Back into the pin of things?
So I stopped sitting on my ass and did a pinterest workout today. And it was semi-tough. I chose to do Fitness Magazine's 10 Best Arm Moves. The hardest part, surprisingly, were the dumbbell curls, the forearm plank, and the sun salutation.
My arms have been a big problem for me for a long time. The largest reason for that is I have very little upper body strength so I shy away from doing a lot of arm workouts. So I saw this pin and answered my question of "why?" with "why not?!"
I'm going to breakdown the workout and review each exercise because I really can talk about all ten of the moves.
1. Dumbbell Curls: Easy enough on paper. Especially when the paper says use a pair of 5 lbs. weights. The only weights I have at home at 8 lbs. and I hadn't even opened the box until today. So 8 lbs. it was! The first move is 8 dumbbell curls on the right and 8 on the left; also simple enough. But then I read that I had to do that 8 times. I made it to 3 reps before my arms couldn't raise another lbs. So I decided to do the extra 5 reps in between the rest of the arm workouts. I'm definitely planning on doing these reps every day and building up my endurance.
2. Forearm Plank: Now, I love plank. But, as it turns out, I do not love forearm plank. I had previously kept my planks to the push up form variety. Holding a forearm plank for a measly 20 seconds should not have been as tough as it was. Doing this also reminded me of how hard I always found dolphin pose in yoga.
3. Chair Dips (Tricep Dips): I didn't have a problem with these because the reps were so low. I used to do a workout that required about 30-50 of these dips and that was killer.So 8 chair dips wasn't a problem.
4. Balanced Core Strengther: I like doing exercises that work my whole body and this one definitely worked both my arms, abs, and legs all at once. Holding for 20 seconds doesn't seem like it will be a problem but when you get to that last set your arms might be shaking.
5. Cobra: Truth be told I never really understood the allure of cobra pose. I'm much more inclined to do a full up dog because it always makes me feel strong and open. But after doing cobra 8 times I definitely felt my shoulders loosen and relax down my back.
6. Dumbbell Pullover: The original author of the list wrote that this workout leaves your armpits feeling the good kind of sore. Extending my arms overhead while lying on my coffee table (as a makeshift exercise bench) I knew she wasn't joking.
7. Elevated Push up: I threw out my last giant ball when I moved because I could never get it inflated enough and I have never missed it more than when I think about my exercises that call for it. Thank goodness, this exercise can be modified. I put my legs up on my couch while I did my push ups. Sure, it doesn't work the core in the same way but for the time being it was fine.
8. Sun Salutation: I think this killed me because of the weird mini forearm push ups. Watch the video before doing it because I felt like I was going to fall over with every lean forward.
9. Hover rotation: I didn't love these but that was because my yoga mat doesn't give my elbows enough cushion on the side planks.
10. Traveling power squat: After reading the author's initial trouble I was surprise this move was so simple. It's a weighted squat jump, plain and simple.
I liked this workout overall and would come back to it. I will definitely be returning to the dumbbell curls and the traveling power squat.
