Train your Serratus Muscles for a Finished Midsection Look

When working the midsection trainers usually thinks of abdominal training first. While abs are extremely important and are responsible for the "six pack" look, the serratus muscles should not be overlooked. They are a key components of a finished and professional looking midsection. If you are not familiar with the serratus muscles they are the long thin muscles on both sides of the abdominals. When fully developed they give the midsection a sleek yet powerful look. There are two excellent exercises you can do to work your serratus muscles: Dumbbell pullovers and rope pulldowns.

Dumbbell Pullovers:
You perform dumbbell pullovers with your upper back on the bench perpendicular to the bench with your feet on the floor. Hold the dumbbell with your arms slightly bent above your head and extend back with the dumbbell until you feel a good stretch with your lats and serratus. Slowly raise the dumbbell until it is again directly over your head while concentrating on flexing the serratus muscle during all phases of the rep. Do 3 sets of 8 - 12 reps.

Rope Pulldowns:
Use the triceps rope for this exercise. Grasp the rope in both hands and kneel down about two feet from where the rope would be if it was hanging straight down. Bend over as if you were doing a crunch. Next, bring the rope down in the pullover position with your arms directly overhead. To complete the rep return the rope to a stretched position at the top or beginning of the movement. Concentrate on contracting your abs and serratus throughout the movement for maximum benefit. This is not a power exercise so you should choose a weight that you can perform 3 sets of 20 - 25 reps. Do this routine immediately after abs and you will quickly see the results.

Dumbbell Romanian Deadlifts - Compound Glute Exercise

Almost every bodybuilder male and female wants attractive glutes. People really notice this muscle group in addition to it being a tremendous indicator of the condition you are in. Squats, leg curls, leg presses, and lunges are all staples of leg and glute exercises. They all work great but sometimes a new exercise with a slightly different feel or angle is necessary to ad the final touches to a solid routine. The Dumbbell Romanian deadlift is one such exercise. Try it and you will not only immediately feel it's effects but you will visually notice the results in a short time as well.

Performing the Exercise
You start this exercise by standing erect and holding the dumbbells in front of your thighs with an overhand grip. Your feet should be positioned shoulder width apart and your knees should be slightly bent. With your back naturally arched and abs tight lean forward from the hips and push them back until your torso is parallel to the floor. Avoid rounding your back. Keep your arms straight and slide the weights down your thighs until you can no longer stretch your hamstrings. Remember to maintain the arch in your back the entire time. At the bottom of the movement flex your hams and glutes then lift your torso while pushing your hips forward to return to the starting position.

Do 3 - 4 working sets for 8 - 12 reps per set. Do this exercise after squats and before the rest of your leg and glute workout as it is extremely taxing and requires a high level of energy to perform the movement effectively.

Don't Neglect Your Abs This Holiday Season

Every year around the holiday season, everyone seems to pack on a few extra pounds at parties and dinners. I am no exception to this. Remember that once the holiday festivities end, you'll need to log in some more time at the gym to burn off those extra pounds. This may prove a bit more difficult to accomplish during the cold winter months when getting around may be more difficult due to poor weather conditions which may translate into decreased physical activity. So keep this in mind before you overindulge yourself, and that midsection you worked so hard for in the warm summer months is covered by a layer of fat.

We've all witnessed the intense gym regular who sports well developed, showy body parts such as arms and chest, but has a sub-par and neglected midsection. When you look at them, it is almost impossible not to focus on their abs. They just seem to attract all the attention. Isn't it amazing how one area of the body can have such an overwhelming impact on a physique? I'll be the first to admit that ab work isn't always fun, but it is definitely a necessity. In addition to the obvious visual benefits, ab work is a integral part of the core training regiment, which is beneficial to your entire body.

Another example of how a poor midsection can ruin someone's look is evident in the massive, big-bellied bodybuilders of today. What does the audience notice when they walk out on stage? Their midsection of course. Their individual body parts may be extremely impressive and well-developed, but if their midsection is large and bloated it becomes a focal point. This ultimately draws all the attention away from the rest of their physique.

On the other hand, we've all seen the thin, lean type with minimal muscular development who has a well-defined or ripped 6-pack. People recognize that. Needless to say, this person looks like they are in tremendous shape. This is especially true in comparison to the aforementioned bodybuilder who is lacking in the stomach area. This way of thinking goes all the way back to ancient times where the stone statues from the Greek and Roman eras all had a well developed and an eye-catching midsection. The visual impact of great abs was definitely not lost to these sculptors from 20+ centuries ago!

It really doesn't take that much to give your abs a good, solid workout at the gym. 5 to 10 minutes a day, 6 to 8 total sets, and 200 to 300 repetitions should do the trick. Many regulars even work their abs first as a warm-up prior to their heavy lifting. Steady, consistent ab work coupled with a healthy diet high in protein, and a low to moderate intake of carbohydrates and fat will give you the six-pack you crave. You will then be able to enjoy those looks of envy from your peers at the gym.

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Featured Exercise - One Arm Dumbbell Rows

The one arm dumbbell row is a great exercise for both isolation and mass. You can use a very heavy weight with this exercise which really focuses on building the lats and middle back. Start this exercise by positioning yourself parallel to a flat bench. Place one knee on the bench and grab the dumbbell with the hand furthest away from the bench. Use the other hand for the necessary support on the bench. Arch you back and lift the dumbbell slowly all the way up until your back reaches a full muscle contraction. Your arm should then be flexed and in the upright position close to your side and against your chest. Try and hold the dumbbell at the top of the movement for one count for a peak contraction. Lower the weight slowly and under control so the muscle is working to its fullest capacity on the way down. Repeat for 8 - 12 reps and 3 - 4 sets. To complete the set switch the weight to your other arm and remember to also change the side of the bench you are on as well as the knee on the bench.

