Weightlifting Transformation Journal
Workout 26: Biceps & Shoulders
Biceps Exercises
1. Adjust the preacher curl bench to the appropriate height, making sure that your armpits are resting comfortably on the top of the bench and your feet are firmly planted on the ground.
2. Grasp an EZ bar or straight bar with an underhand grip and position your upper arms on the bench pad so that they are perpendicular to the floor.
3. Keeping your upper arms stationary, exhale and curl the bar towards your shoulders, squeezing your biceps at the top of the movement.
4. Slowly lower the bar back to the starting position, making sure to fully extend your arms without locking out your elbows.
1. Begin by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and holding a pair of dumbbells by your sides with your palms facing upward using an underhand grip.
2. Curl the dumbbells up to your shoulders while rotating your wrists so that your palms are facing upward. Keep your elbows close to your sides and contract your biceps at the top of the movement.
3. Pause for a brief moment at the top, then slowly rotate your wrists so that your palms are facing downwards before allowing the dumbbells to return to the original position.
1. Stand facing a cable machine with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent.
2. Grasp the cable attachment with an underhand grip (palms facing up) and keep your elbows close to your sides.
3. Curl the cable attachment towards your shoulders by flexing your biceps. Keep your upper arms stationary and only move your forearms.
4. Hold the contraction for a second and then slowly lower the cable attachment back to the starting position.
1. Stand upright with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Hold a rope attachment with a neutral grip (palms facing each other).
2. Keep your elbows close to your sides and curl the rope towards your shoulders.
3. Squeeze your biceps at the top of the movement, then slowly lower the rope back down to the starting position, inhaling as you lower the weight.
4. Repeat for your desired number of repetitions.
Shoulders Exercises
1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand with your palms facing inward.
2. Raise your arms out to the sides, keeping them straight, until they are parallel to the floor.
3. Pause for a moment at the top of the movement, then slowly lower the dumbbells back to the starting position with control.
4. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold a dumbbell in each hand with palms facing your thighs.
2. Keeping your arms straight, exhale and lift the weights up to shoulder height in front of your body, stopping just before your arms become parallel to the floor.
3. Hold this position for a second, then slowly lower the weights back down to the starting position.
1. Stand upright with your feet shoulder-width apart. Grasp the barbell with an overhand grip that is slightly less than shoulder width apart. The bar should be in front of your thighs with your arms extended and your palms facing your body.
2. Use the sides of your shoulders to lift the bar up towards your chest and drive your elbows up and to the side. Keep the bar close to your body as you raise it.
3. While keeping your elbows flared out, continue to lift the bar until it’s at your upper chest level. Keep your torso stationary and pause for a second at the top of the movement.
4. Slowly lower the bar back to the starting position.
1. Start by sitting on an exercise bench with a backrest, holding a dumbbell in each hand at shoulder height, palms facing your body.
2. As you press the dumbbells upward, rotate your wrists so that your palms are facing outwards at the top of the movement with your arms fully extended overhead.
3. Slowly lower the dumbbells back down to shoulder height, reversing the wrist rotation so that your palms are facing inward again.