Bend your elbows and lower your entire body at once. Rather than trying to touch
your chest to the floor, lower only until your upper arms are parallel to the floor.
Push back up. Don't lock your elbows at the top of the movement and don't do the
dreaded "head bob." That's when you dip your head toward the floor without
moving any other part of your body. Do 2 sets of 8, working up to 3 sets of 15.
Standing Push-Up
Stand about ten inches from counter. Place hands on counter, arms in front of you,
slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Bend arms at elbow and lower your trunk
to the counter and return. Do 2 sets of 8, working up to 3 sets of 15.
Dumbbell Fly
Best to do with a spotter. Lie on your back on a flat bench. Don't have a bench? Try
using an ironing board between 2 sturdy chairs Grip a five- to ten-pound dumbbell
in each hand, palms facing up. Bring arms straight out, and bending elbows
slightly, extend arms straight over your chest until weights touch. Do 2 sets of 8,
working up to 3 sets of 15.
Full Water Bottles Press
Lie on your back with your feet flat on the floor and a 16-32 oz water bottle or
dumbbell in each hand. Push the water bottles up so your arms are directly over
your shoulders and your palms face away from you. Pull your abdominals in but
don't jam your back into the floor; don't let it arch way up, either. Tilt your chin
toward your chest.
Lower the water bottles down and a little to the side until your elbows lightly touch
the floor. Push the water bottles back up, taking care not to lock your elbows or
allow your shoulder blades to rise off the floor. (you can also fill up the water
bottles with sand)
Incline Fly
Lie on the floor with your head, neck and upper back propped up against several
large pillows. Hold a water bottle or dumbbell in each hand and press the weights
directly above your chest, palms facing each other. Tuck your chin to your chest to
align your neck with the rest of your spine, and maintain your natural back
posture, neither arched nor flattened.
Spreading your arms apart so that your elbows travel down and to the sides, lower
the weights until your elbows lightly touch the floor. Maintaining a constant bend
in your elbows, lift the weights back up. |