Triple Threat: Shoulders

Men and women alike aim for getting toned and cut shoulders. Instead of doing the normal overhead presses with heavy weights every day, I have a triple-​​threat move that will challenge and refresh your routine, with slightly lighter weights than overhead presses. This focuses more on muscle endurance than muscle strength.

Add these to my other recent blogs to complete the series of “Triple-​​Threat” moves I have developed in my fitness DVDs and NYC fitness classes at Crunch.

Here’s your shoulders triple-​​threat fix:

1) Start standing in set position. Put weights in each hand and place hands in front of your hips with palms facing your body. Drag the weights up your body to chest level, leading with the elbows, keeping neck muscles relaxed and shoulders down.

2) Push the weights out in front of you at shoulder level, extending the elbows and keeping palms facing the floor.

3) Open arms out to the sides at shoulder level, palms facing down, and slowly lower them to your sides at starting position, creating resistance as the weights are lowered in a controlled motion.

I personally like to do 1,2,3 in a row to a good workout song and fit it in with an 8 count. I also sometimes add a leg move like glute kickbacks or calf raises. Then I reverse the moves to 3,2,1 and continue the leg toning. (If that takes too much coordination, you can always separate the three moves, chose one and repeat it in 3 sets one day, and then chose the next move and repeat it another day.)

You won’t be able to lift your arms the next day, but at least they will look good!

Fitness, Fit it in.

Tags: muscles shoulders