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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