Glossary Term: Workout

A push-up is a bodyweight exercise that primarily targets the muscles of the chest, shoulders, and triceps. It also engages the core, back, and legs to a lesser extent. Push-ups are a fundamental exercise in many fitness routines due to their effectiveness and simplicity, requiring no equipment other than your own body weight.

How to Perform a Standard Push-Up

1. Starting Position:

• Begin in a plank position with your hands placed slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
• Your body should form a straight line from your head to your heels.
• Keep your feet together or slightly apart for balance.
• Engage your core to maintain a neutral spine.

1. Lowering Phase:

• Bend your elbows and lower your body toward the ground.
• Keep your elbows at about a 45-degree angle to your body.
• Lower yourself until your chest nearly touches the floor.

1. Pushing Phase:

• Push through your palms to extend your arms and return to the starting position.
• Ensure you maintain a straight line with your body throughout the movement.

Benefits of Push-Ups

• Strength Building: Push-ups build strength in the upper body, particularly in the pectoral muscles, triceps, and shoulders.
• Core Stability: The exercise engages the core muscles, helping improve stability and balance.
• Versatility: Push-ups can be modified to increase or decrease difficulty, such as by adjusting hand placement or elevating feet.
• No Equipment Needed: They can be performed anywhere, making them convenient for home workouts or while traveling.

Variations

1. Knee Push-Ups: A modified version where you keep your knees on the ground to reduce resistance.
2. Incline Push-Ups: Perform push-ups with your hands on an elevated surface to make them easier.
3. Decline Push-Ups: Elevate your feet on a higher surface to increase difficulty.
4. Diamond Push-Ups: Place hands close together under the chest to target triceps more intensely.

Push-ups are an excellent exercise for building strength and endurance in various muscle groups, making them a staple in many fitness programs.

HIIT, or High-Intensity Interval Training, is a form of cardiovascular exercise strategy that alternates short periods of intense anaerobic exercise with less intense recovery periods. The key characteristics of HIIT include:

1. Intensity: HIIT workouts involve short bursts of high-intensity exercises, often performed at 80-95% of your maximum heart rate. These exercises can include activities like sprinting, cycling, or bodyweight exercises.
2. Intervals: The workout is structured around intervals, which are short periods of intense activity followed by rest or low-intensity activity. For example, you might sprint for 30 seconds and then walk or jog for a minute.
3. Duration: HIIT sessions are typically shorter than traditional workouts, often lasting between 15 to 30 minutes. Despite the shorter duration, they can be highly effective due to the intensity of the exercises.
4. Variety: HIIT can be adapted to various types of exercises and fitness levels. It can include running, cycling, rowing, or even bodyweight exercises like burpees and jumping jacks.
5. Benefits: HIIT is known for its efficiency in burning calories and improving cardiovascular fitness in a relatively short amount of time. It can also enhance metabolic rate, improve insulin sensitivity, and aid in fat loss.
6. Adaptability: HIIT can be tailored to different fitness levels and goals by adjusting the intensity and duration of the intervals and recovery periods.

HIIT is popular because it provides a time-efficient way to get a vigorous workout with numerous health benefits. However, due to its intensity, it’s important to ensure proper form and technique to avoid injury and to consult with a healthcare provider if you have any underlying health conditions before starting a HIIT program.

The rear delt fly is an exercise that targets the posterior deltoids, which are the muscles located at the back of your shoulders. It’s a great movement for improving shoulder strength and posture. Here’s how you can perform it:

How to Perform a Rear Delt Fly

1. Positioning:

• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart or sit on a bench.
• Hold a dumbbell in each hand with a neutral grip (palms facing each other).

1. Body Setup:

• Bend your knees slightly and hinge at the hips, keeping your back straight and chest up.
• Lean forward so your torso is almost parallel to the ground.

1. Execution:

• With a slight bend in your elbows, raise the dumbbells out to the sides until your arms are parallel to the floor.
• Squeeze your shoulder blades together at the top of the movement.

1. Return:

• Slowly lower the dumbbells back to the starting position with control.

1. Repetitions:

• Perform 8-12 reps for 3 sets, depending on your fitness level.

Tips for Success

• Control: Focus on controlled movements to engage the rear delts effectively.
• Weight: Start with lighter weights to maintain proper form.
• Breathing: Exhale as you lift the weights and inhale as you lower them.

Benefits

• Enhances shoulder strength and stability.
• Improves posture by counteracting forward shoulder rounding.
• Complements other upper body exercises for balanced muscle development.

Incorporating rear delt flys into your routine can help build well-rounded shoulders and improve overall upper body aesthetics.

The dumbbell fly is a strength training exercise that primarily targets the chest muscles, specifically the pectoralis major. It also engages the shoulders and arms to a lesser extent. Here’s how to perform it:

How to Perform a Dumbbell Fly

1. Setup:

• Lie on a flat bench with your feet firmly on the ground.
• Hold a dumbbell in each hand with your arms extended above your chest, palms facing each other.

1. Execution:

• With a slight bend in your elbows, slowly lower the dumbbells out to the sides in an arc motion until you feel a stretch in your chest.
• Keep your elbows slightly bent throughout to reduce strain on the joints.
• Bring the dumbbells back up to the starting position by reversing the motion, focusing on squeezing your chest muscles.

1. Breathing:

• Inhale as you lower the weights and exhale as you bring them back up.

Tips

• Control: Use controlled movements to prevent injury and maximize muscle engagement.
• Weight Selection: Start with lighter weights to master the form before progressing to heavier weights.
• Bench Angle: You can perform this exercise on an incline or decline bench to target different parts of the chest.

