You don't need to go to the gym to build a stronger core and upper body with just dumbbells and six moves.

You don't need to go to the gym to build a stronger core and upper body with just dumbbells and six moves.

Arms and core muscles are two good muscle groups to pair up in a workout. You don't need fancy equipment, just a pair of the best adjustable or standard dumbbells, yourself, and a good motivational workout playlist. I found this minimal equipment workout routine on fitness trainer Brittany Williams' Instagram account. The six exercises target the upper body and abdominal muscles by incorporating moves that work the core, chest, triceps, and shoulders, as well as versatile moves like woodchops and bicycles to increase muscle activation and overall strength.

If you want to try this, keep reading.

There are six exercises in total, and the goal of this upper body and core workout is to do 10 reps of each exercise and repeat it three times. Half of the exercises incorporate dumbbells, so make sure you have this weight on hand before you begin. The other half of the exercises simply use your own body weight as resistance. Williams' upper body and abdominal workouts combine resistance training with body weight exercises to promote muscle and strength gains. Dumbbells are used to increase resistance and challenge muscle fibers, while bodyweight movements such as planks and push-ups increase overall muscle engagement.

You can see demonstrations of each exercise below, which will guide you in developing proper form for each movement.

Dumbbell exercises such as chest presses and triceps skull crushers can be incorporated to provide resistance training, which is essential for muscle hypertrophy and strength. Dumbbells allow for progressive overload. This means that the weight can be gradually increased as one gets stronger, promoting muscle growth over time. In addition, exercises such as incline pushups use the resistance of their own body weight to further overload the muscles and promote muscle development.

Workouts also incorporate movements such as forearm plank leeches and ab bicycles, which not only help strengthen the core, but also increase overall stability and coordination. These movement styles work multiple muscle groups simultaneously and promote functional strength leading to performance in daily activities and exercise.

Mixing up the workout is not only good for adequate recovery, but also for improving cardiorespiratory fitness, increasing muscle strength, and enhancing overall physical performance. So be sure to combine this upper body and core-focused routine with lower body strength sessions, cardio, and stretching.

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