Strength-training Exercises: Beautiful Arms and Thighs

As promised in Know Your Muscles, I will be providing you with strength-training exercises for the final 2 muscle groups of the frontal physique. To date, we've looked at the chest, the abdominals and the front shoulders, now its time for the upper arms (the biceps) and the thighs (quadriceps).

Some exercises that work the biceps include:

1. Barbell curls
2. Dumbbell curls
3. Preacher curls
4. Concentration curls
5. Cable curls

Exercises that work the quadriceps include:

1. Barbell squats
2. Front squats
3. Smith machine squats
4. Leg extensions
5. 45-degree leg press
6. Horizontal leg press
7. Hack squats
8. Lunges

Finishing up with the supporting muscle groups of the frontal physique, we have the forearms (flexors and extensors), the sides of the waist (obliques), the inner thighs (adductors) and the shin muscles (tibialis). Sample exercises are as follows:

Forearms:

1. Dumbbell wrist curls
2. Barbell wrist curls

Obliques:

1. Side bends
2. Dumbbell side bends
3. Broomstick twists
4. Bicycle crunches
5. Twisting crunches
6. Trunk twists

Hip Adductors:

1. Seated adduction machine
   
2. Cable single-leg adduction

Tibialis anterior (shin):

1. Ankle dorsiflexion
2. Band ankle dorsiflexion

Want instructions on how to perform any of these exercises? Reply to this post with your comments. Again, I am providing you with many exercises for your frontal physique so that you can add variety to your workout and you can structure a workout that will give you a well-balanced and sculpted physique.

Next week, we'll work on the rear physique, including the lats, traps, rear shoulders (deltoids), lower back, triceps, glutes, hamstrings and calves. When we are all done, you will structure a 2-3 set workout with varying levels of weight and varying repetitions to keep your body guessing and your muscles growing. By summer, you will look fantastic!

Have a great day!

Sandy Huard, President, Women's Health Supply International