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Weight Loss Exercise

Men’s Health Spartacus Workout


Spartacus Workout, is it for you? Have you ever wondered how the actors in the popular television program, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, developed those sculpted muscles and well-defined abs and chest? They went through a specially-designed, high intensity workout program that burned belly fat and developed their muscles. The Men’s Health Spartacus Workout program is patterned after the muscle-building workouts of the actors in the TV program, and can help you boost endurance, burn fat, and get ripped abs.

Some people say that the actual Spartacus Workouts used to get the actors in shape are a hundred times more challenging than the routines in the Men’s Health version, but anyone who has picked up the Spartacus Workout Challenge will tell you that the exercise circuit is no walk in the park.

Framework for Men’s Health Spartacus Workout

The Spartacus Workout consists of 10 exercises carefully selected to collectively workout different parts of the body. The exercises are grouped together in a high-intensity circuit that will burn body fat, develop the muscles, and boost your endurance level. Each circuit has two stages with 5 exercises in every stage.

Mens Health Spartacus Workout

Spartacus Workout

The workout program is designed to be done three days a week. Perform one set of each exercise, called a “station”, in succession. Each station is allotted 60 seconds and you can do as many reps as you can, with perfect form. You can rest for up to 15 seconds between stations. Rest for 2 minutes after completing one circuit.

Exercises for Spartacus Workout

Exercise routines for Men’s Health Spartacus Workout consist of a variety of exercises that will challenge your heart, lungs and muscles. Some of the exercises include: Squat Pull and Thrust, Offset Reverse Dumbbell Lunge, Squat to Shoulder Press, Single Leg and Arm Dumbbell Row, Plank Walkup, Jump Squat, and Single Leg Deadlift with a Twist.
When using weights, choose a weight that is challenging for 15 to 20 reps.

Does the Spartacus Workout Work?

Designed by fitness experts Adam Campbell and Rachel Cosgrove to get the Spartacus cast in rock-hard shape, the Spartacus Workout is definitely effective and challenging. The great thing about this routine is that it burns fat while building muscle. You can also do the exercises with or without dumbbells, depending on your level of fitness and strength. This option also allows you to decide whether or not you should invest in additional equipment.

Soon after the release of the original Spartacus Workout, the Spartacus Workout 2.0 came out. The all-new Spartacus Workout 3.0 is also available these days. If you’re looking for a structured routine that will challenge your endurance and strength, give this workout a try.

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Weight Loss Exercise

Weight Training Accessories






While weight training is very important for overall health and fitness, lifting heavy weights can put a lot of stress on your body. Even when maintaining the correct form and technique, accidents or injury may happen. That is why many strength training instructors recommend the use of weight training accessories. Accessories for strength training can make your workout safer and more comfortable, thus enhancing the effectiveness of your workout.

Lifting Gloves

A good pair of lifting gloves is one of the most basic weight training accessories that you need. Lifting gloves help make your strength training exercises more comfortable. They can help you avoid blisters and calluses. Gloves can also help prevent your sweaty hands from slipping off barbells or dumbbells while lifting.

Gloves for weight training are usually made of leather or synthetic rubber such as neoprene. These materials are breathable and prevent sweat and heat from building up inside the gloves. Lifting gloves that are machine washable are ideal for easy maintenance and hygiene.



Weight Lifting Straps

Another important weight training accessory is weight lifting straps. Straps can help you avoid dropping the barbell. These weight training accessories are worn on the wrist and wrapped around the barbell or dumbbell to help you maintain a good grip on the bar.

Weight lifting straps can be helpful if you experience pain when doing arm curls or if you have sweaty hands. However, some experts discourage overusing weight training straps as your natural grip may grow weaker if you rely too much on them.

Wrist Wraps

Wrist wraps are different from weight lifting straps. Wrist wraps help support the wrist when doing presses, such as bench press or military press. These weight training accessories help prevent wrist or elbow pain that sometimes happens during pressing movements.

Wrist wraps are inexpensive weight training accessories and can help prevent wrist and elbow injuries.

Joint Straps

If you have weak or injured knees or elbows, straps may be able to keep your joints from becoming hyper-extended. Wrap the joint straps around your knees or elbows to prevent injuries. Knee wraps can be helpful when doing squats and are especially helpful for power lifting.

Weight Training Belts

Weight training belts help to protect the lower back as well as the muscles of the entire upper torso. This popular weight training accessory also supports the sides and prevents twisting or bending incorrectly. Weight training belts are particularly helpful when lifting your maximum weights.

Fitness experts discourage frequent use of a weight training belt, especially when lifting weights below your maximum. Limit the use of a belt to your heaviest sets when doing deadlifts or squats. Keep in mind that you do not need this weight training accessory when doing curls or rows.

Proper Use of Weight Training Accessories

Weight training accessories can help make your workout safer and more comfortable. However, you must learn how to use these accessories correctly. Get the advice of a gym instructor on the proper use of strength training equipment and accessories. When used in the right way, weight training accessories can enhance your workout.



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Weight Loss Exercise

How To Build Upper Body V Shape


How to build upper body V – that V-shape taper from huge shoulders to a small waist – is the first thing that many bodybuilders want to know. It is often what sets bodybuilders apart from others in the gym and makes them stand out on the beach or even in the street. It is what makes a guy look like a comic book superhero about to save the world!

There are three main muscle groups that you need to consider when you are planning how to build upper body to an impressive degree. Let’s take them one by one.

1. Lats

The lats (latissimus dorsi) are the muscles that cover the sides of the middle back, reaching up to the armpit. As a bodybuilder, you will always want to keep building bigger and wider lats.

There are two types of exercise that you need to use if you want to work and build the lats. The first involves chin-ups and pulldown moves. These build width. The second is rows (e.g. cable rows and barbell rows) and deadlifts, which build thickness. You will need to cover both.

2. Deltoids


The deltoids are the muscles that cover the shoulder joint, forming the rounded shape of the shoulder. Your aim when you are considering how to build upper body V will be to build a strong, round ball shape on the shoulder. This gives the shoulders that massive, wide look.

The way to build deltoids is to use both a heavy pressing action and leverage raise exercises. Take as much weight as you can without sacrificing form. Raises should always be performed with full control, never by swinging the weights.

Exercises that you might want to include are: seated press, dumbbell lateral raises, bent over lateral raises, and cable lateral raises both in front and behind the back.

3. Abdominals

While they might seem out of place in an article on how to build upper body, the abs are just as important as the other two muscle groups. Having a tight midsection sets off the shoulders and contributes to the appearance of width at the top.

If you are interested in how to build upper body V shape, you will want to tighten rather than build the abs so that you do not develop a thick waist. For this reason, some experts recommend that you avoid using weights in your abs workout and do not do side bends. This may go against what others tell you but give it a try if you want to increase the contrast between weights and shoulders.

Exercises to concentrate on here include crunches, leg raises, sit-ups and hanging knee raises. For the hanging knee raise, hang from the chin-up bar and bring the knees up as high as possible toward the chest. Lower and repeat.

Of course, you also need to follow a good bodybuilding diet with plenty of protein and complex carbs at the right times. Drink plenty of water too. Soon it will be very clear when you hit the beach that you know how to build upper body!