- Standing with a flat back and tight core, raise your arms to the sides.
- While focusing on the shoulders, slowly rotate your arms in a circular motion. Start with small circles. Gradually increase the size of the circles.
- After completing one set of a pre-determined number (such as 10 repetitions), reverse the direction, going counter-clockwise.
Intro to Weightlifting 1
44 min
·
13 exercises
Welcome to workout number 1! Today, we're going to activate those muscles that may have been dormant for a little while. Before you know it they'll be smoking like a volcano! No need to go too heavy, this is simply the activation period.
Standing Arm Circles
Go for 1 set forward and 1 set backward. Wakey wakey!
0:30 rest
Wall Push-Ups
I know these are probably easy for you, but this is all part of the process. Baby steps to giant leaps.
0:30 rest
Knee Push-ups
The closer the knees are to your chest, the easier the exercise. We're just warming up!
0:30 rest
Seated Chest Press
Our first big exercise. Your goal here is to feel a nice little burn at 12 reps, no shaky arms though!
2:00 rest
Medicine Ball Wall Throw
Take hold of a ball that weighs around 10 lbs and drive it upwards into the wall. Not too high; calm down...
2:00 rest
Machine Tricep Dips
This exercise will train both the chest and triceps. Focus on spending at least 2 seconds per rep!
2:00 rest
Bench Tricep Dips
Finish out 2 sets of these, and then use the chair as your throne. Like royalty. You legend.
1:30 rest
Alternate Heel Touches
Get off your high horse! You're not finished yet! 15 reps per side.
1:30 rest
Flutter Kicks
Finally, 15 kicks per leg. Okay, now you're done; take your throne...again.
Double Arm Tricep Kickbacks
Decline Lying Triceps Extension
Single Arm Dumbbell Tricep Extensions
Seated Tricep Press
This Intro to Weightlifting 1 44 min gym workout plan effectively targets your abs, arms, back, chest and shoulders. Easily follow this workout with confidence on your phone or printable exercise program with our clear exercise demonstrations. You can also look up step-by-step instructions for each of the 13 exercises and see which muscle groups they target. Enjoy!
For more pre-planned training plans and hundreds of workouts, check out Fit – a simple workout app you will love! Follow visual workouts, manage your training calendar, build your own routines, track your progress and more. Join thousands of Fit users and sign up today to claim your free week!
For more pre-planned training plans and hundreds of workouts, check out Fit – a simple workout app you will love! Follow visual workouts, manage your training calendar, build your own routines, track your progress and more. Join thousands of Fit users and sign up today to claim your free week!
Intro to Weightlifting 1
44 min
·
13 exercises
Welcome to workout number 1! Today, we're going to activate those muscles that may have been dormant for a little while. Before you know it they'll be smoking like a volcano! No need to go too heavy, this is simply the activation period.
Standing Arm Circles
Go for 1 set forward and 1 set backward. Wakey wakey!
Primary muscle group(s):
Shoulders
Secondary:
Upper Back & Lower Traps
Wall Push-Ups
I know these are probably easy for you, but this is all part of the process. Baby steps to giant leaps.
Primary muscle group(s):
Chest, Triceps
Secondary:
Abs
- Stand in front of a wall, extend your arms out to measure the correct distance. Brace your core and place your hands against the wall.
- Keeping a tight core, slowly lower your chest towards the wall.
- Pause once your upper arms form a 90 degree angle. Contract the chest muscles and push yourself back up to the starting position. Repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Chest
Secondary:
Triceps
- Stand in front of a wall, extend your arms out to measure the correct distance. Brace your core and place one hand against the wall.
- Keeping a tight core, slowly lower your chest towards the wall.
- Pause once your working arm forms a 90 degree angle. Contract the chest muscle and push yourself back up to the starting position.
- Repeat using the opposite arm.
Primary muscle group(s):
Chest
Secondary:
Abs, Shoulders, Triceps
- 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.
Knee Push-ups
The closer the knees are to your chest, the easier the exercise. We're just warming up!
Primary muscle group(s):
Chest
Secondary:
Abs, Shoulders, Triceps
- 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.
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.
Seated Chest Press
Our first big exercise. Your goal here is to feel a nice little burn at 12 reps, no shaky arms though!
Primary muscle group(s):
Chest
Secondary:
Abs, Shoulders, Triceps
- Sit on the seat with your upper chest just above the horizontal handles.
- Push the foot lever until you are able to grasp the lever.
