REST: 4-5 MIN. TEMPO: X
5 MEDICINE-BALL DIAGONAL SLEDGEHAMMER *
SETS: 2-3 REPS: 3-5 (EACH SIDE) REST: 4-5 MIN. TEMPO: X
6 PRONE MEDICINE-BALL SOCCER THROW
SETS: 2-3 REPS: 3-5 REST: 4-5 MIN. TEMPO X
By Dave Difabio
The term weightlifting is very specific, and if you want to sound intelligent in a room full of athletes or strength and conditioning coaches, you should know that it technically refers to the kind of lifting done by those guys you see wearing singlets in the Olympics. Olympic-style weightlifting involves every muscle in your body to move the bar at high speeds--usually lifting it from the floor to above your head--and it's one of the best training methods there is for building sport-specific strength and power.
A more popular weight-training style, is powerlifting, in which a trainee works to lift as much weight as he possibly can on the squat, bench press, and dead-lift exercises. (Note: Eking out sets on the bench with poor form and weights that are too heavy for you does not constitute powerlifting.) Finally, there's bodybuilding, in which guys train for maximum muscle size and leanness and then step on a stage in little more than a G-string in order to be judged on their progress. Bodybuilding training involves blasting each of the body's muscle groups with ever-changing workouts to develop a muscular, aesthetic look.
While most guys lifting iron utilize just one of these methods, we don't see any reason you can't have your cake and eat it, too, combining all three for an athletic, strong, and awe-inspiring body. The following program is designed to deliver just that--the best results the whole of weight training can produce.
BODYBUILDING
Except for the G-string part, it's what most of us start doing intuitively from the moment we first pick up a weight. Well, sort of. Mindlessly repping out curls with a dumbbell can yield some decent size gains for a beginner, but to develop well-proportioned muscles, a true bodybuilder must train his whole body with a variety of exercises and intensity levels. Bodybuilding requires short to moderate rest periods between sets (no more than 90 seconds), and moderate to high rep ranges, such as eight to 12. You also need a good number of sets and a slow lifting tempo to exhaust the muscles and see that they repair themselves to become larger. It should be noted that in our program, you won't be isolating any muscles (as many bodybuilders try to do). One reason is that, despite what our forebears on Muscle Beach may have thought, you can't isolate a muscle--even raising one eyebrow requires a coordinated effort from several muscles. So why waste time trying? Another reason is that research has shown that the more muscle you work with a single exercise--and in one training session overall--the greater hormonal response you generate within the body that tells muscles to grow. That means greater gains and shorter workouts.
POWERLIFTING
The point is to develop maximum strength, so you'll need to use very heavy weights and longer rest periods (up to five minutes). As a result of the intensity of each set, you won't be able to do many of them (you'll thank us), so three sets will suffice. You'll get plenty of work in on the squat, bench press, and deadlift, but since we know you're not likely to start competing as a powerlifter, we're not going to train you to peak in these lifts alone--we've tailored this part of the program to developing overall strength. However, notice Exercise 6 in Workout B (powerlifting day), as it will be the only exercise on that day that you won't want to load up the bar on. This move is designed to develop great strength and stability in the hips and quads, which will improve your performance in all three styles of lifting. It will be particularly effective in preparing your body for the posture and core strength you'll need to be a good Olympic-style weightlifter in Workout C. Start with an empty bar, and make sure you complete all your reps without losing your position.
OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTING
If you played high school football or basketball, you're probably already familiar with the barbell clean or one of its variations. It's among the best exercises for total-body power, and it has been used for decades to make athletes more explosive in a number of sports. It's also one of the first steps lifters take in preparing for the clean and jerk and the snatch--the two lifts contested in weightlifting competitions. The goal for the clean, as well as every other exercise in Workout C, is not to lift heavy but to lift with maximum speed, ripping the weight off the floor and/or thrusting it overhead. We're serious about lightening the weight here, as too heavy a load will reduce the power you can generate. Ideally, you would use bumper plates (rubber weight plates that bounce when you drop the bar, allowing you to abandon a missed lift and land the bar safely on the floor) for this kind of training. Nevertheless, we've modified certain weightlifting exercises so that you can still reap the benefits of all-out explosive training without risking injury to yourself, those around you, or the gym floor. (You'll make good use of a medicine ball, which you can fire into the floor without incident.) Because you're moving so fast with these exercises, you won't be able to do many reps; you should end your set when you can no longer maintain your rep speed.
THE PAYOFF
Here are the specific benefits you'll reap from working all three types of lifting into your overall fitness training
BODY BUILDING Apart from greater muscle size and leanness (we can probably stop right here, can't we?), you'll increase your capacity for maximum strength, as increased strength is partially correlated with gains in muscle size. You'll also prevent injuries and ensure muscular balance, since bodybuilding allows you to focus on weak points and the proportional relationship between muscles.
