- Come to the ground on your knees. Tighten your core and maintain a flat back.
- Position your hands on the ground in front of you, directly below your shoulders. Cross your feet in the back.
- Lower your chest towards the ground. Bend your elbows at a 60-degree angle until your chest is just above the ground. You should feel a stretch across your chest. Hold for a count of one.
- Without locking your elbows, push yourself back to the starting position by straightening your arms.
Intermediate Morning Upper Body Dumbbell Tone
20 min
·
7 exercises
Rise and grind — this intermediate morning dumbbell workout targets your upper body for muscle gains and definition. Hit chest, arms, shoulders, and back with intensity: stay on time, minimize rest, and push through every set. Tone up and build lean upper body strength.
Starting out nice and easy, get that chest and those arms warmed up!
0:30 rest
Get nice and fluid with these!
0:30 rest
Some more high knees! Go for 10 secs at a warm-up pace, 10 secs at a faster pace & 10 secs of sprinting!
0:30 rest
Bring those dumbbells all the way up and then drive them overhead!
0:30 rest
Big pushes! Aim for 10 reps per set!
0:30 rest
Some tricep work, make sure the dumbbells are secure!
0:30 rest
Keep your core strong here, and keep going!
About this workout
Intermediate Morning Upper Body Dumbbell Tone is a free 20 min workout plan with 7 illustrated exercises for your abs, arms, chest and legs. Follow the workout online, save it to your WorkoutLabs Fit account or download it as a printable PDF.
Tap any exercise in the workout to see the muscles worked, clear exercise illustrations and step-by-step instructions. Each workout includes sets, reps, rest times and notes so you can follow the plan without guessing.
Workout details
- Duration: 20 min
- Exercises: 7
- Training focus: Abs, arms, chest and legs
- Equipment: Dumbbells
- Level: Intermediate
- Format: Interactive workout and printable PDF
For more ready-made training plans, try WorkoutLabs Fit. You can follow visual workouts, build your own routines, manage your training calendar and track your progress. Sign up today to claim your free week.
Questions about this workout
What equipment do I need for this workout?
You'll need dumbbells for this workout. Tap any exercise to see form instructions and possible substitutions if a piece of equipment isn't available.
How long does the Intermediate Morning Upper Body Dumbbell Tone take?
The full workout takes about 20 minutes, covering 7 exercises with prescribed sets, reps and rest periods. Using the built-in timers and auto-advance keeps you on pace from start to finish.
Is this workout suitable for my fitness level?
This is an intermediate workout, best suited to people with some training experience. Beginners can still follow it by reducing the weight, doing fewer sets or resting longer between sets – each exercise includes illustrated form instructions.
What muscles does this workout target?
This routine primarily works your chest, glutes & hip flexors, quadriceps, abs, biceps, shoulders. Tap any exercise in the workout to see a muscle diagram showing exactly which primary and secondary muscles it activates.
How often should I do this workout?
For gain muscle, get toned, aim to do this workout 2–3 times per week with at least one rest day between sessions. Progress by gradually adding weight or reps, and pair it with workouts for other muscle groups during the week.
Can I download or save this workout?
Yes – you can download this workout as a free printable PDF using the download button, or save it to a free WorkoutLabs Fit account to follow it on your phone, customize the exercises and track your progress.
Intermediate Morning Upper Body Dumbbell Tone
20 min
·
7 exercises
Rise and grind — this intermediate morning dumbbell workout targets your upper body for muscle gains and definition. Hit chest, arms, shoulders, and back with intensity: stay on time, minimize rest, and push through every set. Tone up and build lean upper body strength.
Knee Push-ups
Starting out nice and easy, get that chest and those arms warmed up!
Primary muscle group(s):
Chest
Secondary:
Abs, Shoulders, Triceps
Primary muscle group(s):
Chest
Secondary:
Abs, Shoulders, Triceps
- Place a pair of dumbbells on the floor. Lie on your back in between the dumbbells. Bend your knees and move your feet towards your butt.
- Grab the dumbbells and hold them above you. Allow your upper arms to remain on the floor. Begin the movement by pushing the dumbbells over your chest. Pause at the top and squeeze your chest muscles.
- Slowly bring the weights down to the starting position, allowing your arms to rest for a brief moment before beginning the next repetition.
Primary muscle group(s):
Chest
Secondary:
Abs, Shoulders, Triceps
- Get into position by placing your hands flat on the floor, directly below your shoulders.
- Extend your legs out behind you, with only your toes and balls of your feet touching the floor.
- Hold your body up and keep your back straight by tightening your abdominal muscles.
- Your neck and head should be bent slightly back.
- Lower your chest towards the ground by bending your elbows until your chest is just above the ground or you feel a stretching of your chest and shoulders. Hold for a count of one.
- Press upwards from your chest and shoulders, straightening your arms as you return to the starting position. Hold for a count of one.
- Repeat.
Jumping Jacks
Get nice and fluid with these!
Primary muscle group(s):
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Quadriceps
Secondary:
Abs, Calves, Hamstrings, Shoulders
- Stand with your feet together, arms fully extended with your hands by your sides. This is the start position.
- Bend your knees slightly then straighten and push through the balls of your feet while straightening your your knees to jump up spreading your legs to wider than hip width apart.
- As you do so, raise both arms out and up in a smooth arc until your hands meet above your head.
- As you return to the ground, bring your feet together and your hands back to your sides with your arms fully extended.
