Underhand Inverted Row

Hey there, it’s time for a new Home Exercise of the Week and this will be the last exercise this year but I will have a bunch of new ones to show you in 2019!  

This week’s exercise is called the Underhand Inverted Row and this is a great exercise to really work your back and biceps.  In the video demonstration I’m using an Equalizer Bar but you can also do this at the gym with an olympic bar set up in a squat rack.

I also show different variations of this exercise with the easiest version first and ending with a more challenging version.

Let’s take a look at the key performance points of the Underhand Inverted Row.

  • start by laying underneath the bar so that your chest is in line with the bar
  • grab the bar with an underhand grip (you can also use an overhand grip to change the dynamic of the exercise and add a different challenge)
  • for the easier version, keep your feet flat on the ground and your knees bent
  • drive your hips up in to the air by pushing up through your heels
  • keep your abs tight and maintain this hips raised position throughout the exercise
  • pull your body up and try to touch the bar with your chest while squeezing your shoulder blades together
  • lower your body back down in a smooth controlled manner but stop just before you touch the floor
  • repeat the movement for your desired amount of reps or time and make sure not to let your hips drop down throughout the exercise
  • the second movement is a bit harder and the difference is your legs are straight instead of bent
  • the third movement adds more of a challenge by adding more weight to your upper body to lift because you have one leg in the air
  • the fourth and final movement in the video has one leg in the air and the other leg straight – this will add even more of your body weight to pull up

So there you have the Underhand Inverted Row.  It’s a challenging but very effective back and bicep exercise.  Try the easier version first and progressively work your way up to the harder version.  You can even put your legs up on a stability ball for an even harder challenge!

Give it a shot and let me know how you do in the comments below or if you have any questions.

Have a wonderful holiday season and I will see you in 2019 with another new exercise!

Two Arm Bent Over Dumbbell Row

Hey there, it’s time for a new Home Exercise of the Week!  This time I have a dumbbell exercise for you called the Two Arm Bent Over Dumbbell Row.  This is a great compound exercise to work your lats, rhomboids, rear delts, traps, and biceps.

If you don’t have a set of dumbbells that’s ok, you can use any two objects that are equally balanced like a couple of water jugs.

Let’s take a look at how to do the Two Arm Bent Over Dumbbell Row properly.

  • hold a dumbbell or heavy object in each hand and stand with your feet about shoulder width apart
  • bend your knees slightly and bring your torso forward by bending at the waist
  • keep bending forward while keeping your back as straight as possible until your torso is almost parallel to the floor
  • from this bent over position, exhale and pull the dumbbells up and towards you while keeping your elbows tucked in to your sides
  • squeeze your back muscles and your shoulder blades together at the top of the movement
  • pause for a second and then inhale and lower the weights to the starting position
  • repeat for your desired repetitions

So there you have the Two Arm Bent Over Dumbbell Row.  This is one of the best compound exercises for you back and you will build a lot of strength and help prevent a lot of back injuries with this exercise.

Let me know how you do with this one in the comment section below or if you have any questions.

See you next week with another new exercise!

Back, Bicep, and Core Workout

Hey everyone!  It’s Home Exercise of the Week time and I have the third part here for you of the three part split routine.  This week we are going to do the Back, Bicep, and Core Workout.  This routine is going to get your arms looking strong and toned and is going to strengthen the ever important muscles of the back.  Strong back and core muscles help prevent back problems as you age and especially if you spend many hours at a desk job, not to mention how great a strong back looks!

This Back, Bicep, and Core Workout does have some dumbbell exercises in them so if you have a set that’s great but if not then grab some stuff around the house that you can lift and curl like heavy soup cans, water bottles, pets, children, etc! 😉

Have fun, work hard, sweat a lot, and be awesome!

Back, Bicep, and Core Workout

Warm-Up

  • 10 Pushups
  • 12 Spiderman Climbs
  • 10 Spinal Rotations for each side
  • 10 Shoulder Circles for each arm

Superset 1

Rest for 30 to 60 seconds then repeat the superset 2 more times

Superset 2

Rest for 30 to 60 seconds then repeat the superset 2 more times

Superset 3

Rest for 30 to 60 seconds then repeat the superset 2 more times

5 Exercises to Avoid – Part 5

If you have been following along with my series on exercises to avoid at the gym you’ll know that I have talked about all leg exercises so far.  This week though in the final part of the series, I would like to share an upper body exercise that might not be as effective as you thought.

The exercise is the Biceps Preacher Curl and although it is a good bicep builder and isolation exercise there are a few drawbacks that could lead to injury down the road.

Dr. Kareem Samhouri (a Neuro Metabolic Fitness and Rehab Expert) points out that from a muscle balance perspective, the forward shoulder position of this exercise leads to an increased stretch on the rotator cuff and biceps tendon.  The position of this exercise creates an imbalance between your pecs and lats/shoulderblade stabilizers resulting in a forward shoulder position. This leads to rotator cuff tendonitis, biceps tendonitis, and an increased risk of tears.

This is true for your shoulders and neck.  In this forward position, you are at risk for injury.  Also, like many people who perform this exercise, you may be placing excessive weight into your armpit, which is where your brachial plexus is.  This is the bundle of nerves that controls your arms.

Also, the biceps are being shortened in an over-shortened position for your pecs, reinforcing a common imbalance.

The elbow is only safe when balanced and this is achieved when all the elbow flexors are being worked.  The elbow flexors are your biceps, brachialis, and brachioradialis.  These muscles flex your elbow and allow you to rotate the palm of your hand up and down.

Second, there is no functional benefit to doing this exercise.  This is an artificial movement in an abnormal position.  The only purpose to doing the Biceps Preacher Curl is to build the biceps but they only work on elbow flexion.  The biceps is also a supinator (meaning it turns your palm up), so by doing the preacher curl you’re missing 50% of the muscles action.

Finally, the metabolic effect of this exercise is low as it is an isolation exercise using only one part of the muscle.  You aren’t going to be burning many calories by doing this exercise and if your goal is fat loss then there are far more functional bicep exercises you can do that will get your heart rate up.

So what can you do instead?

A great exercise you can do that will hit all of your elbow flexors is the Curl Up, Hammer Down.  The first half of this exercise works your biceps and the last half works your rotators and forearm muscles.

To perform this exercise properly, stand tall with your shoulders back and knees slightly bent.  Keep your elbows at your side with your palms facing out.  Curl up slowly getting a good squeeze on the biceps and then in the top position, you’ll want to turn your palms towards each other.

 

When your hands are in this position it will kind of look like a hammer.  Maintain this position as you slowly lower the dumbbells back to the starting position.

So there you have it.  Another exercise to avoid next time you hit the gym and what you can do instead for a more functional, safe, and effective workout.  I hope you have enjoyed this series over the past 5 weeks and I hope that the next time you workout, the more effective exercises I have shown you will bring you one step closer to reaching your fitness goals!