AT HOME ARM/CHEST DAY

1. Sit on a decline bench and place your feet under the leg brace. Rest a dumbbell on each thigh.
2. Grab hold of the dumbbells with an overhand grip and lie back on the bench.
3. Position the dumbbells on either side of your chest. Your palms should face outwards and your arms should be bent under each weight.
4. Slowly press the dumbbells up from the elbows until your arms are fully extended over your chest.
5. Return to the starting position by lowering the dumbbells to either side of your chest again. You should feel a slight stretch in your chest and shoulders.

1. Lie on a flat bench holding a dumbbell in each hand with an overhand grip.
2. Start by holding the dumbbells slightly wider than shoulder width apart above your shoulders. Your palms should be facing forward.
3. Slowly bend your elbows until they are at a 90 degree angle and your upper arms are parallel to the ground.
4. Push the weights up by straightening your arms.
5. As you push the weights up, move your arms in an arc to bring the dumbbells together, until they meet over the center of your chest. Hold for a count of one.
6. Lower the dumbbells by slowly bending your elbows back to 90 degrees.
7. Continue lowering your arms until they are a little lower than parallel to the floor. (Your elbows should be pointing slightly towards the floor and you should feel a stretch in your chest muscles and shoulders.)
8. Repeat

Be sure to concentrate on a balanced movement when lifting the dumbbells. Use both arms equally spaced and moving at the same speed.

1. Set up a bench or stable elevated surface. Begin with both hands on the bench at shoulder-width or just outside of shoulder-width.
2. Place your feet straight behind you while you tighten your abs and engage the hips. Your hips should not dip or elevate too high during the movement.
3. Slowly lower yourself towards the bench. Once your upper arms are parallel with the floor, pause, and return to the starting position.

1. Facing down, place yourself on the ground with your hands flat on the floor, directly below your shoulders.
2. Place your feet on top of a bench or box. Only your toes and balls of your feet should be touching the floor.
3. Maintain a flat back and tight core before lowering 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.
4. Push yourself back to the starting position by straightening your arms. Do not lock out your elbows.
5. Repeat.

1. Set up an incline bench in front of a weight rack, making sure you adjust the incline to a comfortable position. The back of the bench should be facing the weight stack.
2. Sit on the bench placing your back firmly against the backrest.
3. Using an overhand grip, grasp the bar with your hands spaced about twice your shoulder width apart.
4. Lift the bar from the rack by pushing up with your chest muscles and hold it straight over your chest with your arms fully extended. This is the start position.
5. As you inhale, lower the barbell slowly until it touches your upper chest.
6. Hold for a count of one while squeezing your chest muscles.
7. Return to the start position as you exhale, pushing the bar using your chest muscles. Hold for a count of one.
8. Repeat.

If you are new at this exercise, you should use a spotter. If there is no-one available to spot for you, be conservative with the amount of weight you use. Do not let the bar drift too far forward. The bar to should touch down on your chest only. When performing this exercise, you should use a 2:1:1 count. That is a count of two on the downward movement. A count of one to hold and squeeze.a count of one for the upward movement.

1. Set up an incline bench so the back rest is at about a 45 degree angle.
2. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with an overhand grip. (Palms facing away from you)
3. Sit on the bench with your feet flat on the floor and your back and shoulders pressed firmly back against the back rest.
4. Raise the dumbbells up to your shoulder level, keeping your elbows bent at 90 degrees.
5. Push the dumbbells up and away from you using your shoulders and chest while straightening your arms.
6. Continue raising the dumbbells until your arms are straight and the dumbbells are suspended above your chest. Hold for a count of one.
7. Lower the dumbbells back towards your chest by relaxing your chest and shoulders while bending your elbows.
8. Hold for a count of one
9. Repeat.

