Ignite your upper body with this intermediate dumbbell workout targeting muscle gain and tone! Watch for constant tension exercises — aim for a slow, controlled 3 to 4 second rep tempo throughout. Take your time, feel the burn, and sculpt those arms and shoulders.
Bring the dumbbells up to eye level, keeping your core strong and a slight bend at the knee.
About this workout
Dumbbell Upper Body Workout: Tone & Sculpt is a free 23 min workout plan with 5 illustrated exercises for your arms and shoulders. 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.
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 Dumbbell Upper Body Workout: Tone & Sculpt take?
The full workout takes about 23 minutes, covering 5 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 abs, biceps, shoulders, triceps, neck & upper traps. 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.
Ignite your upper body with this intermediate dumbbell workout targeting muscle gain and tone! Watch for constant tension exercises — aim for a slow, controlled 3 to 4 second rep tempo throughout. Take your time, feel the burn, and sculpt those arms and shoulders.
Auto-advanceStart exercises automatically after a 5-second delay
Calves, Glutes & Hip Flexors, Lower Back, Quadriceps, Shoulders, Triceps
Stand tall with a tight core. Keep your gaze straight ahead. Bring your hands up to shoulder level. Make a tight fist with the thumb on the outside of your hand. Do not wrap your fingers around your thumb.
Begin in a left lead stance. Your left foot should be in front. Your right foot should be behind. Throw a left lead jab by extending your left hand straight out in front of you and immediately retracting.
Follow up the left jab with a right cross. Twist your foot and drive your right hip forward as you throw a straight punch with your back right hand. Alternate these two punches. Switch sides when finished with the prescribed repetitions.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs, Obliques
Secondary:
Shoulders
Sit comfortably with your feet grounded, knees bent, and body upright.
Slowly lower your upper body backwards just enough to feel a strain on your abs.
From here throw a desired amount of left and right eye-level punches.
Stand straight holing a dumbbell in each hand with a neutral grip.
Keep your arms fully extended with your palms facing in to your sides.
Keep your elbows tucked in to your sides. This is the start position.
Keeping your upper arm stationary, exhale and curl the dumbbells up towards your shoulders.
Continue raising the dumbbells until your biceps are fully contracted and the dumbbells are at shoulder level.
Hold for a count of one and squeeze your biceps.
Return to the start position in a smooth movement, inhaling as you do so.
Repeat.
There are many ways to perform this movement. Other examples include; sitting with or without back support, using alternating arms and also using a cable station's lower pulley.
Primary muscle group(s):
Biceps
Secondary:
Forearms
Stand at the cable station with your feet shoulder width apart and with a slight bend at the knee.
Grasp the rope with both hands and your palms facing inward.
Keeping your core strong and your elbows fixed at your sides pull the rope towards the top of your chest (only the lower portion of your arms should be moving).
Tense your biceps at the peak, and then slowly allow the rope to be pulled back down to the starting position.
Sit on a chair with your hands either next to your hips or slightly under the hips.
Lift up onto your hands and bring your hips forward.
Bend your elbows and lower your hips down, keeping shoulders down and hips close to the chair.
Push back up but don’t lock your elbows and repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
Secondary:
Upper Back & Lower Traps
Holding a pair of water bottles with an overhand grip, stand tall with your chest up and core braced. Bend at the hips while keeping your back completely flat.
Once your upper body is parallel with the floor, bring your upper arms to your sides. Begin by pushing the water bottles back and behind you.
Pause at the top of the movement and feel the contraction in your triceps. Slowly lower the water bottles and begin again.
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.
Holding a pair of dumbbells with an overhand grip, stand tall with your chest up and core braced.
Begin by lifting the dumbbells in front of you. Keep the abdominals contracted as you raise the dumbbells. Feel the contraction in the shoulder muscles.
Once the dumbbells reach shoulder height, pause and slowly lower the dumbbells to the starting position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Shoulders
Stand straight holding a water bottle in each hand with an overhand grip.
Hold the water bottles in front of your thighs with your palms of the facing your thighs. Keep your arms fully extended. This is the start position.
Raise the left water bottle out and upwards, while keeping a slight bend in your elbow. Your palms must always face down for this exercise.
Continue raising the water bottle until your arm is a little above parallel to the floor. Exhale as you are raising the water bottle.
Pause for a count of one.
Inhale and slowly lower the water bottle to the start position.
As you lower the left water bottle, begin to lift the right water bottle, duplicating the movement.
When both water bottles have been raised and lowered in a cycle, that is one repetition.
Repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Shoulders
Holding the handle of a resistance band in each hand, step on the middle of the band with both feet. Stand up straight with a tight core and flat back.
Begin by lifting your hands straight up in front of you with an overhand grip. Be sure to keep a slight bend in the elbows at all times.
Pause at the top to feel the contraction then slowly lower the bands to the starting position.
Workout done!
Exercises done
of 5
Total time
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