- Gras the handles using a wide overhand grip and place your elbows out to the sides just below your shoulders.
- Release the foot lever and press the hand lever out until your arms are fully extended.
- Return the weight until your chest muscles are slightly stretched.
Primary muscle group(s):
Chest
Secondary:
Abs, Shoulders, Triceps
- Lie on a flat bench holding a dumbbell in each hand with an overhand grip.
- Start by holding the dumbbells slightly wider than shoulder width apart above your shoulders. Your palms should be facing forward.
- Slowly bend your elbows until they are at a 90 degree angle and your upper arms are parallel to the ground.
- Push the weights up by straightening your arms.
- 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.
- Lower the dumbbells by slowly bending your elbows back to 90 degrees.
- 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.)
- Repeat
Be sure to concentrate on a balanced movement when lifting the dumbbells. Use both arms equally spaced and moving at the same speed.
Medicine Ball Wall Throw
Take hold of a ball that weighs around 10 lbs and drive it upwards into the wall. Not too high; calm down...
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs, Shoulders, Upper Back & Lower Traps
Secondary:
Biceps, Hamstrings, Quadriceps, Triceps
- Stand up straight with a tight core and flat back.
- Holding a medicine ball with both hands, face a wall and make sure you have distanced yourself approximately 5 feet away.
- Bring the medicine ball up and behind your head in an arc fashion.
- Launch the ball forward towards the wall.
- Catch the ball as it bounces back and bring it back up and behind your head.
- Repeat the movement.
Primary muscle group(s):
Quadriceps, Shoulders
Secondary:
Abs, Glutes & Hip Flexors, Hamstrings, Neck & Upper Traps, Triceps
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart with dumbbells above your shoulders.
- Squat down keeping your back flat and your knees over your toes.
- Push through your heels to return to standing while pressing the dumbbells overhead with arms fully extended.
- Return to starting position and repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Quadriceps, Shoulders
Secondary:
Abs, Calves, Glutes & Hip Flexors, Hamstrings, Neck & Upper Traps, Triceps
- Clean two kettlebells to your shoulders. Clean the kettlebells to your shoulders by extending through the legs and hips as you pull the kettlebells towards your shoulders. Rotate your wrists as you do so. This will be your starting position.
- Begin to squat by flexing your hips and knees, lowering your hips between your legs. Maintain an upright, straight back as you descend as low as you can.
- At the bottom, reverse direction and stand by extending your knees and hips and pushing down through your heels. As you do so, press both kettlebells overhead by extending your arms straight up, using the momentum from the squat to help drive the weights upward.
- As you begin the next repetition, return the weights to the shoulders.
Machine Tricep Dips
This exercise will train both the chest and triceps. Focus on spending at least 2 seconds per rep!
Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
- Sit at the Triceps Dip machine but make sure to brace your core throughout the movement. Place your hands on the bar with your elbows pointing behind you. Your arms will make a 90 degree angle.
- Slowly push down on the bars, focusing all the movement in your triceps.
- When you reach the bottom, pause and do not lock out your elbows. Slowly return to the starting position but do not let the weight touch the stack.
Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
Secondary:
Shoulders
- 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
- Sit at the Triceps Dip machine but make sure to brace your core throughout the movement. Place your hands on the bar with your elbows pointing behind you. Your arms will make a 90 degree angle.
- Slowly push down on the bars, focusing all the movement in your triceps.
- When you reach the bottom, pause and do not lock out your elbows. Slowly return to the starting position but do not let the weight touch the stack.
Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
Secondary:
Chest, Forearms, Shoulders
- Standing between the bars of a dip station, grip the bars with an overhand grip,keeping your elbows tucked in close to your body.
- Allow your body weigh to hang so it is being supported by your arms and shoulders. Keep your hips straight.
- Push down through your palms with your arms, lifting your body up until your arms are almost straight. (Do not lock your elbows)
- Lower your body by slowly bending your elbows and continue down until you feel a slight stretch in your shoulders.
- Pause, then push yourself back to the starting position.
- Repeat.
By keeping your back straight and not leaning forward, you will work your triceps harder.If you wish to work on your chest leaning forward puts more emphasis on your pecs. As your strength increases, you can add weight by using a dip belt.
Bench Tricep Dips
Finish out 2 sets of these, and then use the chair as your throne. Like royalty. You legend.
Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
Secondary:
Shoulders
- 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.
Alternate Heel Touches
Get off your high horse! You're not finished yet! 15 reps per side.