1. Lean forward into an incline bench
2. Using a neutral grip, hold a dumbbell in each hand so your palms are facing in.
3. Your arms should be fully extended and hanging straight down. This is the start position.
4. Pull your shoulder blades back and flex your elbows to pull the dumbbells up to your sides.
5. Hold and squeeze your shoulder and back muscles.
6. Return to the start position in a slow, controlled movement.
7. Repeat.

1. Stand tall with a tight core and flat back. Hold a pair of dumbbells at your side with an overhand grip. Bend slightly at the knees as you push your hips back. Keep your chest and head up. Upper body should be almost parallel with the floor.
2. With your elbows at a 60-degree angle, bring the dumbbells up. Pause when your upper arm is parallel with the floor. Contract the muscle then slowly return the dumbbells to the starting point.

1. Connect a V-bar attachment to the low pulley on a cable station or cable rowing machine.
2.  Sit down at the station and place your feet on the foot pads or crossbar provided, while keeping your knees slightly bent.
3. Lean forward, keeping your back straight and grip the V-bar handles with both hands.
4. Keeping your arms fully extended pull back until your torso is at a 90-degree angle from your legs.
5. Your back should be slightly arched, with your chest should be pushed out. This is the start position.
6. Keeping your torso stationary, pull the handles back towards you while squeezing your back muscles.
7. Keep your arms close to your sides until your hands reach your abdomen. Exhale as you perform this movement.
8. Hold for a count of one.
9. Inhale as you return to the start position in a smooth movement.
10. Repeat.

Do not swing or rock back and forth as you perform this exercise. Doing so can cause lower back injury. <strong></strong> You can perform this exercise using a straight bar instead of a V-Bar. You can use an underhand or overhand grip.

1. Stand tall with a tight core and flat back. Hold a pair of water bottles at your side with an overhand grip. Bend slightly at the knees as you push your hips back. Keep your chest and head up. Upper body should be almost parallel with the floor.
2. With your elbows at a 60-degree angle, bring the water bottles up. Pause when your upper arm is parallel with the floor. Contract the muscle then slowly return the water bottles to the starting point.

1. Begin the movement by stepping on to a resistance band with your feet at shoulder-width, toes pointed slightly out.
2. Bend slightly at the knees and forward at the hips. Maintain a braced core and flat back throughout.
3. Leading with your elbows, pull the handles of the resistance band back, bringing your shoulder blades closer together. Hold this contraction and slowly release to the starting position.

1. Sit on a military press bench or bench that has a back support, holding a dumbbell in each hand with an overhand grip.
2. Place the dumbbells on top of your thighs with your palms facing down.
3. Raise the dumbbells to your shoulders.
4. Rotate your wrists so that the palms of your hands are facing away from you. This is the start position.
5. As you exhale,  push the dumbbells up and over your head by extending your arms until the dumbbells touch at the top of the movement.
6. Pause for a count of one.
7. Slowly return to the start position inhaling as you do so.
8. Repeat.

This exercise can be performed standing or sitting on  flat bench. For people with lower back problems, the version described is better.

1. Holding a water bottle in each hand, stand straight, with your feet shoulder width apart.
2. Raise the water bottles to head height by rotating your arms forward and up.
3. Your triceps should be parallel to the floor and your elbows bent at 90 degrees. This is the start position.
4. Keeping your back straight and using only your arms, extend through your shoulders and elbows to drive the water bottles straight up, exhaling as you do so.
5. As your arms reach the fully extended position, bring them in towards each other until the water bottles touch lightly together.
6. Hold for a count of one, while squeezing your shoulder muscles.
7. In a controlled movement, return to the starting position, inhaling as you do so.
8. Repeat.

1. Place your left foot onto the middle of a resistance band. Step forward with the right. Tighten your abdominals and avoid arching your back.
2. Press the handles of the resistance band up and stop once your upper arms are parallel with the ground, making a scarecrow formation. The band should be behind your arms.
3. Slowly press the resistance band overhead. Do not lock out the elbows. Lower to the starting position and begin again.

