Exercises for upper body

[mithrandir2001]

Hmmm, exercise thread on a tech forum...

Anyway, I want to develop my upper body. Too many years of sitting in front of the PC - it's my career, after all - has made me look like a slouching geek with droopy shoulders. What kind of exercises should I employ so I can at least look "normal"? Do I need to lift weights? Get one of those 4-wire chest pull thingies?

Websites with this kind of info will work too.

 

[Rallispec]

start running, as much as you can do in an hour or so... maybe start with 2~3 miles, within a month you'll be doing 5.. you'll be feeling much better too.

 

[Rallispec]

i guess that wont realy do a lot for your upper body though.. d'oh.

it never hurts though.

 

[bjc112]

if u start with just good push ups...

You will build your so called "normal" build in no time..

get down at least 40-50 a day
2 sets at different times..

May-b do some curls..

 

[yobarman]

if you follow this routine to the T you'll have ladies throwing themselves in front of your moving car just to talk to you.

 

[HamSupLo]

doing the simple flat bench press. free weights of course

 

[UberDave]

dude.. you skinny or fat?

 

[Deeko]

Bench, vertical pushups.

 

[m2kewl]

Originally posted by: yobarman
if you follow this routine to the T you'll have ladies throwing themselves in front of your moving car just to talk to you.

that looks like alot of work! i'll pass and just hire the escort...

 

[mithrandir2001]

Originally posted by: yobarman
if you follow this routine to the T you'll have ladies throwing themselves in front of your moving car just to talk to you.

Simple, think simple!

Weight-wise, I'm near where I should be (6'1", 175lbs) and it's not something I'm not concerned about. However, I've got a little pot belly and need to get some of that weight out of there and into muscle.

Never been a fan of push-ups but they are simple and can be done at home.

 

[dolph]

nothing, but nothing will get rid of a pot belly besides cardio. lots of it.

 

[Novgrod]

If you can find your way to a gym, or better yet buy less than $100 worth of weights and a bench, there are some simple lifts that you can do:

DIPS

bench press

shoulder press

standing rows

pullups

curls (if you want)

if you don't know what any of these are, give me a PM and i'll help ya out.

the best advice i've ever received on this topic is to do freeweight lifts that involve multiple joints. If you're relatively new to lifting, start out slowly. always do stretches. Try to increase your weight every time, but just by a little (5%). Add weight; decrease reps if you need, and try to do two sets to failure (i.e. until you can't possibly lift it again). If you begin doing 20, 18, 15 and end up doing 8, 7, 5 or so you'll be in great shape. It's very important not to lift too much too quickly. Give yourself at least two days between sessions.

With bench in particular, it might help to have someone to spot you. Also, if you can do these with a friend and you don't have the strength to do a couple full pullups or dips, the friend can put a towel under your feet and give you enough help.

If you don't have something that can work as a dip bar or pullup bar, you can make one or buy one or skip them entirely and do different lifts--the names of which escape me; pm me if you want anything else from my meager pool of knowledge.

 

[SithSolo1]

Originally posted by: yobarman
if you follow this routine to the T you'll have ladies throwing themselves in front of your moving car just to talk to you.

I would die.
Yes I'm a big fat porky, well maybe not. 5'8" 190
I can do about 5-8 pushups and have never been able to do more than 3 pullups and that was when I was in 5th grade and in pretty good shape.
I've always had more lower body power(I like soccer)

 

[bigshooter]

You can get rid of a pot belly without cardio. Just stop eating sh!t, and lift weights. As you gain more muscle mass, and your metabolism increases, you will start to burn the fat off. Throw some crunches in for definition once the fat starts to burn off and you can grate cheese on those things. But dont eat the cheese. It will probably taste funny, and it will make you fat again.

 

[MomAndSkoorbaby]

Unless you want to join a gym, pushups are great at home. You also need to do some cardio, perhaps starting with walking or light jogging. If you start out running, your body will not be used to that and you will be sore and hate it and probably never go again. Set realistic goals when it comes to running...

Pushups for sure though...If you have some dumbells at home, then there are lots of others you can also do in the comfort of your own home.

PS> Don't load up on junk while on the computer! Skinny or not, that is just not healthy!

MrsSkoorb, resident RN.