Bodybuilding Exercises

Top 10 Bodybuilding exercises ? back to basics training for ultimate muscle mass

In this age of $5000 strength machines and $8000 treadmills, it may surprise readers to learn that some of the best bodybuilding exercises can be performed for as little as $100! That?s right, you don?t need chrome and glitz to transform your physique. Long before Universal, Nautilus, and Hammer Strength, came on the scene, bodybuilders had been packing on muscle mass by training with good old-fashioned barbells.

The following (in no particular order) are our choices as the top bodybuilding exercises of all time.

Squats

Most authorities consider squats to be the best leg exercise. Period. One set of all out squats will do more for your lower body than 10 sets of leg extensions. Squats are also one of the most natural and basic of all body movements (let?s face it how often do you mimic the leg extension in the run of a day!) and target virtually the entire lower body.

Barbell Bench Press

The barbell bench press can be considered squats for the upper body. No pretty machine comes close to what this basic bodybuilding exercise will do for your torso. Long before the Pec deck started taking up space in gyms, bodybuilders were putting muscle mass on their chest, triceps, and shoulders, by training with barbell presses.

Deadlifts

Although long considered a powerlifting exercise, deadlifts are one of those exercises that often get neglected by bodybuilders because they take a lot of effort to do properly. But deadlifts will build you a set of python-sized spinal erectors as well as bestow on you that ?no neck? look. They?ll also do wonders for your hamstrings and thighs.

Chin-ups

Long before lat pulldowns transformed the way people trained their backs; chin-ups were tops of back bodybuilding exercises. The great thing about chins is that you can do them just about anywhere from a play ground to a basement. Unlike lat pulldowns, chin-ups require you to lift as well as stabilize your body (i.e. keep your body from swaying). This is what makes them so effective.

Barbell rows

If chin-ups widen your back and produce that much-coveted v-taper, barbell rows will give your inner back that dense, thick, meaty look. Unlike the more often substituted T-bar row, barbell rows have none of the balancing removed. You have to lift and balance the weight. There is no pivoting on the floor or being locked in a given plan of motion that may be unnatural for your body.

Seated Barbell Press

This is another oldie but goodie. Training with seated barbell presses will give your shoulders that cannonball look. Seated barbell presses evolved from the old standing press that was so popular with Olympic lifters and bodybuilders in the 1940?s and 1950?s. They?ve stood the test of time and you should be doing them.

Barbell curls

It?s safe to say that the first exercise performed on barbells when they were invented was a barbell curl. No cable or machine curl will come close to what these babies will do for your biceps muscle mass. They?ll also build up a phenomenal set of forearms. So if you want hams hanging from your shoulder joints you must add barbell curls to your bodybuilding exercises.

Lying triceps extensions

Lying triceps extensions, also called skullcrushers, are the triceps equivalent of barbell curls. They?re simple, basic, and will bring those horseshoes out for all to admire. So you can fluff with kickbacks or cable extensions or put some serious meat on your arms with this great bodybuilding exercise!

Push-ups

Push-ups go back even further than barbell exercises. Push-ups are the best bodyweight exercise for building the chest, shoulders, and triceps. By changing the height of the legs you can target different parts of the chest. They can also be done just about anywhere, whether the gym or in a hotel room while on the road. So drop and give me 20!

Crunches

Crunches will strengthen your abdominal core. They?ll also improve your posture and help protect your lower back. Crunches evolved from sit-ups, but unlike sit-ups they place less stress on your lower back and keep the hip flexors from contributing to the exercise. As with push-ups crunches can be done just about anywhere and should be the primary exercise in your abdominal routine.

Bob Howard expert on bodybuilding and steroids. Are you looking for more of his bodybuilding articles? http://www.bodybuildinginformation.com Article ? Bob Howard 5/5/2006

How to Find the Best Rated Home Gyms For Your Workouts

If you find working out at home to be more convenient and time efficient, you may decide to purchase a personal gym. The place to begin your search is by researching the best rated home gyms. There are several Internet sites that rate and review fitness equipment. These sites are a good place to familiarize yourself with the features of various equipment.

Before you start shopping, take some time to consider what you want to get out of your workout routine. Identify your exercise goals and level of fitness. Home fitness gyms are made for different purposes, some for toning or athletic training and others are rated for strength training. They are all different and each is adequate for different workout goals.

When you have identified your goals and read the ratings, you can start looking at home gyms. Look in stores and online. You may be able to find better prices online. If possible, try out a few top-rated models in the stores. Do this even if you will shop online. Gym equipment is a big purchase and you will want to be sure the machine operates smoothly and fits your body type. Taller people may have trouble working out with smaller machines and getting the full range of motion in all exercises. The best way to be sure a gym will work for you is to test it.

The better the quality rating, the smoother the motion of the exercise will be. While less expensive gyms may seem like a deal, often they are not. Cheap gyms have limited stations and less weight. They also tend to be less stable and durable. If you are reasonably fit, or are trying to build muscle, you will quickly outgrow a cheaply made home gym. Get the best you can afford to be sure the equipment will be adequate as your fitness level increases. On the flip side, if you aren?t interested in strength training, you probably don?t need the most expensive, top-rated home gym on the market. Choose equipment that fits your lifestyle and fitness goals, ratings can help with this.

The better rated gyms come with a decent warranty. Any home exercise equipment with a short warranty should sound an alarm in your mind. Cheap equipment comes with shorter warranties because the manufacturer knows it isn?t made to take a beating. A home gym is a big expense and will be expensive to repair. Get the best warranty you can and if you are buying expensive fitness equipment, consider an extended warranty.