Tag Archives: workout

Medicine Ball V Up

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Hey there, it’s time for a new Home Exercise of the Week!  This week I have an excellent core exercise for you to try called the Medicine Ball V Up. 

The Medicine Ball V Up targets your upper and lower abdominal muscles as well as your hip flexors.  The advantage of doing this exercise with a medicine ball is the added resistance you will get throughout the movement.  This will work your abs harder and make the exercise more challenging.  If you don’t have a medicine ball you can do this exercise with any object around the house that is easy to hold and has some weight to it. 

Let’s take at look at the key performance points of the exercise. 

  • lay down on your mat in a face up position
  • place the medicine ball on the floor behind your head and fully extend your legs and arms 
  • grab the medicine ball, flex your abs, and crunch up keeping your head in line with your spine (try not to tuck your chin in to your chest)
  • at the same time raise your legs up and move them towards the medicine ball in your hands (you’re now in a V type position)
  • engage your abs and hold this V position for a second and then lower your arms and legs back down towards the floor
  • stop lowering your arms and legs right before they touch the floor – this will keep tension on your abs throughout the exercise 
  • repeat for your desired amount of reps

So there you have the Medicine Ball V Up.  Add this challenging core exercise to your ab routine or at the end of your workout.

Let me know how you do with this exercise in the comment section below or if you have any questions. 

I will see you next week with another new exercise!

Reverse Lunge Dumbbell Bicep Curl

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Hello, it’s a new week which means it’s time for a new Home Exercise of the Week!  This time I have a great full body exercise for you called the Reverse Lunge Dumbbell Bicep Curl.

The Reverse Lunge Dumbbell Bicep Curl requires a bit of coordination but with some practice it will get easier.  With this exercise you will primarily be working on your quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, biceps, and forearms.  You will also be working on the stabilizer muscles of your ankles as well as your core when progressing through the movement.

If you don’t have a set of dumbbells that’s okay.  You can use any object around the house like soup cans or water bottles.  Ideally you would want something a little heavier but if nothing else you will still benefit from the curling motion of the arms.

Here are the key performance points:

  • stand tall with shoulders back, chest held high, and a dumbbell in each hand at your side with your palms facing forward
  • take a big step back with your right leg and bend at both knees until your legs are at 90 degree angles
  • while lunging in to this bottom position you want to curl the weights up at the same time while maintaining that palm forward hand position and squeezing your bicep muscles
  • stay as upright as possible throughout the movement and keep your shoulders back and chest held high
  • from this bottom lunge position, press through the heel of your left foot to drive yourself back up to the starting position
  • on your way back up to the starting position, slowly lower the dumbbells back down to your sides with that same palm forward position
  • from this starting position, repeat the movement for your other leg and keep alternating legs until the desired number of reps are complete

So there you have the Reverse Lunge Dumbbell Bicep Curl.  As with any full body movement, your heart and lungs will work harder, you will burn more calories, and you will be sweating more.  It’s a tough one but the benefits are great!

If you like this exercise please leave a comment below or if you have any questions please ask.

See you next week with another new exercise!

Two Arm Bent Over Dumbbell Row

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Hey there, it’s time for a new Home Exercise of the Week!  This time I have a dumbbell exercise for you called the Two Arm Bent Over Dumbbell Row.  This is a great compound exercise to work your lats, rhomboids, rear delts, traps, and biceps.

If you don’t have a set of dumbbells that’s ok, you can use any two objects that are equally balanced like a couple of water jugs.

Let’s take a look at how to do the Two Arm Bent Over Dumbbell Row properly.

  • hold a dumbbell or heavy object in each hand and stand with your feet about shoulder width apart
  • bend your knees slightly and bring your torso forward by bending at the waist
  • keep bending forward while keeping your back as straight as possible until your torso is almost parallel to the floor
  • from this bent over position, exhale and pull the dumbbells up and towards you while keeping your elbows tucked in to your sides
  • squeeze your back muscles and your shoulder blades together at the top of the movement
  • pause for a second and then inhale and lower the weights to the starting position
  • repeat for your desired repetitions

So there you have the Two Arm Bent Over Dumbbell Row.  This is one of the best compound exercises for you back and you will build a lot of strength and help prevent a lot of back injuries with this exercise.

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

See you next week with another new exercise!

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!

TRX Pistol Squat

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Hello again, it’s time for a new Home Exercise of the Week.  The exercise this week is a very challenging one that is done with a TRX suspension trainer.  It’s called the TRX Pistol Squat.  

The TRX in this exercise is mainly used to help maintain balance throughout the movement so if you don’t have one you can try doing the exercise without it, although it is much more difficult.  In this case I recommend standing close to something you can hold on to for support and balance like a squat rack or even a chair.  However, please do so with caution.

Let’s look at the muscles worked, benefits, and how to do the TRX Pistol Squat properly.

The TRX Pistol Squat is going to target your quadriceps, core muscles, glutes, and ankle stabilizers. 

By doing this exercise you’re going to:

  • improve your balance and coordination
  • build more unilateral strength – the strength of one limb versus the other (by doing unilateral movements you will help to correct any imbalances that may have occurred from doing regular squats)
  • have greater joint integrity and movement
  • enhance muscular activation

Here are the key points to doing the TRX Pistol Squat correctly:

  • grab the TRX handles and stand far enough back from the anchor point until your arms are almost fully extended
  • raise one foot off the ground and extend in front of you
  • firmly plant your other foot on the ground and place your body weight on to your heel
  • squat down while continuing to put your weight on to the heel
  • keep your back straight and push your hips back while squatting (like you’re going to sit down on to a chair)
  • keep your knee from extending past your toes as you squat down
  • lower your body until your butt almost touches the ground
  • from this bottom position push through your heel to raise yourself back up to the starting position
  • as you push up make sure to keep your knee and foot aligned and facing forward
  • use the TRX to help keep you aligned, balanced, and as a tool to help pull yourself back up as needed 

So there you have the TRX Pistol Squat.  It’s a very hard exercise but the benefits are great.

Give it a try and let me know how you do in the comments below.

See you next week with another new exercise!