Upper Back Stretch

Video: A trainer shows a simple way to stretch your upper back.

4 exercises that target your back

Video: A trainer demonstrates 4 different exercises that target your back muscles.

Simple Fruit Salad Side Dish or Dessert

Ingredients

6 Bananas (sliced)

2 pint strawberries (sliced in half)

4 Kiwis (peeled and sliced)

1 apple (sliced without core)*

Preparation

After fruit is washed thoroughly and sliced add to a large bowl. Mix by hand and for an even better twist sprinkle some lemon juice on it. Chill and serve!

Demonstration of alternating elbow plank

Video: A good exercise for the core is alternating elbow planks, as demonstrated in this video.

Shoulder Exercise – Arnold Presses

The Arnold presses will also help build the strength in your shoulders. Over time you will start to see the definition in your shoulders. If the Arnold presses are done correctly you will feel the burn in your shoulders. The burn lets you know you are working your shoulders correctly and they are burning the calories. These presses will also be felt in your triceps.

When getting prepared to do Arnold presses you will need an exercise bench that has a back on it and a set of dumbbells. It is best to start this exercise with light weights until you get the hang of it.

Grab a dumbbell with light weights for each hand. Then sit on the bench with your feet flat on the floor. The feet should be placed evenly with your shoulders. Sit straight up and press your back against the back support on the bench.

Once you are sitting properly lift the weights toward your face. You will lift the weights so they are almost aligned with your shoulders. The palms of your hands will be pointed towards your body. Your elbows will be pointing toward the floor while your arms are resting by your torso. This is your starting position for Arnold presses.

While exhaling, start slowly raising the dumbbells into the air. While you are raising the dumbbells you are going to rotate your hands. Keep rotating your hands until your palms are facing the wall in front of you. Your hands should be totally rotated by the time you have the dumbbells above your head. Your arms will be straight up and down when the dumbbells are in the correct position. Now hold the position for a couple of seconds then start inhaling.

As you are inhaling start bringing the dumbbells back down to the start position. While lowering the weights you will once again rotate your hands. Once in the start position your palms will be pointing your body. This is now considered one complete repetition. Do the recommended amount of repetitions for your work out.

Remembering to rotate your hands while doing the Arnold presses might take some time. You will get it after a couple sets of repetitions though.

If you have lower back problems it is recommended you always do this exercise while sitting down. If your back does not have any problems, then once you have the routine down; try the Arnold presses standing up.

Remember the burn is how you know the shoulders are getting the proper work out. This is also a sign that you are burning off the calories to obtain the definition in your shoulders that you have always wanted.

While still concentrating on the shoulders get ready to push them to the limit of no return. The front plate raises are going to help you intensify the burn and keep the calories burning away. This exercise will help complete the work out for concentrating on the shoulder area and building your strength up.

Plank with knee cross

Video: This exercise will work on your obliques as well as your hip flexors.

Veggie Wrap Recipe

Ingredients

1/4 cup tub-style fat free cream cheese

4 10-inch fat-free flour tortillas

4 rinsed spinach leaves, patted dry

1 cup alfalfa sprouts

1 cup shredded red cabbage

1/2 cup chopped tomato

1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

2 tablespoons finely diced red onions

Directions

Spread 1 tbs cream cheese over each tortilla; top each with a piece of spinach. Divide sprouts and remaining ingredients evenly among tortillas; roll up. Cut each wrap in half diagonally.

Low Cal Sweet and Spicy Chicken

Ingredients

1 tsp vegetable oil

1 small onion, peeled and sliced

1 cup chicken or vegetable broth

1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp each coriander, cinnamon and turmeric

1/2 tsp hot sauce

1 cup canned chickpeas

1/4 cup coconut milk

2-3 large roti or wheat flour tortillas

Directions

Heat oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Add the onion; cook for 5 minutes. Stir in broth, sweet potato, garlic, cumin, coriander, cinnamon and turmeric.

Cover and cook, stirring ever so often for 15 minutes or until potato is tender. Season with hot sauce.

Stir in chick-peas and coconut milk. Bring to a boil. Cook, stirring often, until chick-peas are heated through. Divide mixture between two roti shells. Roll to make a wrap.

(Makes 2 to 3 servings.)

Workout for your traps

Video: A fitness professional goes through 3 exercises that target your trapezius muscles.

Bicep Exercise – Alternating Hammer Curls

Alternating Hammer Curls are a specific exercise aimed at your increasing the strength in your Bicep muscles. Hammer Curls are best done with dumbbells in each hand as they help you to control the rate at which your Biceps strengthen, improve in size and looks. Having strong Biceps not only looks good but allows you to get better at other exercises that involve weights.

When using weights you need to make sure that you have a buddy or a spotter with you so that they can help you to keep your form and technique right so that you do not accidentally sprain or damage any other muscles in the process. Standing straight with your feet firmly planted shoulder width apart and your arms at your side with your palms facing you, you need to curl each weight alternatively in each arm up till at chest height. Using lighter weights and building up to heavier weights is the right way to go, as you may find at first you are unable to lift weights that you think you can as you are using your Bicep muscle alone rather than any other muscles to support the lift. Concentrating on one muscle takes time and patience. Holding your Bicep and using a counting system will improve the rate at which you increase the size and power of your muscles. Always keep your wrists locked so that you do not inadvertently damage them in any way.

In effect only your forearms should move as this ensures that the concentration on your Biceps is absolute. There are variations of this exercise if you need more support for your back or if you need more support for your legs. This can be achieved if you sit down on a bench to do the Alternating Hammer Curls. You can use the back support if you need it or not if you do not. The exercise is performed exactly the same with a straight back and your feet shoulder length apart. Tuck your elbows into your waist and use only your Biceps to pull up the weights, in alternate raises.

Keeping your breathing measured and controlled will allow you to lift heavier and heavier weights over time and will benefit your training regime as a whole. Inhaling as you raise the weights and exhaling as you let go after your count will help you to fully take control of the muscle in question which in this case is your Bicep. Muscles are always improved, sculpted and built upon better when they are taken from a lower weight mass as this controls the amount of stretching the muscle does which builds stronger and more reliable result. Stretching before and after exercise minimizes the chances of damaging your muscles, so make sure that you stretch fully as looking after yourself does not start or end with the exercise alone. The look and feel of your arms has to include in your regime Alternating Hammer Curls because without them your workout regime is not complete.