1. Kneel with feet together and toes tucked under. Bend forward placing your arms on the sides of a medicine ball, bending forward until you are in the plank position with legs straight out behind you.
2. Lower your chest towards the ball, keeping the torso rigid and body in line. Lower down until your chest touches the ball, keeping your elbows in and slightly flared outwards.
3. Press upwards to the starting plank position.

1. Position yourself on all fours on a mat.
2. Place your hands in front of you and shoulder-width apart.
3. Now bring your hands in towards the center until the tips of your index fingers and tips of your thumbs are touching. This creates a diamond shape between your hands. Your elbows and wrists should be in line with your chest.
4. With your fingers facing forwards, lift off your knees so that your body forms a straight line and just your hands and toes touch the floor.
5. Keep you pelvis straight and abs engaged and aim to keep a straight back throughout the movement.
6. Bend your elbows and lower your body towards the floor, aiming to touch your chest to the top of your hands. Pause briefly.
7. Return to the starting position by extending your elbows and lifting your body off the floor again.

1. Get into position by placing your hands flat on the floor, directly below your shoulders.
2. Extend your legs out behind you, with only your toes and balls of your feet touching the floor.
3. Hold your body up and keep your back straight by tightening your abdominal muscles.
4. Your neck and head should be bent slightly back.
5. 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.
6. Press upwards from your chest and shoulders, straightening your arms as you return to the starting position. Hold for a count of one.
7. Repeat.

1. Set up a preacher curl bench making sure that the seat is set at the right height for you. The seat shouldn’t be so low that you need to raise your shoulders, or so high that you need to lean over the support pad.
2. Rest you arm on the support pad with your triceps near the top and your elbow midway down the pad.
3. Grip the dumbbell with an underhand grip at shoulder width.
4. Curl the dumbbell in towards your chin and upper chest in a single smooth arc. Hold for a count of one while squeezing your biceps.
5. Lower the dumbbell by extending your arms back to the starting position.
6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions then change to your other arm.

This exercise is designed to isolate and focus attention on the biceps. Therefore resistance is stronger at the start of each repetition. So when you begin each repetition, don't

1. Sit on a flat bench with your legs spread, knees bent and your feet flat on the floor with a dumbbell between your feet.
2. Use either arm to pick the dumbbell up and hold it with an underhand grip.
3. Place the back of that upper arm on the top of your inner thigh on the same side. Your palm should be facing away from your thigh.
4. Keep your arm fully extended downwards without letting the dumbbell rest on the floor. This is the start position.
5. Curl the dumbbell forward and up in a smooth arc, contracting your biceps and exhaling.
6. Continue curling the dumbbell upward until your biceps are fully contracted and the dumbbell is at shoulder level.  Hold for a count of one while squeezing your biceps.
7. Return to the start position in a controlled, smooth arc inhaling as you do so. Do not swing the dumbbell down.
8. Repeat for all the repetitions for that arm then switch and repeat the movement with your other arm.

Throughout this exercise, only your forearms should move. This exercise can be performed standing in a bent over position. Here there is no upper arm support so it's important to ensure there is no movement or swinging of the upper arm. This harder version of concentration curls isn't recommended for people who suffer lower back issues.

1. Set up a preacher curl bench making sure that the seat is set at the right height for you. The seat shouldn’t be so low that you need to raise your shoulders, or so high that you need to lean over the support pad.
2. Rest you arms on the support pad with your triceps near the top and your elbows midway down the pad.
3. Grip the EZ curl bar with an underhand grip at shoulder width.
4. Curl the bar in towards your chin and upper chest in a single smooth arc. Hold for a count of one.
5. Lower the bar by extending your arms back to the starting position.

This exercise is designed to isolate and focus attention on the biceps. Therefore, resistance is stronger at the start of each repetition. So when you begin each repetition, don't explode upwards too quickly!

