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Friday, 19 October 2012

Upper Body Weights

I'm trying to increase my upper body strength at the moment, but I'm a bit clueless about weights. Luckily my lovely Mr Bunn is here to help me and has designed an upper body workout for me! I do this once a week (although I feel like i should be doing it more often). Matthew tells me not to focus on the weight or the fact that I am lifting way less than the people I follow on fitocracy. He wants me to focus on reps. Lots of reps makes pretty arms and builds up strength without ending up properly muscly. I tend to do pyramids - so I start with lots of reps at a low weight, then increase weight and decrease reps, then back down again.

So, here's what I did on a recent session...


Wide-Grip Lat Pulldown:
  • 15 kg x 30 reps
  • 21 kg x 20 reps
  • 27 kg x 10 reps
  • 21 kg x 20 reps
  • 15 kg x 30 reps
Close-Grip Front Lat Pulldown:
  • 15 kg x 30 reps
  • 21 kg x 20 reps
  • 27 kg x 10 reps
  • 21 kg x 20 reps
  • 15 kg x 30 reps
Standing Barbell Shoulder Press:
  • 6 kg x 30 reps
  • 7 kg x 20 reps
  • 10.5 kg x 10 reps
  • 13 kg x 6 reps
  • 10.5 kg x 10 reps
  • 7 kg x 20 reps
  • 6 kg x 30 reps
Barbell Bench Press:
  • 6 kg x 35 reps
  • 13 kg x 20 reps
  • 20 kg x 10 reps
Tricep Dumbbell Kickback:
  • 1 kg x 30 reps
  • 2.2 kg x 15 reps
  • 3.2 kg x 10 reps
  • 2.2 kg x 15 reps
  • 1 kg x 30 reps 
Dumbbell Bicep Curl:
  • 3.2 kg x 30 reps
  • 4.6 kg x 10 reps
  • 6.8 kg x 5 reps
  • 4.6 kg x 10 reps
  • 3.2 kg x 15 reps
Seems like a lot huh? Afterwards my arms feel like lead but in a good way. I'm totally satisfied with myself and sitting down to neck a protein shake I feel like a legend. After just a few weeks my arms are starting to get some shape and definition and I can definitely lift heavier things. Happy Bunn!

Stay tuned over the next week or so to learn how I do each exercise, and come find me on Fitocracy!

3 comments:

  1. I thought my arms were quite strong, I can lift heavy stuff, but they're flabby and I often have trouble with tight sleeves!

    I started trying to do some press ups, and I managed 2, so maybe they're not as strong as I think! I'm up to 5 now before I have to do them with bent knees!

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  2. I am rubbish at push-ups too! I could probably just about manage 1 or two... that's why I'm enjoying weights, I can start really low and still feel like I'm getting somewhere rather than failing straight away with push/pull ups!

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  3. The fact that you can both do two + proper push ups is beyond me. I can't even do one!

    I can deadlift 40kg but a push up beats me. I am such a girl.

    Very useful post, Ali. Off to the gym in 30 mins for the cardio/upper body sesh.

    ReplyDelete