Building Upper Body Strength-HELP!

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ReynaDay01
ReynaDay01 Posts: 57 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I need to build up some upper body strength as mine sucks, do you have any tips or recommendations? I need to start out REALLY basic!

Thank you so much!

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  • ReynaDay01
    ReynaDay01 Posts: 57 Member
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    Anyone?
  • sgthaggard
    sgthaggard Posts: 581 Member
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    What exercises are you currently doing?
  • ReynaDay01
    ReynaDay01 Posts: 57 Member
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    Mostly walking, biking and some various Planks and sit-ups. I don't know of many arm things you can do without a ton of different weights and things.
  • lulucitron
    lulucitron Posts: 366 Member
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    Start doing weights. Shoulders, biceps and triceps. Gradually up the weight.
  • jsobole
    jsobole Posts: 139 Member
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    You don't need a ton of different weights - since you're just starting out get some 2 and 5 lbs - you can also do body weight training. Nothing like push ups to build upper body - also tricep dips, tricep push ups, shoulder push ups... etc. Weighted jump ropes are good....
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
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    Push-ups, they don't require anything but a wall (to start,) a chair (when you get a little stronger,) or a floor.
  • ReynaDay01
    ReynaDay01 Posts: 57 Member
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    tigersword wrote: »
    Push-ups, they don't require anything but a wall (to start,) a chair (when you get a little stronger,) or a floor.

    I hadn't though of wall push ups. How do you do them with a chair?

    Thank you to everyone else!
  • Squig1102
    Squig1102 Posts: 10 Member
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    Stretch tubes and resistance bands are awesome and affordable.
  • Of_Monsters_and_Meat
    Of_Monsters_and_Meat Posts: 1,022 Member
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    Strong lifts 5x5.

    A gallon of milk is 8 pounds. You really need to push yourself a little to get them gains.
  • lili61
    lili61 Posts: 231 Member
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    Push ups are great as you can change the angle as you become stronger, until you eventually get to the floor and toes. You can also do them on stairs--keep your feet on the floor and hands on stairs, reduce the angle as you get stronger.

    If you have access to a chin up bar negative chin ups/pull ups are great at improving strength.

    But the best way to build upper body strength is to do a progressive overload strength training program such as Stronglifts, NROLFW.
  • CorlissaEats
    CorlissaEats Posts: 493 Member
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    Google "standing push ups" - they are much easier done against a wall, or using a couch. You can also use things like bottles of water or soup cans for some resistance.
    Other moves you can google for form: Bicep curls, skull crushers, lateral raises, overhead press, chest press, arm raise, bent-over rows
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
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    A great place to start:

    Convict Conditioning

    convict-conditioning-cover.jpg

    Give it a good read and see what you think.
  • ReynaDay01
    ReynaDay01 Posts: 57 Member
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    That sounds interesting. I will give it a read in a few minutes.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    edited April 2015
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    ReynaDay01 wrote: »
    tigersword wrote: »
    Push-ups, they don't require anything but a wall (to start,) a chair (when you get a little stronger,) or a floor.

    I hadn't though of wall push ups. How do you do them with a chair?

    Thank you to everyone else!

    Place your hands on the seat of the chair, feet on the floor. It's a transitional step from doing them against the wall to doing them on the floor. Anything that elevates your upper body off the floor will make push-ups easier, then you move progressively lower as you get stronger, and can even eventually elevate your feet to increase the challenge.
  • ReynaDay01
    ReynaDay01 Posts: 57 Member
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    Right. I can only think of chairs that roll most of the time. Silly me and my odd love of office chairs.
  • foursirius
    foursirius Posts: 321 Member
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    Dips, Pull-ups (wide grip, close grip, etc.), Chin-ups, Push-ups, Benchpress, SOHP.

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