Tag Archives: chest

Workouts for the Workaholic – Session #8

Posted by thefitbonvivant in Fitness Tips and Plans and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Everyone needs a mid-week ‘pick me up’ and mine is going to the gym.  I have always had a weak upper body but in recent years I’ve witnessed transformations – more toned, able to sustain more weight, and form that looks professional rather than sloppy.

Years ago I hated pushups but now they’re a staple.  A simple pushup allows for focus not only on muscles of the chest but keeping a firm core.  As you’ve already guessed, this workout focuses on the chest along with a mix of core, triceps, glutes, and some tabata for a sweat boost.

**All sets in this workout are to start with a light to medium weight for the first set and then progress in weight without compromising form or remain with a challenging weight.

**When moving from exercise to exercise or waiting between sets keep the rest no more than 60 seconds.

Tabata Warm-up:  Air Squats – 3 sets (30 seconds on, 30 seconds off)

Exercise #1 – Tabata:  Lateral High Jump Side Skaters (click the link to see the video) – 5 sets (30 seconds on, 30 seconds off)

Exercise #2 and #3 – Superset:  Stability Ball Decline Pushups – 4 sets (15/12/10/8), and Stability Ball Reverse Plank Glute Raises (15/12/10/8)

Exercise #4:  Flat Bench Press with Barbell – 4 sets (15/12/10/8)

Exercise #5:  Cable Barbell Tricep Pushdowns – 4 sets (15/12/10/8)

Exercise #6:  Cable Chest Flyes – 4 sets (15/12/10/8)

Exercise #7:  Dumbbell Tricep Extensions – 4 sets (15/12/10/8)

Exercise #8:  Dumbbell Chest Flyes – 4 sets (15/12/10/8)

Exercise #9:  Clapping Pushups – 1 set to FAILURE/EXHAUSTION

**Alternative to Clapping Pushups:  Chest-to-Ground Pushups traditional style with feet on the ground or work from your knees

 

xxx – Sarah

PS – I am working on creating more videos… Stay tuned!

Workouts for the Modern Workaholic – Session #5

Posted by thefitbonvivant in Fitness Tips and Plans and tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Time to get back at it!  This workout is like the others – short and sweet with a touch of ‘glistening.’  The focus is the chest with a mix of some other details.

 

**All sets in this workout are to start with a light to medium weight for the first set and then progress in weight without compromising form or remain with a challenging weight.

**When moving from exercise to exercise or waiting between sets keep the rest no more than 60 seconds. The supersets can have a 60 second rest before starting up the second or third set in the series.

 

Warm-up:  Light jog for 3 minutes on the treadmill or speed walk

Exercise #1:  Flat Bench Dumbbell Chest Press – 3 sets (15/12/10)

Exercise #2:  Incline Chest Flyes – 4 sets (15/12/12/12)

Exercise #3 – Superset:  Seated Machine Chest Flyes – 4 sets (18/15/12/10) and Stability Ball Abdominal Planks (60 seconds)

Exercise #4:  Push-ups from decline position on bench – 1 set (shoulder width to FAILURE)

Exercise #5:  Side Planks – 3 sets (60 seconds)

Exercise #6:   Cable barbell bicep curls – 4 sets (18/15/12/10)

Exercise #7:  Banded Bicep Hammer Fist Curls – 3 sets (15/12/10)

(Methodology:   From standing position step on a band of moderate resistance and curl up like a h’ammer’ bicep curl – keep the tempo the same going up/down.  In other words, keep your grip firm and make a fist like you would attempt a punch.)

 

(Bonus Lab:  Make sure you eat 30-45 minutes post working out for maximal benefits with toning, muscle mass, and weight loss.  The best options are a mix of protein/fat/complex carbohydrates.  Your body works hard day in and day out but it needs fuel and that comes from food.  I usually tend to have 6 ounces of chicken/fish with greens such as Brussels Sprouts sautéed in olive oil and herbs.)

xxx – Sarah

Workouts for the Modern Workaholic – Session #1

Posted by thefitbonvivant in Fitness Tips and Plans and tagged with , , , , , ,

Getting to the gym or fitness area should be a welcome break to allow you to focus on becoming the best version of yourself!  I am creating a series of workouts for the ‘Modern Workaholic’ who typically only has 45 minutes to an hour daily for fitness at least 3-5 days out of the work week.  Most workouts will focus on a specific body part with brief additions of other body parts for a double or triple whammy – the primary body part targeted is the chest.   The workouts have minimal rest which allows for urgency and almost creates a ‘cardio-like feel’ without actually being cardio.

**All sets in this series is to start with a light to medium weight for the first set and then progress in weight without compromising form.

**Rest between sets and exercises should be 60 seconds and there should be no rest during the speed superset.  In other words, when doing the speed superset, no rest at all and just plow through for 6 consecutive sets total.  

Exercise #1:  Incline Dumbbell Press-ups – 4 sets (15/12/12/12)

(Methodology:  Incline the seat lever to the maximum and incline the lumber portion create a 60 degree angle.)

Exercise #2:  Incline Dumbbell Flies – 4 sets (15/12/12/12)

Exercise #3:  Smith Press Push-ups – 3 sets (10/10/10)

(Methodology:  Lower the bar on the Smith Machine to the lowest position which is still about 2 feet from the ground then form a plank which is your starting position for the push-up and the ending position is to be as close to the bar without touching.)

Exercise #4:  Cable Flyes from Shoulder Height – 3 sets (10/10/10)

(Methodology:  Move the lever to match up to your shoulder then for the first 5 reps of the set lunge forward with the right foot then switch for the last 5 reps to the left foot.)

Exercise #5:  Shoulder Dumbbell Alternating Lateral Raises – 3 sets (20/16/12)

(Methodology:  Stand tall with feet together, start with alternating lateral raises by 2’s until the goal is achieved.  For example, 2 lifts on the right side, then 2 lifts on the left side, then back to the right side for 2.)

Exercise #6 – Speed Superset:  Russian Abdominal Twists – 3 sets (25/25/25) & Weighted Stability Ball Crunches – 3 sets (25/25/25)

(Bonus Lab:  Add a Weighted Medicine Ball or Dumbbell to each movement to increase difficulty without compromising form.)

xxx – Sarah