1. Adjust the seat height so that you can comfortably hang your arms over the pad of the machine. Make sure your shoulders are forward, allowing you to bring your arms closer than shoulder-width.
2. Using an underhand grip, secure the handle of the machine bar. Keep a slight bend in the elbows at all times. Move the bar up, towards your face, focusing the tension in the biceps. Pause at the top and slowly lower to the starting position.
3. Do not allow the weight to touch the stack and do not lock out your elbows. Repeat.

1. Get into position by placing your hands flat on the floor, directly below your shoulders.
2. Extend your legs out behind you, with only your toes and balls of your feet touching the floor.
3. Hold your body up and keep your back straight by tightening your abdominal muscles.
4. Your neck and head should be bent slightly back.
5. 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.
6. Press upwards from your chest and shoulders, straightening your arms as you return to the starting position. Hold for a count of one.
7. Repeat.

1. Place two dumbbells or kettlebells on the floor about shoulder width apart.
2. In a push up position, place your hands on the grip section of each bell for support.
3. Spread your legs to slightly wider than hip width apart with your toes supporting your weight. This is the start position.
4. Push down through one bell and at the same time “row” the opposite one upwards by retracting your shoulder and bending your elbow.
5. Hold for a count of one.
6. Your breathing should remain constant throughout the movement.
7. Lower the bell to the floor and without pause, then repeat the movement with your other arm.
8. When you have rowed both arms, that is one repetition.
9. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

This is an advanced level exercise. Lower strength and poor form has the potential for injury to the middle and lower back and wrists.

1. Lean forward into an incline bench
2. Using a neutral grip, hold a dumbbell in each hand so your palms are facing in.
3. Your arms should be fully extended and hanging straight down. This is the start position.
4. Pull your shoulder blades back and flex your elbows to pull the dumbbells up to your sides.
5. Hold and squeeze your shoulder and back muscles.
6. Return to the start position in a slow, controlled movement.
7. Repeat.

1. Stand tall with a tight core and flat back. Hold a pair of dumbbells at your side with an overhand grip. Bend slightly at the knees as you push your hips back. Keep your chest and head up. Upper body should be almost parallel with the floor.
2. With your elbows at a 60-degree angle, bring the dumbbells up. Pause when your upper arm is parallel with the floor. Contract the muscle then slowly return the dumbbells to the starting point.

1. Sit on a bench with back support.
2. Grip a dumbbell at one end using both hands. Your palms should be facing inward.
3. Hold the dumbbell overhead with your arms fully extended.  This is the the start position.
4. Keep your upper arms close to your head (biceps roughly level with your temples) and near to 90degrees to the floor.
5. 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.
6. Return to the start position by using the triceps to extend your arm and raise the dumbbell. Exhale as you do this.
7. 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.

1. Attach a rope to the bottom pulley of a cable station.
2. Grip the rope with both hands using a neutral grip. Turn your body away from the cable station.
3. Fully extend your arms until your hands are directly above your head pointing to the ceiling.
4. Keep your elbows  close to your head. This is the start position.
5. Slowly lower the rope behind your head, keeping your upper arms stationary, inhaling as you do so.
6. When your triceps are fully extended, hold for a count of one while squeezing your triceps.
7. Return to the starting position by flexing your triceps  and extending your arms. Exhale as you do so.
8. 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.

1. Begin the movement by stepping on to a resistance band with your feet at shoulder-width, toes pointed slightly out.
2. Push the handles of the band overhead while keeping a slight bend in the elbow. Brace your abdominals and do not arch your back.
3. Slowly lower your hands behind your head using only the forearms. The upper arms will stay in place with the elbow pointed up.
4. Push the handles back up, focusing the tension in the triceps.

1. Go into a standard push-up position, supporting your weight on your toes and hands. Your back is flat and your core is tight. Your hands should be directly beneath your shoulders.
2. Lower yourself into a push-up. Focus the tension in the chest.
3. As you descend, bring your right leg up and to the side. Try to touch the knee to the elbow. As you push yourself back up, return the leg to its original position. Repeat with the other side.

