Upper Body Strength & Toning

SoyD986

Hi all,
I've recently started my MFP journey and am around 6 weeks in. I'm just starting to get the hang of CICO and am happy to report almost 20lbs down (I have almost 90lbs to lose, so the weight comes off quicker in the beginning for me).

Anyway, I'm terribly unfit. I'm starting to rectify the cardio bit slowly but would like to add some upper body exercises to build strength and muscle as I shed more weight.

Does anyone have recommendations on if I should purchase hand weights or resistance bands? Is there a particular weight I need or should I look for? And if so, where to find exercises to do? DVD, Netflix, Amazon? Website? Prefer a "guided" version as I have no idea what I'm doing!

Thanks for your help - MFP is awesome and you guys are really a big part of why I feel so incredibly encouraged that I will succeed! Xx

nats2508

Hi! I can recommend kettle bells. They are really good for strength and toning. While it seems like you are just lifting a weight, it makes you sweat lots (well me anyway!!) and its just a few movements. You can get anything from 5lb up to 20 but as you are just starting I think 10 may do. Have a look at some youtube vids and see what you think x

jenilla1

I don't use videos myself, but I've heard good things about the website, Fitness Blender. You could check it out and see if it has anything that might suit your needs. Good luck!

ew_david

Are you working out at home? Do you have access to or belong to a gym?

I wouldn't neglect lower body strength training. If you're going to do upper body, ya might as well add in the lower. You can do a lot with bodyweight training to start, but I'm a big fan of barbell training. It all depends on what equipment you have access to.

SoyD986

I will be working out at home - not ready to commit (again) to a gym membership ...

SoyD986

Am willing to purchase some home equipment tho

ew_david

I work out at home the majority of the time and currently do the Strong Curves bodyweight program. I would definitely recommend the Strong Curves book (in print, not the E-book). It has a lot of good info and several different workouts; two of which I have done at home (currently doing the bodyweight program). I do have a good amount of equipment, but the most I've used for those programs is the pull up bar, a bench, dumbbells, some resistance bands, and maybe a barbell here and there.

Meggers120Now

Who says you need any equipment? There are a number of great body-weight only exercises - check out this PopSugar post; http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Best-Bodyweight-Exercises-30828261#photo-30828261

And I second @jenilla1 - FitnessBlender is a great site. Here's a sample: https://www.fitnessblender.com/videos/no-equipment-upper-body-workout-for-great-arms-shoulders-and-upper-back

teicu1

Working out with dumbbells is one good way to start. You can do it at home, they’re relatively inexpensive, small and easy to store and you can do a world of things with them. For a what-to-do guide, check out https://www.amazon.com/Mens-Health-Ultimate-Dumbbell-Guide/dp/159486487X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1486650439&sr=1-2&keywords=dumbbell+training ... It’s published by Mens Health mag, but it’s as useful to women as it is to men. It’s an encyclopedic guide to dumbbell training and well worth the price.

Google “strength training programs”, “bodybuilding programs”, “strength training forums” and “bodybuilding programs” and you’ll find enough things to spend hours researching. The “30 day dumbbell challenge” and “8 week dumbbell challenge” will give you a solid and challenging start.

If you want to work with a barbell, check out https://www.amazon.com/Barbell-Prescription-Strength-Training-After/dp/0982522770/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486651076&sr=8-1&keywords=the+barbell+prescription and https://stronglifts.com .... Barbells are bigger, require more space, pretty much require a bench to use them best and they can get pretty costly. This book comes across in a “for the guys” way, but it’s as applicable to women as it is to men. If you want to try barbells, start with a bar with no plates on it to get used to how working with a barbell goes. It’s more challenging than dumbbells.

Good luck with whatever you end up doing.

SoyD986

Thanks MFP peeps! As always, you guys are stars!!!

estherdragonbat

I've just started with fitness tubes. So far, while I can do a few of the ones on the Thera website, I'm physically not able to do most. However, I've found this YouTube more my speed, so starting with that and hoping to build:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou0n5aO_K9Y

stanmann571

SoyD986 wrote: »

Am willing to purchase some home equipment tho

Check Craigslist. Don't pay over $1.25 per pound. $.75-1.00 is typical for standard pieces.

ninerbuff

nats2508 wrote: »

Hi! I can recommend kettle bells. They are really good for strength and toning. While it seems like you are just lifting a weight, it makes you sweat lots (well me anyway!!) and its just a few movements. You can get anything from 5lb up to 20 but as you are just starting I think 10 may do. Have a look at some youtube vids and see what you think x

Learning CORRECT FORM for kettlebell work shouldn't done from videos. There's a HUGE difference on seeing how to do it and actually doing it. People can't see their actual form from behind and have no way to assess if they are doing it right if they have no experience with the actual lifts. A professional should be consulted on something like this.


A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

ninerbuff

Pick up a suspension trainer and learn some basic bodyweight exercises. Get good at push ups and pullups and the rest will come easier. Many people can't even do 10 pushups or 5 good pullups.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

mom23mangos

I think Fitness Blender is a great way to start. Start with bodyweight exercises and/or yoga and move up to dumbbells/resistance bands. As you find your strength improving, reassess if you want to move towards a barbell program or invest in a gym membership.