Primary muscle group(s):
Obliques
Secondary:
Abs
- Lie on an exercise mat, with your back flat, knees bent and your feet flat on the floor slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Fully extend your arms down the side of your body, palms facing in. This is the start position.
- Exhaling, crunch your torso forward and to the right until you can touch your right heel with your right hand. Hold for a count of one.
- Return to the starting position smooth motion, inhaling as you do so.
- Repeat the movement, this time to your left side.
- When you have completed the movement on both sides, you have done one repetition.
- Repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
- Lie flat on your back with your feet flat on the ground, with your knees bent at 90 degrees. Alternatively, you can place your feet up on a bench a few inches apart with your toes turned inwards and touching.
- Place your hands lightly on either side of your head.
- Keep your elbows in so that they are parallel to your body.
- Push your back down flat into the floor to isolate your abdominal muscles.
- Gently curl your shoulders forward and up off the floor.
- Continue to push down into the floor with your lower back.
- Raise your shoulders about four to six inches only.
- Hold and squeeze your abdominal muscles for a count of one.
- Return to the start position in a smooth movement.
Flutter Kicks
Finally, 15 kicks per leg. Okay, now you're done; take your throne...again.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors
- Lie on a mat with your hands under your buttocks and raise your legs slightly, keeping knees straight and ankles together.
- Keep abs engaged and perform short kicks in an alternating fashion.
- Repeat as needed and then lower legs to the ground.
Double Arm Tricep Kickbacks
Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
Secondary:
Abs, Lower Back
- Holding a pair of dumbbells 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 dumbbells back and behind you.
- Pause at the top of the movement and feel the contraction in your triceps. Slowly lower the dumbbells and begin again.
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
- Attach a resistance band to a door frame or other stable surface. Grab the handles of the band and walk backward until the slack tightens.
- Bend slightly at the knees and forward at the hips. Maintain a flat back throughout.
- Bring your upper arms up and tight to your side. From here, you will pull the band back using the forearms only. The contraction will be felt exclusively in the triceps.
- Slowly return to the starting position and begin again.
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.
Decline Lying Triceps Extension
Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
Secondary:
Abs, Shoulders
- Set up a decline bench to between 15 and 30 degrees. (The angle is not important, your comfort and form is.)
- Place the EZ bar on the rack at the foot of the bench.
- Sit on the bench and position your feet under the foot pads.
- Lean forward and grip the EZ bar with an overhand grip, shoulder width apart.
- Lift the bar from the rack. (Because of your position when doing this, I recommend getting a spotter to assist you)
- Lat flat on the bench holding the bar above your chest with your arms extended and elbows locked.
- Lower the EZ bar towards you by bending your arms toward you in a smooth arc. Your upper arms should not move.
- Continue lowering the bar until it is just above or gently touching your forehead. You should feel a stretch in your triceps.
- Hold and squeeze you triceps for a count of one.
- Return to the staring position by extending your arms in a smooth arc. (Again, your upper arms should not move)
- Repeat.
This exercise can be performed using a single dumbbell or a barbell.
Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
Secondary:
Abs
- Holding a preacher curl barbell with an overhand grip, carefully sit on a bench. Slowly lie back and bring the barbell above your head. Make sure that your feet are flat on the floor and your core is braced.
- Keep the upper arms in place as you bend at the elbow and allow the forearms to slowly dip back towards your head.
- Once the barbell reaches the bottom, pause and slowly push the barbell back to the starting position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
Secondary:
Abs, Shoulders
- Lie flat on your back on a bench and position your feet flat on the floor on either side of the bench.
- With a dumbbell in each hand, extend your arms over head until fully extended. Your palms should face one another and your hands should be close together.
- Bend the elbows and lower the weights to either side of your head.
- Extend your arms to return to the starting position.
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.
Single Arm Dumbbell Tricep Extensions
Primary muscle group(s):
Shoulders, Triceps
- Sit on a bench while holding a dumbbell in your left hand with an overhand grip. Tighten your core and straighten your lower back. Lift the dumbbell to shoulder height.
- Push the dumbbell overhead with your palm facing forward. Keep the upper arm in place. Slowly bend at the elbow and lower the weight behind your head.
- Push the dumbbell back up over your head squeezing the tricep muscle. Immediately begin the next repetition. Switch sides once you have completed all repetitions.
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.
Seated Tricep Press
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.
We're not done yet!
Exercises done
of 13
Approx. time left
32:15
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