POWERLIFTING You'll develop great strength, and, if you're eating generously, appreciable gains in muscle size. Powerlifting also hardens up bones, tendons, and ligaments, making you more resistant to injury and aging. Want to be the guy in the gym who can lift the most weight on any given exercise? This is the way to get there.
OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTNG You'll improve speed and, ultimately, strength. You'll be able to jump higher on the basketball court, get off the line quicker in football, and hit harder when you block guys on the other team. With the exception of the heavier weight classes, weightlifters also tend to be very lean--a testament to the fat-burning properties of the training.
WORKOUT A BODYBUILDING
1A DUMBBELL OVERHEAD SQUAT
SETS: 4 REPS: 8-12 REST: 30 SEC. TEMP: 302
1B SWISS-BALL PISTON ALTERNATING CHEST PRESS
SETS: 4 REPS: 8-12 (EACH SIDE) REST: 60-90 SEC. TEMPO: 302
2A ALTERNATING BACKWARD LUNGE W/ ROTATION
SET: 4 REPS: 8-12 (EACH SIDE) REST: 30 SEC. TEMPO: 302
2B SINGLE-LEG DUMBBELL DEADLIFT W/ROW
SETS: 4 REPS: 8-12 (EACH SIDE) REST: 60-90 SEC. TEMPO: 302
3A ALTERNATING FORWARD LUNGE W/ROTATION
SETS: 4 REPS: 8-12 (EACH SIDE) REST: 30 SEC. TEMPO: 302
3B SWISS-BALL PISTON ALTERNATING ARNOLD PRESS
SETS: 4 REPS: 8-12 (EACH SIDE) REST: 60-90 SEC. TEMPO: 302
DIRECTIONS
FREQUENCY: Perform each workout once per week. resting at least a day between each session.
HOW TO DO IT: Follow the specific instructions for each workout below.
WORKOUT A (BODYBUILDING): Perform each pair of exercises (marked A and B) as alternating sets, resting 30 seconds after the first exercise in the pair and 60-90 seconds after the second one. (So you'll do one set of 1A, rest 30 seconds, then one set of 1B, rest 60-90 seconds, and so on for all the prescribed sets for that pair.) Afterward, move on to the next pair.
WORKOUTS B (POWERLIFTING) AND C (OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTING): Perform each exercise as straight sets, completing all sets for one exercise before moving on to the next.
WEIGHT: For Workout A, use the heaviest weight that allows you to complete all the prescribed repetitions, plus one. for each set. Be careful not to go to failure. For Workout B. use the heaviest weight that allows you to complete all the prescribed repetitions. For Workout C, be conservative and start every exercise with a weight that you're sure allows you to complete every rep with maximum speed. You may want to start with an empty barbell, or a five- or 10-pound plate on each side.
TEMPO: The first digit is how many seconds you should take to lower the weight. The second digit is how long you should pause at the bottom (when your muscles are under the most tension). The third digit is how long you should take to lift the weight. A "O" means to move right to the next digit, and a tempo of "X" means to complete each rep as quickly as possible while controlling the weight.
WORKOUT B POWERLIFTING
1 SQUAT
SETS: 3 REPS: 3-6 REST: 3-5 MIN. TEMPO: 212
2 DEADLIFT
SETS: 3 REPS: 3-6 REST: 3-5 MIN. TEMPO: 212
3 DUMBBELL ALTERNATING LATERAL LUNGE
SETS: 3 REPS: 3-6 (EACH SIDE) REST: 3-5 MIN. TEMPO: 212
4 BENCH PRESS
SETS: 3 REPS: 3-6 REST: 3-5 MIN. TEMPO: 212
5 WIDE-GRIP SEATED ROW
SETS: 3 REPS: 3-6 REST: 3-5 MIN. TEMPO: 212
6 CROUCHING BARBELL SNATCH PRESS *
SETS: 3 REPS: 3-6 REST: 3-5 MIN. TEMPO: 212
* For the crouching barbell snatch press, perform a squat, and then, from the bottom position, press the bar overhead for three to six reps. That's one set.
