Workout 51 — Dumbbell Home Workout Journal – Habit Nest

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    Workout 51 — Dumbbell Home Workout Journal

    Workout 51: Back & Abs


    Back Exercises

    1. Towel Pull

    1. Grab a towel or t-shirt, hold it in both hands, and stand in a squat position.
    2. Hold the towel out in front of you with your arms extended, and pull on both sides of the t-shirt or towel as hard, as you can as if you were trying to rip it.
    3. As you continue to try to rip the towel or t-shirt, slowly bring your elbows backwards as if you were trying to squeeze your shoulder blades together.
    4. When your hands get as close to your chest as possible, slowly return to the starting position and repeat until the set is complete. Remember to KEEP trying to rip the towel throughout the entire exercise.

    2. Good Morning

    1. With feet hip-width apart, stand upright, knees slightly bent, and place your hands at the back of your head, elbows opened wide.
    2. Engage your abdominal muscles by pulling them into your spine. Keeping your spine neutral and pressing your rear backward, bend forward at the hips and continue doing so until your back is nearly parallel to the floor.
    3. Slowly return to standing, engaging your core and squeezing your glutes at the top of the movement. Continue for the prescribed number of repetitions.


    3. Renegade Row

    1. Place two dumbbells on the floor about shoulder-width apart. Start in the top position of pushup position with your hands on the weights. Make sure your back is straight and in line with your legs, as if there were a rod going through your whole body.
    2. Row one weight up towards the side of your body while balancing on your other hand and feet. Hold for one second at the top and return the weight slowly to the start position to repeat on the other side.
    3. Keep your body in straight line from your shoulders to your ankles as you row the weight. Be sure to finish the movement by pulling the dumbbell all the way to your ribs. Don't let your shoulders slouch. Be sure to bring your shoulder blades together.

    4. Scapular Push Up

    1. Position yourself as though you were going to perform a plank, hands directly beneath shoulders, arms straight, feet hip-width apart, balancing on toes.
    2. Exhale. Pull your shoulder blades apart. This movement will cause your upper back to rise slightly toward the ceiling.
    3. Ensure that your core is engaged and arms are still straight, inhale. Bring your shoulder blades back toward each other.

    *Note: This can be done on the knees instead of toes.

    5. Superman

    1. Lie face down on the ground, toes pointed, ankles touching the ground, arms extended forward, like Superman in flight, palms down, touching the ground.
    2. Pull your arms and legs off the ground by engaging your glutes, shoulders, core, and back. They should raise up 2-3 inches.
    3. Ensure that your arms are also fully contracted. 
    4. Hold this position for 10-20 seconds, or until failure.
    5. Slowly lower your arms and legs back to the starting position. Repeat for prescribed number of reps.


    Abs Exercises

    1. Spider-Man Plank Crunch 

    1. Get in plank position by placing your elbows and toes on the floor. Hold your body up off the floor in this position.
    2. Bring your right knee on the outside of your body to your right elbow. 
    3. Straighten your right leg back to the floor.
    4. Complete the same movement with your left leg and keep alternating sides.

    2. Leg Lift 

    1. Lie with your back flat on the floor (or on a bench) with your legs extended in front of you.
    2. Place your hands to your sides with your palms facing down. To keep your hands down for support, you can place them under your glutes.
    3. Keep your legs fully extended and as straight as possible (it’s okay if your knees slightly bend). Hold the contraction at the top for a second.
    4. Slowly lower your legs back down to the starting position.

     

    3. Bicycle Crunch

    1. Lie flat with your lower back pressed to the ground. Place your hands behind your head slightly above your neck. Lift your shoulders into a crunch position.
    2. Raise yours legs so that your thighs are perpendicular to the ground and your shins parallel to the ground.
    3. Simultaneously, slowly go through a cycle pedal motion kicking forward with the right leg while pulling in the knee of the left leg. 
    4. Bring your right elbow close to your left knee by crunching to the side. Then crunch to the opposite side as you cycle your legs and bring your left elbow closer to your right knee.
    5. Alternate sides.

     

    4. Plank

    1. Place your forearms on the ground with your elbows aligned beneath your shoulders. Keep your arms parallel to your body at about shoulder-width distance. (You should be in a push up position, only on your forearms rather than your hands).
    2. Ground your toes into the floor and squeeze your glutes to stabilize your body. Be careful to not to lock or hyperextend your knees.
    3. Neutralize your neck and spine by looking at a spot on the floor about a foot in front of your hands. Your head should be in line with your back. Contract your abdominals to keep yourself up and prevent your booty from sticking up.
    4. Keep your back flat and hold the position for as long as possible without compromising form.
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