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M$5 April 03, 2009 02:00 PM

What do I need to do to get more upper-body shape in arms, shoulders, chest and stomach?

As summer approaches, I'd like to start getting more definition in arms, shoulders, chest and... stomach.

What exercises would you recommend I start doing? How many? How often?

I have a Total Gym that I use (and enjoy). I also have a floor ;-)

I recognize that I'm not going to change into Mr. Atlas and I recognize that I have a certain body type, but I'd like to get some definition now that I'm at the weight that I like...
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April 03, 2009 05:55 PM
Yeah, Total gyms are pretty awesome, and since that and calisthenics is the criteria that you've provided, then I'll focus on the abs here. I think that maybe, a lot of the reason that generally, people don't like abdominal exercises as much, is not getting enough oxygen. It's important to take super deep breaths while in the middle of a rep, while the muscles are contracting, and before the movement begins on a particular repetition. I could call it - rhythmic breathing.

Types of diversity and their purpose: 1) range of motion- to put locomotive stress on areas within the lower and middle areas of the core, by putting the muscle fibers in different angles, resistence levels(or what I could call- concentrated muscle confusion), just to isolate specific areas, covering as many as we can. One simple gets to the foundation layers(skeletal, etc.) when you do this. These are some of the ab exercises I do(on average 3 days a week), and I will also suggest them for you:

200 quick leg lift crunches - lift your heels an average of 4 inches off the ground per rep. Remember to take super full breaths that fill your abdomen up, every 50 reps or so, and when not taking those breaths, contract your abs absolutely.

100 quick regular crunches

100 quick (left-side) oblique crunches

100 quick (right-side) oblique crunches

Since I do extensive upper body weight exercises just like you, for my ab isolate exercises, I emphasis the lower and middle abdomen. Since I have a cyst on my lower back that causes excruciating pain and itching, I do regular situps, or" curl-ups on a ball. I highly recommend those exercise balls for not only that purpose, but also, for stretching.

Declined leg lifts: First set- 50, 2nd set- 25. Position yourself at the top of a flight of stairs, or similar setting with your the line of your upper thighs and butt lining up with the top of the top step: lower your legs down, all the way to the diagonal line of the step corners, and lift up only to the floor level with your legs parallel with your torso.

Leg lifts on your Total gym: I've used one, but I don't own one. If I had a one, I'd probably do good sets because I like the 45 degree slope for some reason. I'd do: Alternating straight legs lifts and bent-legged lifts.

Bent legged power leg lifts( the best toning movement for the middle lower, or second pair up) 3 sets of 50 reps. It looks like this, ACCEPT for the knees are bent and the legs are drawn inward.

crunches
http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/3877/corelowerlegliftinfirst.jpg

The above picture, yeah; you should do those too, but when your legs are all the way up like that 90 degrees to your torso, only come down 45 degrees.

Do curl-ups laying all the way back like this ( I lay back as far as I can) and sit-up half way(it equals out 45degrees declined and 45 degrees up towards the legs). Do as many as you can in 30 seconds. Repeat once.

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/8361/exerciseballstrecth.jpg

The idea here is to cover and isolate all the areas of the core. Good luck with your "regimen quest," sir.

With the supplementing of your upper body workout hitting in part, your upper abs,
Source(s):
I've been working out with calisthenics and weights for 10 years. Doing all the abdominal exercises in "the friggin book," for about 5 years.

http://www.exerciseballworkouts.net/exercise-ball-stretches.html

Asker's Rating:
• Keeping my needs in mind and details of my question, this was a great answer. Pretty pictures, too! (Which help in figuring out how exercises are done). Bravo!


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April 03, 2009 02:21 PM
A friend of mine is a fitness enthusiast. He found a book that you might want to look into if you haven't yet called Starting Strength. It gives a fairly intense full body workout routine that builds legs and arms as well as the core. I know off the top of my head there's a huge focus on squats, and some focus on bench, but that's all I can remember from him talking about it. Might help you out.