WORKOUT OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTING
1 BARBELL CLEAN *
SETS: 2-3 REPS: 3-5 REST: 4-5 MIN. TEMPO: X
2 SNATCH PULL *
SETS: 2-3 REPS: 3-5 REST: 4-5 MIN. TEMPO: X
3 PUSH PRESS
SETS: 2-3 REPS: 3-5 REST: 4-5 MIN. TEMPO: X
4 ALTERNATING MEDICINE-BALL PLYO PUSHUP
SETS: 2-3 REPS: 3-5 (EACH SIDE) REST: 4-5 MIN. TEMPO: X
5 MEDICINE-BALL DIAGONAL SLEDGEHAMMER *
SETS: 2-3 REPS: 3-5 (EACH SIDE) REST: 4-5 MIN. TEMPO: X
6 PRONE MEDICINE-BALL SOCCER THROW
SETS: 2-3 REPS: 3-5 REST: 4-5 MIN. TEMPO X
By Dave Difabio
Friday, 13 April 2007
Leg Firming Exercises for Shaping Sexy Legs
Are you interested in easy, but greatly effective, leg toning exercises that you can do anywhere, anytime - without having to deal with the hassles of 'going to the gym'?
Fitness centers and health clubs are filled with big, expensive machines.
No matter what kind of leg exercise program you are looking for, the instructors are going to put you through a typical general lower body workout circuit doing one set on each machine for twelve reps and so on.
Of course, they are not going to show you a workout routine that doesn't need a single exercise machine. They'd be out of business!
The truth is, toning and firming up your leg, hip and thigh area is not achieved by using all those weight machines, and heavy dumbbells and barbells that could get you all pumped up with much more muscle than you were looking to build, or cause serious, long term injuries! (we've all heard these horrible stories, right?)
The real magic of a properly structured leg exercise program lies in the combination of non-weighted and body weight exercises, put together in a sequence that targets all the muscles in AND around the legs, hips and thighs. The program should also emphasize proper form AND speed of movement along with breathing - these are elements that are lacking from most 'modern' leg workouts and fitness programs.
Here is an example of a highly effective, but simple leg toning and shaping exercise:
First you'll need a staircase or a utility step - 9 to 12 inches high is good.
You may have one you can use in your garage or a closet - just make sure it is sturdy.
If using a staircase - stand on the second step with both feet. If using a utility step - try to use one that is about 10 - 15 inches high & stand on it with both feet. This is one of the simplest yet most effective leg exercises for women.
Place your hands on your hips or hold them out in front of you, or out to the side. SLOWLY, step down with your left foot & LIGHTLY touch the floor with your toes & the ball of the foot (keep your heel off the ground).
Then bring your left foot back up & lightly touch the step and repeat this 15 times with the left foot.
Take a 10 second rest and then do the right leg.
IMPORTANT - The leg that stays on the step is the one doing the most work & you should feel a nice 'burn' in that leg.
This means you are doing the exercise right.
If it is too easy - you may be moving too fast - the key is to move slowly to 'use the muscles properly'.
Or the step may be too low - try a higher step to increase the intensity of this leg toning exercise.
Try to build up to 3 sets of 15 reps (per leg) with 20 seconds rest between sets. If you haven't been exercising your legs, or are a beginner - you can do this 2 or 3 times each week.
If you have been exercising you can simply add it right into your current leg workout routine.
Often times, too much focus is placed on machines, gadgets and high intensity, 'no pain - no gain' concepts. Most of this is for marketing reasons and sometimes just a pure lack of understanding of what the female body needs in terms of the correct leg exercises and overall fitness
by JOEY ATLAS
Fitness centers and health clubs are filled with big, expensive machines.
No matter what kind of leg exercise program you are looking for, the instructors are going to put you through a typical general lower body workout circuit doing one set on each machine for twelve reps and so on.
Of course, they are not going to show you a workout routine that doesn't need a single exercise machine. They'd be out of business!
The truth is, toning and firming up your leg, hip and thigh area is not achieved by using all those weight machines, and heavy dumbbells and barbells that could get you all pumped up with much more muscle than you were looking to build, or cause serious, long term injuries! (we've all heard these horrible stories, right?)
The real magic of a properly structured leg exercise program lies in the combination of non-weighted and body weight exercises, put together in a sequence that targets all the muscles in AND around the legs, hips and thighs. The program should also emphasize proper form AND speed of movement along with breathing - these are elements that are lacking from most 'modern' leg workouts and fitness programs.
Here is an example of a highly effective, but simple leg toning and shaping exercise:
First you'll need a staircase or a utility step - 9 to 12 inches high is good.
You may have one you can use in your garage or a closet - just make sure it is sturdy.
If using a staircase - stand on the second step with both feet. If using a utility step - try to use one that is about 10 - 15 inches high & stand on it with both feet. This is one of the simplest yet most effective leg exercises for women.
Place your hands on your hips or hold them out in front of you, or out to the side. SLOWLY, step down with your left foot & LIGHTLY touch the floor with your toes & the ball of the foot (keep your heel off the ground).
