Fresh Start 2 Fitness- Upper Body Routine

People often think they need heavy weights to get a good arm and upper body workout, but using your own body can build a lot of strength. Physical therapist Andrew Fast of Intermountain Park City Hospital says using your body weight means you can do a workout anywhere. Fast suggests doing the following routine 2-3 times per week.

1) Up and Overs:

• Hold a small two-pound wight or even a soup can in each hand and lay flat down on your front.
• Hold weights out to your side in a T formation then back and forth lifting the weights about six inches off the ground and touching the end.
• The with your arms out in a Y formation do the same thing lifting the weight back and forth about six inches off the ground.
• Do ten reps each for three to four sets.

2) Shoulder Taps:

• Get in push up position on a bench or elevated surface.
• Slowly lift one hand and touch the opposite should and then lift the other hand tapping the opposite shoulder while in the position.
• Do slow and controlled about 10-12 times each arm.
• Do three sets of these.

3) Dips:

• Use a chair or bench with arms behind you and knees bent in front of you.
• Dip just below the lip of the chair about 90 degrees to work the biceps.
• Don’t dip too low but it should feel like pushing out of a chair.
• Do three sets of 10 reps.
• For a bigger challenge you can put legs straight out and do the dips.