Consider using a strap or grip for the dumbbell as your forearms most likely will fatigue more quickly than your back. If done properly you will really notice an improvement in your lat sweep as well as more carved out detail in your middle back.

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Keeping a Journal of Your Workouts

Keep a daily journal of your workouts. Include the exercises you perform as well as sets, reps, and how you feel throughout the workout. There is no better way to analyze your routine and keep tabs of your progress and sticking points.

When I started lifting I kept an extremely detailed journal of my workouts (sets and reps), diet (caloric, protein, carb and fat intake), and body weight and measurements. I was so excited to see almost weekly progress in my strength and size. This more than anything gave me the incentive to push myself above and beyond what I thought I could do. This was because I KNEW, and had actual physical proof of my progress. I learned that there was a direct correlation between the hard work I put in at the gym and my new found growth. I also learned to vary my routine when I analyzed my results and I saw that I was doing the same exercises for too long of a time period. I also had documented proof as to what worked and what did not when I tried a new exercise or varied an old one.

Keeping a weight training journal may sound a bit tedious to you but I am convinced that there is no better way for keeping close tabs on the entire bodybuilding lifestyle if you are a serious trainer.

Maintain Your Cardio Activity During the Winter Months

People generally tend to cut back on their cardio training during the cold winter months and lean towards increased inactivity. This may be due to the weather making it a more difficult task to get to the gym, excessive holiday partying, or the poor outdoor conditions making it too difficult to perform your regular outdoor cardio routine. These are all reasonable explanations but it is no reason to cut back on one of the most important aspects of your training regiment.

Bring your cardio indoors and work the treadmill, elliptical, exercise bike, or rower. You can make it more fun and interesting by setting distance and time goals for yourself. Staying in shape and strong will also help boost your immune system and ward off those nasty winter illnesses.

Exercise of the Week: Seated Cable Rows

Cable rows are a great exercise to work your lats and middle back. Form is of the utmost importance when doing this exercise as your lower back can be easily injured if proper technique is not followed.

You can use either a bar, rope or a V handle. I prefer the latter. Position yourself on the cable row machine and grasp the handle with both hands. Keep your knees slightly bent and you back arched. Bend forward and when you are at peak extension slowly pull the handle into your upper stomach area and hold it there for a one count. This will ensure peak back muscle contraction. Ease the weight back to the starting position slowly so you are working the muscle on the return portion of the rep as well. Warm up thoroughly and use a weight that you have to fight to get 8 - 10 hard fought reps. 3 - 4 sets if done properly should leave your back muscles pumped and exhausted.

Unique Fitness Featured Exercise: Barbell Row

This exercise is one of the best lat building and back thickening exercises you can do. It's difficult to breath while your doing this exercise since your bent over the entire time. But if done properly this strenuous exercise is well worth the effort. You'll notice a thicker and wider back almost immediately if you make this exercise part of your back routine.

Here's how it's done: Step on a platform or bench with your grip on the bar slightly wider than shoulder width. Bend over, arch your back and pull the weight up slowly to your chest (not stomach). Lower the weight slowly to the starting position and repeat. Perform 3 - 4 sets with a moderately heavy weight for 8 - 12 reps.

Remember do not lower your chest to meet the bar and do not bounce the bar off of your chest. This constitutes cheating and not only will you not build muscle you'll also leave yourself susceptible to a lower back injury.

Perform Dumbbell Concentration Curls for a Super Biceps Peak

The concentration curls give your biceps that well-rounded peak look bodybuilders strive for. It has been a staple exercise and used by bodybuilders since the golden age of bodybuilding in the 1970's. There are many videos and images of Arnold Schwarzenegger and his contemporaries performing this exercise. It is a favorite because of the isolation factor and the subsequent great pump you can achieve if this exercise is performed properly. Perform this exercise after your heavier biceps movements like standing barbell or seated dumbbell curls. The concentration curl will isolate each bicep muscle ensuring that the biceps are responsible for all of the work.

How to Perform The Concentration Curl: Sit on the end of a flat bench with your legs apart and lean forward slightly. Pick the dumbbell up in one hand with your palm facing upward and place your elbow on the inside of your thigh letting the dumbbell hang down. Slowly curl the weight up while keeping your elbow steady and locked in place against the inside of your thigh. As you are performing the curl twist your wrist to the outside to work the muscle more completely. Squeeze your biceps at the top of the movement then slowly return to the starting position and repeat. Remember the downward part of the movement is as important as the lifting portion to completely fatigue the muscle.

Lunges are a Great Exercise for Overall Leg Shape and Development

Next to squats, lunges are the next best thing for your butt and thighs. Lunges are also a compound movement like squats. So when you do them you get more of a complete anaerobic workout for your entire body. There are a few different ways to perform lunges. There are static lunges which you do while holding dumbbells at your side or a barbell across your back and lunge forward alternating legs. You would start with your feet together and then step forward into the lunge, then back to starting position (front lunges). Another popular way to perform this exercise would be to do reverse lunges. You would also start with feet together and then you step back (instead of forward) one leg at a time into a lunge position and then back to starting position.

A third way is to do moving lunges. You would perform these outdoors or in a gym that has ample room. With this version you would keep moving forward with the lunge and not go back to the static position. This is a more advanced version of the exercise since you would keep constant tension on your glutes, quads and hams for a deep burn.

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