1. Get into position by placing your hands flat on the floor, directly below your shoulders.
2. Extend your legs out behind you, with only your toes and balls of your feet touching the floor.
3. Hold your body up and keep your back straight by tightening your abdominal muscles.
4. Your neck and head should be bent slightly back.
5. 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.
6. Press upwards from your chest and shoulders, straightening your arms as you return to the starting position. Hold for a count of one.
7. Repeat.

1. Get yourself in the push-up position with your hands flat on the ground just wider than shoulder width apart.
2. Ensuring that there is a straight line running from your neck to your heels, lift your right leg off the ground.
3. Keeping your right leg elevated, bend your elbows and lower your body towards the ground until your chest is about two inches away from the floor.
4. Push your body back to the starting position and then lower your right leg to the ground.
5. Repeat the motion with the left leg elevated.

1. Holding a dumbbell in each hand, stand straight, with your feet shoulder width apart.
2. Raise the dumbbells to head height by rotating your arms forward and up.
3. Your triceps should be parallel to the floor and your elbows bent at 90 degrees. This is the start position.
4. Keeping your back straight and using only your arms, extend through your shoulders and elbows to drive the dumbbells straight up, ehaling as you do so.
5. As your arms reach the fully extended position, bring them in towards each other until the dumbbels touch lightly together.
6. Hold for a count of one, while squeezing your shoulder muscles.
7. In a controlled movement, return to the starting position, inhaling as you do so.
8. Repeat.

1. From a push-up position push your glutes upwards and walk your feet in so that you are in a downward-dog pose.
2. The shape of your body should look like a triangle from the side.
3. Lower your shoulders towards the ground by bending your elbows.
4. Allow your forehead to very lightly make contact with the ground before pushing upwards and away back into the starting position.

• Keep a tight core and flat back as you remain seated in the shoulder press machine.
• Look straight ahead as you hold on to the handles.
• Slowly, press the handles up above your head.
• Do not lock out your elbow.
• Slowly, bring the handles back down but do not let the weight stack touch.
• Repeat the movement.

1. Place your left foot onto the middle of a resistance band. Step forward with the right. Tighten your abdominals and avoid arching your back.
2. Press the handles of the resistance band up and stop once your upper arms are parallel with the ground, making a scarecrow formation. The band should be behind your arms.
3. Slowly press the resistance band overhead. Do not lock out the elbows. Lower to the starting position and begin again.

1. Holding a water bottle in each hand, stand straight, with your feet shoulder width apart.
2. Raise the water bottles to head height by rotating your arms forward and up.
3. Your triceps should be parallel to the floor and your elbows bent at 90 degrees. This is the start position.
4. Keeping your back straight and using only your arms, extend through your shoulders and elbows to drive the water bottles straight up, exhaling as you do so.
5. As your arms reach the fully extended position, bring them in towards each other until the water bottles touch lightly together.
6. Hold for a count of one, while squeezing your shoulder muscles.
7. In a controlled movement, return to the starting position, inhaling as you do so.
8. Repeat.

1. In a push-up position, place one hand on top of the medicine ball and other hand on floor, slightly wider than shoulder width apart.
2. Keep one arm straight on floor and other arm bent with your hand on the ball. Straighten body and set feet shoulder width apart.
3. Lower body until you feel a stretch in your shoulder and / or chest.
4. Push body up in a rapid motion.
5. Repeat.

1. Get into position by placing your hands flat on the floor, directly below your shoulders.
2. Extend your legs out behind you, with only your toes and balls of your feet touching the floor.
3. Hold your body up and keep your back straight by tightening your abdominal muscles.
4. Your neck and head should be bent slightly back.
5. 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.
6. Press upwards from your chest and shoulders, straightening your arms as you return to the starting position. Hold for a count of one.
7. Repeat.