Then bring your left foot back up & lightly touch the step and repeat this 15 times with the left foot.
Take a 10 second rest and then do the right leg.
IMPORTANT - The leg that stays on the step is the one doing the most work & you should feel a nice 'burn' in that leg.
This means you are doing the exercise right.
If it is too easy - you may be moving too fast - the key is to move slowly to 'use the muscles properly'.
Or the step may be too low - try a higher step to increase the intensity of this leg toning exercise.
Try to build up to 3 sets of 15 reps (per leg) with 20 seconds rest between sets. If you haven't been exercising your legs, or are a beginner - you can do this 2 or 3 times each week.
If you have been exercising you can simply add it right into your current leg workout routine.
Often times, too much focus is placed on machines, gadgets and high intensity, 'no pain - no gain' concepts. Most of this is for marketing reasons and sometimes just a pure lack of understanding of what the female body needs in terms of the correct leg exercises and overall fitness
by JOEY ATLAS
Sunday, 1 April 2007
Keep Your New Years Resolution With This Pilates Workout
If you are looking for a great way to tone down and address all those problem areas, then look no further than advanced Winsor Pilates to fill all your fitness needs. Winsor Pilates offers one of the most aggressive muscle sculpting and body shaping programs available on the market today. The advanced Pilates workout gets you even closer to your overall fitness goals without leaving you behind in the process.
These exercises are designed for those who have at least an intermediate level of experience with the Winsor Pilates system and a decent understanding of the seven basic moves involved in Palates. This program builds upon the basic moves and makes them subsequently more challenging. The instructions in the video are clear, concise, and easy to understand but they do not go into details about the basics as those following these routines are expected to have a clear understanding of the basic moves. Therefore this particular video is not recommended to newcomers to Pilates. This video is also designed for those with a fairly active lifestyle and not those who engage in little physical activity on a daily basis.
This is a much faster paced workout than the traditional and beginners workout and is designed with achieving maximum results in mind. If you want accelerated sculpting, this is the video for you. It contains 28 exercises with diversified reps and blended tempos in order to keep things interesting. This provides a very challenging 52-minute workout even for those who are advanced in their Pilates studies.
In addition to a greatly accelerated pace and diversified reps, this video has you spending a good deal of time on your stomach rather than on your back. The first two videos designed for those with beginning and intermediate skills did not have you exercising on your stomach so this is a new twist. The movements in this accelerated video are too numerous to detail a few of the moves are Pilates 100, Roll-Up, Roll Over, Crisscross, Saw, Neck Roll, Little Piece of Heaven, Open Leg Rocker, Corkscrew, and Jack Knife (which is considered one of the most challenging advanced Pilates move). While they do build upon the basics, they also build off the moves that are once removed from the basics. Breathing is still a vitally important component of the entire process and you will have a much more intense reaction physically to this workout than previous workouts. The goal of course is achieving excellent results with this workout. Once you've mastered the moves on this video, you can truly call yourself a Pilate's goddess.
by CHRISTOPHER SMITH
These exercises are designed for those who have at least an intermediate level of experience with the Winsor Pilates system and a decent understanding of the seven basic moves involved in Palates. This program builds upon the basic moves and makes them subsequently more challenging. The instructions in the video are clear, concise, and easy to understand but they do not go into details about the basics as those following these routines are expected to have a clear understanding of the basic moves. Therefore this particular video is not recommended to newcomers to Pilates. This video is also designed for those with a fairly active lifestyle and not those who engage in little physical activity on a daily basis.
This is a much faster paced workout than the traditional and beginners workout and is designed with achieving maximum results in mind. If you want accelerated sculpting, this is the video for you. It contains 28 exercises with diversified reps and blended tempos in order to keep things interesting. This provides a very challenging 52-minute workout even for those who are advanced in their Pilates studies.
In addition to a greatly accelerated pace and diversified reps, this video has you spending a good deal of time on your stomach rather than on your back. The first two videos designed for those with beginning and intermediate skills did not have you exercising on your stomach so this is a new twist. The movements in this accelerated video are too numerous to detail a few of the moves are Pilates 100, Roll-Up, Roll Over, Crisscross, Saw, Neck Roll, Little Piece of Heaven, Open Leg Rocker, Corkscrew, and Jack Knife (which is considered one of the most challenging advanced Pilates move). While they do build upon the basics, they also build off the moves that are once removed from the basics. Breathing is still a vitally important component of the entire process and you will have a much more intense reaction physically to this workout than previous workouts. The goal of course is achieving excellent results with this workout. Once you've mastered the moves on this video, you can truly call yourself a Pilate's goddess.
by CHRISTOPHER SMITH
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