Tag Archives: upper body

Iron Cross

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Hey there, it’s time for another new Home Exercise of the Week!  This week I have a variation of a plank called the Iron Cross. 

The Iron Cross looks like it would be fairly easy but it is quite challenging.  With this isometric exercise you’re going to be mainly working your core, chest, shoulders, and triceps.

Here’s how to do the Iron Cross:

  • starting from your knees, position your hands as far out to your sides as you can while keeping them in line with your chest
  • rotate your hands so your fingers are pointing away from your body
  • lift your knees off the floor so that you are now on your toes and in a full push-up starting position
  • engage your abs and lower your body as if you were doing a push-up until you are as close to the floor as you can get
  • from this low position hold the plank while keeping your abs tight and flexed (this will help keep your hips from dropping and your back from arching)
  • if you notice your back arching up and your hips lowering then drop your knees to the floor and continue the hold until the desired time is up
  • hold the Iron Cross as long as you can to complete the set

So there you have the Iron Cross!  It’s harder than it looks and it will get you sweating.  Add this in to your upper or full body routine as a finishing move or incorporate it in to an ab workout.

Let me know how you do with this one in the comments below or if you have any questions.

See you next week with another new exercise!

Medicine Ball Cross Body Mountain Climber

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Hey there, it’s a new week and that means it’s time for a new exercise!  The Home Exercise of the Week this time is another core exercise called Medicine Ball Cross Body Mountain Climber.

With this exercise you will be targeting your abdominal muscles, especially your obliques, as well as your chest, shoulders, triceps, hip flexors, and lower back.  The added instability of planking on the medicine ball while doing the mountain climber further engages your core muscles and stabilizers, making it quite challenging.

Here are the key points to doing the Medicine Ball Cross Body Mountain Climber properly:

  • start in a plank position with your hands on the medicine ball
  • make sure the ball is directly underneath your chest
  • engage your abdominals and keep tight throughout the movement
  • from the full plank position, drive your right knee towards your left elbow giving your abs a really good flex
  • return to the starting position and then drive your left knee towards your right elbow
  • repeat until you have finished your set

So there you have the Medicine Ball Cross Body Mountain Climber.  Take it slow at first until you feel comfortable balancing yourself on the ball.  Once you get the hang of it you can try increasing your rep speed to add a cardiovascular component.

If you like this exercise leave a comment below.  I’d love to hear what you think.

Happy climbing!

Back, Bicep, and Core Workout

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Hey everyone!  It’s Home Exercise of the Week time and I have the third part here for you of the three part split routine.  This week we are going to do the Back, Bicep, and Core Workout.  This routine is going to get your arms looking strong and toned and is going to strengthen the ever important muscles of the back.  Strong back and core muscles help prevent back problems as you age and especially if you spend many hours at a desk job, not to mention how great a strong back looks!

This Back, Bicep, and Core Workout does have some dumbbell exercises in them so if you have a set that’s great but if not then grab some stuff around the house that you can lift and curl like heavy soup cans, water bottles, pets, children, etc! 😉

Have fun, work hard, sweat a lot, and be awesome!

Back, Bicep, and Core Workout

Warm-Up

  • 10 Pushups
  • 12 Spiderman Climbs
  • 10 Spinal Rotations for each side
  • 10 Shoulder Circles for each arm

Superset 1

Rest for 30 to 60 seconds then repeat the superset 2 more times

Superset 2

Rest for 30 to 60 seconds then repeat the superset 2 more times

Superset 3

Rest for 30 to 60 seconds then repeat the superset 2 more times

Chest, Tricep, and Core Workout

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Hey there!  It’s time for another Home Workout of the Week and this week I have part two of a three part split routine.  This workout is going to focus on the muscles of your chest, triceps, and again your abdominals.  A strong upper body is important in your daily activities to help you lift things and move about more easily not to mention the great looking body that strong, toned muscles will create!

This Chest, Tricep, and Core Workout is quite challenging and very heavy on pushups so take your time and modify the pushups if needed by doing them from your knees.  A thorough warm-up of the shoulder girdle is definitely needed to avoid injury so please make sure you don’t neglect your warm-up.

Do this routine once per week along with the Leg, Shoulder, and Core Workout and the upcoming Back, Bicep, and Core Workout.

Chest, Tricep, and Core Workout

Warm-Up

  • 10 Pushups
  • 12 Spiderman Climbs
  • 10 Spinal Rotations for each side
  • 10 Shoulder Circles for each arm

Superset 1

Rest for 30 to 60 seconds then repeat the superset 2 more times

Superset 2

Rest for 30 to 60 seconds then repeat the superset 2 more times

Superset 3

Rest for 30 to 60 seconds then repeat the superset 2 more times

Cross Body Punch Jump Squat

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Hey everyone!  I’m back with a new Home Exercise of the Week and this time I have a great full body exercise for you to try called the Cross Body Punch Jump Squat.

This exercise will work your quadriceps, glutes, hamstrings, obliques, deltoids, and triceps as well as giving you a great cardiovascular workout.

If you have problems with your knees then I would suggest not doing the jump squat and instead just do a stationary squat.

Let’s take a look at the key points to doing the Cross Body Punch Jump Squat properly.

  • stand tall with your feet shoulder width apart and your fists up in front of you
  • rotate your body to the left while rotating your right foot and extending your right arm out to a punch
  • make sure that you are flexing your abs throughout the entire movement
  • return to the starting position then rotate your body to the right while rotating your left foot and extending your left arm
  • return to the starting position again and go in to a deep squat making sure you are sitting back on your heels
  • in one explosive movement jump up as high as you can and then land back in to a deep squat
  • repeat for the desired amount of reps

There you have the Cross Body Punch Jump Squat.  Add this exercise to your full body routine and get those muscles working!