Bulking up on top...??

jtcedinburgh
jtcedinburgh Posts: 117 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi folks,

As I'm getting more into my fitness regime - running, walking, some gym work - I'm becoming painfully aware that my upper body just looks a bit skinny. My shoulders and chest could do with some bulk, shall we say. Nothing drastic, but I have strong, muscled legs which look a bit out-of-place on me! So I want to balance it out a bit.

Does anyone have any non-gym recommendations for exercises I can do at home that might quickly add visible bulk and strength to my upper body? I have a somewhat-neglected TRX, a 16Kg kettle bell and some dumbbells (various discs up to ~10Kg each in total). I've stated 'non-gym' as although I am a member of a local gym, I can only get there a couple of times per week, so I want to do as much as I can from home.

I'm not against spending some money on extra equipment but I don't have the space for anything bulky, so no benches or bar-bells etc., alas. Ideally, something that can make use of things I have, and preferably a progressive plan (probably based on increasing reps due to lack of heavier options).

Thanks in advance....

Replies

  • pdm3547
    pdm3547 Posts: 1,057 Member
    Have you tried Calisthenics (body weight exercises)?
  • jtcedinburgh
    jtcedinburgh Posts: 117 Member
    pdm3547 wrote: »
    Have you tried Calisthenics (body weight exercises)?
    No - haven't. Tell me more :)
  • CaraRahl
    CaraRahl Posts: 72 Member
    check out fitnessblender.com, they have a ton of free exercise videos, including a bunch for upper body strength. There's bodyweight and dumbbell options, and they're all designed so that you can do them either at home or print out the exercise list and do the routine at the gym. Best part: using their videos is completely free.
  • pdm3547
    pdm3547 Posts: 1,057 Member
    jtcedinburgh wrote: »
    pdm3547 wrote: »
    Have you tried Calisthenics (body weight exercises)?
    No - haven't. Tell me more :)

    A former colleague of mine (supremely fit) told me about it once. It's never really appealed to me, but here's a random article about it.

    http://www.military.com/military-fitness/workouts/avoid-gym-by-using-calisthenics
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,432 MFP Moderator
    edited August 2016
    You can do body weight exercise or dumbbell exercises (a few programs found here), but you aren't going to add bulk unless you add mass which comes from a surplus of calories and weight gain or at least some recomp. And even then, your results will be as good as your program.
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