Benefits

• Muscle Development: Enhances chest muscle definition and strength.
• Flexibility: Improves flexibility in the shoulder joint.
• Isolation: Allows for isolation of the chest muscles more than some compound exercises.

Always ensure proper form and consider consulting a fitness professional if you’re new to this exercise.

A lunge is a strength training exercise that primarily targets the muscles in the lower body, including the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and calves. It involves stepping forward or backward and lowering your hips until both knees are bent at about a 90-degree angle. Lunges can be performed with body weight or with added resistance like dumbbells or a barbell.

Types of Lunges

• Forward Lunge: Step forward and lower your hips.
• Reverse Lunge: Step backward instead of forward.
• Walking Lunge: Perform lunges in a sequence, moving forward with each step.
• Side Lunge: Step to the side and lower your body.

Benefits

• Improves balance and coordination
• Increases lower body strength
• Enhances flexibility
• Can be adapted for different fitness levels

Tips for Proper Form

• Keep your chest up and core engaged.
• Ensure your front knee stays above your ankle.
• Avoid letting your back knee touch the ground.

Incorporating lunges into your workout routine can help build strength and improve overall fitness.

A leg lunge, commonly referred to simply as a “lunge,” is a popular exercise that targets the muscles of the lower body, including the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and calves. It is an effective exercise for building strength, improving balance, and enhancing overall lower body stability.

How to Perform a Basic Lunge

1. Starting Position: Stand upright with your feet hip-width apart. Keep your hands on your hips or at your sides for balance.
2. Step Forward: Take a step forward with one leg, ensuring that your heel touches the ground first.
3. Lower Your Body: Bend both knees to lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the ground and your back knee is just above the floor. Make sure your front knee is directly above your ankle and not extending past your toes.
4. Return to Start: Push through the heel of your front foot to return to the starting position.
5. Repeat: Perform the movement on the other leg. Alternate legs for a set number of repetitions or time.

Variations

• Reverse Lunge: Instead of stepping forward, step backward into the lunge position.
• Walking Lunge: Perform lunges while moving forward with each step.
• Side Lunge: Step out to the side instead of forward or backward.
• Weighted Lunge: Hold dumbbells in each hand or use a barbell for added resistance.

Benefits

• Strengthens Lower Body Muscles: Targets multiple muscle groups in the legs and hips.
• Improves Balance and Coordination: Requires stability and control.
• Enhances Flexibility: Promotes flexibility in the hip flexors and hamstrings.
• Functional Exercise: Mimics everyday movements like walking and climbing stairs.

Tips for Proper Form

• Keep your torso upright and core engaged throughout the movement.
• Ensure that your front knee does not extend beyond your toes to avoid strain.
• Maintain a steady pace; avoid rushing through the exercise.

Incorporating lunges into your workout routine can help build strength and endurance in your lower body, contributing to overall fitness.

The seated row is a strength training exercise that targets the muscles of the upper back, shoulders, and arms. It is typically performed using a cable machine or a rowing machine designed for resistance training. Here’s a breakdown of the exercise:

Muscles Targeted

• Primary: Latissimus dorsi, rhomboids, trapezius
• Secondary: Biceps, forearms, rear deltoids

How to Perform a Seated Row

Equipment Needed

• Cable machine with a seated row attachment (V-bar or straight bar)

Steps

1. Setup:

• Sit on the bench with your feet firmly placed on the foot platform.
• Adjust the seat height if necessary so that your arms are at chest level when you grab the handle.
• Keep your knees slightly bent.

1. Grip:

• Grab the handle with both hands, keeping your arms extended and your back straight.

1. Starting Position:

• Sit upright with your chest up and shoulders back.
• Engage your core to maintain stability.

1. Execution:

• Pull the handle towards your torso by retracting your shoulder blades and bending your elbows.
• Keep your elbows close to your body as you pull.
• Squeeze your shoulder blades together at the end of the movement.

1. Return:

• Slowly extend your arms back to the starting position while maintaining control.
• Avoid letting the weights slam down.

1. Breathing:

• Inhale as you pull the handle towards you.
• Exhale as you return to the starting position.

Tips for Proper Form

• Avoid rounding your back; maintain a neutral spine throughout.
• Do not use momentum; focus on controlled movements.
• Keep your shoulders down and relaxed to prevent strain.

Benefits

• Improves posture by strengthening back muscles.
• Enhances upper body strength and endurance.
• Supports overall functional fitness by mimicking rowing movements.

Incorporating seated rows into your workout routine can help develop a balanced upper body and improve overall strength.

The barbell curl is a popular weightlifting exercise that targets the biceps muscles in the upper arms. It is commonly performed to increase arm strength and muscle size. Here’s how to do it:

How to Perform a Barbell Curl

1. Setup:

• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
• Hold a barbell with an underhand grip (palms facing up), hands about shoulder-width apart.

1. Starting Position:

• Keep your arms fully extended, with the barbell resting against your thighs.
• Maintain a straight back and engage your core.

1. Execution:

• Slowly curl the barbell upward by bending your elbows.
• Keep your elbows close to your body and avoid swinging.
• Lift until your biceps are fully contracted and the bar is at shoulder level.

1. Return:

• Lower the barbell back to the starting position in a controlled manner.
• Ensure your arms are fully extended before beginning the next repetition.

1. Breathing:

• Inhale as you lower the barbell.
• Exhale as you lift it.

Tips for Effective Barbell Curls

• Control: Focus on slow, controlled movements to maximize muscle engagement.
• Weight: Start with a manageable weight to maintain proper form.
• Repetitions: Aim for 8-12 reps per set, depending on your fitness goals.
• Posture: Keep your back straight and avoid using momentum to lift the weight.

Incorporating barbell curls into your workout routine can help build stronger, more defined biceps.