- Continue without pause for the desired amount of time or repetitions.
This exercise can be performed as a timed exercise, completing as many reps as possible in a set time or, in sets with a fixed number of repetitions per set. To increase intensity, bend your arms slightly as you raise them to engage your biceps and triceps and squeezing them during each rep.
High Knees
Some more high knees! Go for 10 secs at a warm-up pace, 10 secs at a faster pace & 10 secs of sprinting!
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors
- Begin jogging in place, lifting the knees as high as you can.
- Try to lift your knees up to hip level but keep the core tight to support your back.
- For a more advanced move, hold your hands straight at hip level and try to touch the knees to your hands as you lift them.
- Bring the knees towards your hands instead of reaching the hands to the knees!
Primary muscle group(s):
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Quadriceps
Secondary:
Abs, Calves, Hamstrings, Shoulders
- Stand with your feet together, arms fully extended with your hands by your sides. This is the start position.
- Bend your knees slightly then straighten and push through the balls of your feet while straightening your your knees to jump up spreading your legs to wider than hip width apart.
- As you do so, raise both arms out and up in a smooth arc until your hands meet above your head.
- As you return to the ground, bring your feet together and your hands back to your sides with your arms fully extended.
- Continue without pause for the desired amount of time or repetitions.
This exercise can be performed as a timed exercise, completing as many reps as possible in a set time or, in sets with a fixed number of repetitions per set. To increase intensity, bend your arms slightly as you raise them to engage your biceps and triceps and squeezing them during each rep.
Primary muscle group(s):
Hamstrings, Quadriceps
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors
- Standing tall with a tight core and flat back, you will begin the dynamic stretching exercise as if you were running in place. Keep the knees slightly bent at all times.Start slowly and work up to a faster speed.
- Bring your left foot back and all the way up to the glutes. Return your left foot to the ground and repeat on the other side.
- Continue this back and forth motion, keeping your arms swinging in motion.
Dumbbell Biceps Curl to Shoulder Press
Bring those dumbbells all the way up and then drive them overhead!
Primary muscle group(s):
Biceps, Shoulders
Secondary:
Abs
- Holding a pair of dumbbells, stand tall with your feet shoulder-width apart. Make sure your core is tight and your chest is up. Begin by curling the weight up towards your shoulders. Keep your upper arms tight at your sides.
- Once the dumbbells reach your shoulders, twist the dumbbells to have your palms face out. Now, drive the dumbbells overhead.
- Slowly, lower the dumbbells to your shoulders. Now, flip them back so your palms are facing you. With arms tight at your sides, lower the dumbbells to the starting position.
Dumbbell Floor Chest Press
Big pushes! Aim for 10 reps per set!
Primary muscle group(s):
Chest
Secondary:
Abs, Shoulders, Triceps
- Place a pair of dumbbells on the floor. Lie on your back in between the dumbbells. Bend your knees and move your feet towards your butt.
- Grab the dumbbells and hold them above you. Allow your upper arms to remain on the floor. Begin the movement by pushing the dumbbells over your chest. Pause at the top and squeeze your chest muscles.
- Slowly bring the weights down to the starting position, allowing your arms to rest for a brief moment before beginning the next repetition.
Seated Tricep Press
Some tricep work, make sure the dumbbells are secure!
Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
Secondary:
Abs
- Sit on a bench with back support.
- Grip a dumbbell at one end using both hands. Your palms should be facing inward.
- Hold the dumbbell overhead with your arms fully extended. This is the the start position.
- Keep your upper arms close to your head (biceps roughly level with your temples) and near to 90degrees to the floor.
- Moving only your forearms, lower the dumbbell in a smooth arc behind your head until your forearms and biceps touch. Hold for a count of one.
- Return to the start position by using the triceps to extend your arm and raise the dumbbell. Exhale as you do this.
- Repeat.
This exercise can be performed standing. However, it places an extra strain on your back so is not recommended for people with lower back problems. You can also perform this exercise using an EZ bar or straight bar with a close grip behind your head, palms facing forward.
Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
Secondary:
Forearms
- Attach a rope to the bottom pulley of a cable station.
- Grip the rope with both hands using a neutral grip. Turn your body away from the cable station.
- Fully extend your arms until your hands are directly above your head pointing to the ceiling.
- Keep your elbows close to your head. This is the start position.
- Slowly lower the rope behind your head, keeping your upper arms stationary, inhaling as you do so.
- When your triceps are fully extended, hold for a count of one while squeezing your triceps.
- Return to the starting position by flexing your triceps and extending your arms. Exhale as you do so.
- Repeat.
This exercise can be performed seated on a plain bench, or one that has a back support You can also use a single dumbbell instead of the rope.
Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
- Begin the movement by stepping on to a resistance band with your feet at shoulder-width, toes pointed slightly out.
- Push the handles of the band overhead while keeping a slight bend in the elbow. Brace your abdominals and do not arch your back.
- Slowly lower your hands behind your head using only the forearms. The upper arms will stay in place with the elbow pointed up.
- Push the handles back up, focusing the tension in the triceps.
Plank Shoulder Taps
Keep your core strong here, and keep going!
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Lower Back
- Lock yourself in the plank push-up position ensuring that your body forms a straight line from shoulders to heels.
- Bring your right arm off the ground and touch your left shoulder before placing it back on the ground.
- Repeat the same movement for the opposing arm.
Workout done!
Exercises done
of 7
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