5-Move Upper-Body Workout Routine

With warm weather here, who wouldn’t want to show-off a nicely sculpted body out there. But going sleeveless or topless is not everyone’s cup of tea. Opt for strength training that works your upper body along with your lower body, making sure your body is in balance.

When training your upper body with weights, you want to work ALL of your muscles including your chest, back, shoulders and arms. Also, since this workout is a circuit; perform the first set of each move, then complete the remaining moves before doing the second set.

What you’ll need: a pair of 3- to 5-pound dumbbells

#1. Dead-Lift Row

Targets: Back, biceps, abs, butt, and hamstrings

1. Stand with feet wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, holding the weight with both hands in front of hips, palms in.
2. Keeping back flat, hinge forward from hips to lower weights toward floor, pull back up.

Women (with a pair of 3- to 5-pound dumbbells)

Men (with barbells)

#2. Jump Rope With Dumbbells

Targets: Arms, abs, butt, and legs

1. Stand with feet hip-width apart, a dumbbell in each hand. (The video is without dumbbells)
2. Bend elbows by ribs about 90 degrees so that forearms point out to sides, palms facing forward.
3. Jump up and down a few inches off floor, drawing small circles with dumbbells as if twirling a jump rope.
4. Do 2 sets of 16 jumps.

#3. Lunge With Dumbbell Pass Under

Targets: Arms, butt, and legs

1. Stand with feet hip-width apart, a dumbbell in right hand, arms by sides. (The Video is with a Kettle Bell)
2. Lunge forward with right leg, bending both knees 90 degrees, and pass dumbbell under right thigh from right hand to left hand.
3. Return to start, then quickly lunge forward with left leg, passing dumbbell under left thigh from left hand to right hand, to complete 1 rep.
4. Do 2 sets of 16 reps.

#4. Suitcase Squat/Deadlift

Targets: Shoulders, abs, butt, and legs

1. Stand with feet hip-width apart, arms by sides, holding a dumbbell in right hand (just like lifting a suitcase).
2. Lower into a squat, hold and stand up.

#5. Overhead Dumbbell Press

Targets: Shoulders and upper back

1. Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand, with elbows bent 90 degrees out at shoulder level, palms facing forward (like a goalpost).
2. Slowly push the dumbbells upwards, by straightening your arms, hold and bring them back to original position.

These moves can help you shape your upper body and stoke your calorie burn so you can have confidence to bare this summer.