Weightlifting Transformation Journal
Workout 11: Back & Abs
Back Exercises
1. Grab the pull-up bar with a grip that is slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and your palms facing away from your body.
2. Engage your back muscles and pull your body up towards the bar until your chin is over the bar.
3. Slowly lower yourself back down to the starting position, with your arms fully extended and your shoulders relaxed.
1. Attach a close grip handle to a cable machine and adjust the weight to your desired resistance level.
2. Sit facing the cable machine with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent.
3. Grasp the handle with both hands, palms facing towards each other, and extend your arms straight out in front of you.
4. Keeping your back straight, pull the handle towards your chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together at the top of the movement.
5. Hold the top position for a moment, then slowly lower the handle back to the starting position.
1. Stand in front of a cable machine with a straight bar attachment at shoulder height. Grab the bar with an overhand grip and arms fully extended.
2. Keeping your arms straight, pull the bar down towards your thighs by contracting your lats and shoulder blades.
Make sure to keep your core engaged and your back straight throughout the movement.
3. Slowly release the bar back to the starting position with control.
1. Load an appropriate weight onto the end of the T-bar.
2. Stand over the bar so that it’s in between your legs and your chest is resting on the pad (if your machine has one). Keep your back flat and make sure you have a firm grip on the bar or V-grip handle.
3. Lift to remove the bar from rest. Keep your chest up, hips back, and feet wider than shoulder-width apart.
4. After you reach maximum contraction, slowly allow the weight of the bar to lower down until your arms are almost straight before repeating the movement for the desired number of repetitions.
Abs Exercises
1. Attach a rope handle to a high cable pulley machine and kneel down facing the machine, with the rope either behind your head at neck-level or at forehead-level.
2. Grasp the rope handle with both hands and bring it to shoulder-level.
3. Engage your core muscles and slowly crunch your torso forward, bringing your elbows towards your knees.
4. Hold the contraction for a few seconds, then slowly release and return to the starting position.
1. Lie on your back with your legs extended and your arms by your sides.
2. Keeping your lower back pressed into the floor, engage your core and lift both legs towards the ceiling, using your abdominal muscles.
3. Slowly lower your legs back down towards the floor, maintaining control and avoiding any arching in your lower back.
4. Repeat the movement for the desired number of repetitions.
1. Sit on the floor with your knees bent and your feet flat on the ground. Lean back slightly, engaging your core.
2. Lift your feet off the ground, balancing on your sit bones.
3. Twist your torso to the right, bringing your hands or weight towards the right side of your body.
4. Return to the center and twist to the left side, bringing your hands or weight towards the left side of your body.
5. Continue alternating sides in a fluid and controlled motion, engaging your core throughout.
1. Start in a push-up position with your hands directly under your shoulders and your body in a straight line from head-to-toe. Lower yourself down to your forearms.
2. Engage your core, glutes, and leg muscles to hold the position, ensuring your hips are neither too high nor too low.
3. Keep your neck aligned with your spine and your gaze towards the floor.
4. Hold the plank for the desired duration, maintaining proper form and breathing rhythm.