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April 03, 2009 02:23 PM
The overhead press hits every part of the shoulder with an emphasis on the front and middle part of the deltoid. You may not be able to lift as much weight for this move as you do for other exercises, since the shoulders are such a small muscle group. If you're using a heavy weight, you might want to sit on a chair or bench that has back support.

Using a medium-heavy barbell, hold bar with hands a little wider than shoulder-width apart.
Start by bringing the bar up to forehead level, elbows bent.
Slowly press the weight overhead without arching the back--keep the abs in tight and don't lock the elbows at the top of the movement.
Exhale and lower back to start.
Repeat for 2 to 3 sets of 12-16 repetitions, with a 20-30 second rest between sets.

You can also do the overhead press with dumbells, if you prefer, but it is a little harder to keep even. Doing this exercise on an incline bench rests your shoulders and puts more focus on your chest.

Pushups, of course are great for your arms, chest, and abs. They work all of the muscle groups you need and they don't require equipment. If you want to give yourself a challenge, use an incline. Rest your feet on a chair or your couch, or even just keep your feet spread apart. It puts more weight up on your upper body.

For your abs, you can't go wrong with situps and crunches. Leg lifts will focus more on your lower abs, which are hard to hit with crunches. You can also do twisting sit ups (think Rocky II training montage) where you twist your torso as you come up. It hits the abs on the side harder than a normal sit up. Side crunches will... get your side. Lay on your side, with your head supported like you were doing a normal situp, point your elbow towards your feet and lift your leg toward your head. CRUNCH down on your side and release.

For abs: crunches, leg raises and situps. They're staples, and they work.

As for how often, if you do a total body workout and work everything at once, give yourself a day of rest after a good workout. To give your body a chance to heal. If you would rather to work out everyday, I would go chest-arms-abs-shoulders-arms-rest. Work one major muscle group a day and try to keep your chest and shoulder days seperated. Their exercises are closely related and working out too hard on one can affect your ability to do the other.

DON'T FORGET YOUR DIET!
Source(s):
personal experience
Husband is a body builder


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April 06, 2009 08:15 PM
I didn't select this as the best answer. It was second best, so... here's a well-deserved tip...

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April 06, 2009 08:28 PM
Wow! Thanks! You didn't need to do that. ^.^

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April 03, 2009 03:18 PM
Check out the Body for Life website. Their way of working out has really made a difference for me. For weight training, you basically do five sets, but you increase the weight for each set, but reduce the amount of repetitions.

So, for example, you'd do 12 bicep curls with a weight that's not too heavy, then increase the weight and do 10, then increase the weight again and do 8 reps, then increase the weight again and do 6 reps, then go back to the original weight and do 12 reps.

http://bodyforlife.com/exercise/weighttraining.asp

They even have challenges where you send in before and after photos to win money. A woman that worked with me when I lived in Phoenix won $40,000! That's how I found out about this program.
http://bodyforlife.com/challenge/champions/2006/bio.asp?comp=Ronda_Buker

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April 03, 2009 06:54 PM
Don't forget the basics (the 3 ups) also. Push-ups, Sit-ups, and pull-ups are actually three of the most effective when it comes to definition. You will want to also do weights to build the muscle mass, however. Remember, more weight equals bigger muscles, more repetition equals more definition.

Push-ups will work mostly your chest triceps and shoulders, with minor work on lats, stomach, spine. Pull-ups will do major on biceps and shoulders, with minor in core muscles. And, of course, situps are mostly for the gut, but will also do some along the spine.

Don't forget also that you can isolate muscles with the pushups by adjusting your hand-spread, placement, and by raising your feet (put them on the back of a couch, and it moves the pressure up your chest and does more on your upper shoulders), or even in a hand-stand against the wall. Same with chin-ups...touch your chin to the bar, or touch your shoulders to isolate different muscles in your back.

When I was heavy into being in shape for martial arts I would do 500/1000 pushups/situps in the morning and 500/1000 more at night along with 500 pullups alternating between chin and shoulders. It defined me out well back then...now-a-days, I would probably be lucky to do 50...but...meh...

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