WGBJ 3 - Workout 14 – Habit Nest

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    WGBJ 3 - Workout 14

    Workout 14: Back

    Back Exercises

    1. Pull-Up

    1. Securely set the pin on the desired weight. Unlike other machines, the heavier the weight you use, the easier this exercise will be (as the weight really serves as an assist, not resistance).
    2. Stand on the platform, and grab the wide pull-up handles above your head. You can also do this on your knees.
    3. Keep your abs engaged, spine neutral, and shoulders pressed down and back.
    4. Pull yourself up as far as possible, making sure to keep your abs are engaged and your shoulders are pressed down and back. Simultaneously try to activate yours lats. 
    5. Slowly release yourself downwards until your arms are almost straight. 
    6. Repeat for the desired amount of reps.

    2. T-Bar Row

    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. Keep your back flat and make sure you have a firm grip on each side of the V-grip handle. 
    3. Remove the bar from the rest. Keep your chest up, your hips back, and your feet wider than shoulder-width apart. Lead the movement with your back, your arms should follow. The focus should not be on the angle of your arms, but on the contraction of your back.
    4. After your back reaches its maximum contraction and your shoulder blades are retracted, slowly let the weight of the bar pull your shoulder blades down to stretch your back. 
    5. Let your arms follow naturally until the T-bar is returned to its starting position.

    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. Close Grip Lat Pulldown

    1. Attach a wide-grip handle to the lat pulldown machine. Adjust the knee pad of the machine to fit your height to prevent your lower body from moving while performing this movement.
    2. For a regular lat pulldown, grasp the bar with an overhand grip with your arms at the end of the flat bar. 

    For a reverse-grip lat pulldown, use an underhand grip and your palms facing your body. 

    For a close grip, your hands should be positioned shoulder-width apart.

    1. Extend both arms up above you while holding the bar. Keep your back upright, create a slight curvature in your lower back, and stick out your chest.
    2. Keep your torso stationary and pull the bar down towards your body by drawing your shoulder blades and upper arms down and back. Squeeze your back muscles during this movement. 
    3. Slowly raise the bar in a controlled motion back to the starting position. Your arms should be fully extended and your lats fully stretched.

    5. Straight Arm Pulldown

    1.  Attach a wide bar at your shoulder-level on the pulley of the pulldown machine. Grab the bar with an overhand grip with your palms facing downward, and make sure your grip is wider than your shoulder-width.
    2. Take a couple steps back and make sure your feet are shoulder-width apart. Slightly hinge at the waist so that your torso is leaning forward. Keep your arms fully extended so that they’re parallel to the ground. Your arms can have a slight bend at the elbow.
    3. Pull the bar down while keeping your arms straight. Continue pulling down until your hands are beside your thighs; you should feel a contraction in your lats. 
    4. Reverse this movement while keeping your arms fully straight.

    6. Reverse Grip Seated Cable Row

    1. Sit down at a cable tower with a row attachment. Grip the handle underhand at shoulder width. Brace through the core before beginning the movement.
    2. Pull the handle to your chest, keeping your back upright and tight throughout the movement.
    3. Focus on bringing the shoulder blades together at the end of the range of movement. Return to the start position under control, maintaining the same braced position in your torso.

    7. Inverted Row

    1. Lie on the floor underneath the bar (which should be set just above where you can reach from the ground). You should be as close to parallel to the ground as possible!
    2. Grab the bar with an overhand grip (palms facing AWAY from you).
    3. Contract your abs, and try to keep your body a completely straight line. Your ears, shoulders, hips legs, and feet should all be in a straight line.
    4. Pull yourself up to the bar until your chest touches the bar.
    5. Lower yourself back down.

    *If this is difficult for you, place the bar higher on the smith machine, and stand a little bit  more vertically. 

    8. Single Arm Smith Machine Row 

    1. Set the smith machine bar low. Bend over so your back is at a 90 degree angle and lift the bar out of its place so that your arm is hanging down freely while holding the bar.
    2. Remaining with your back at a 90 degree angle, pull the bar up, driving your elbow to the ceiling. Keep your elbow tucked into your side as you pull.  
    3. Slowly let the bar back down and repeat.

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