Swell Your Chest With This Upper Body Challenge
Chest day is the cornerstone of every man’s gym week, but following the same routine week-in, week-out will do your gains no good whatsoever.
If your quest for a chiselled chest has plateaued, don’t stress. This gruelling upper body challenge will score you pumped-up pecs you can be proud of. You’ve got 45 minutes to crush this circuit, which was created for MH by London-based PT and F45 UK ambassador Bradley Simmonds.
Once you’ve completed it, take a 60 second hydration break and then go again. Time to test your chest.
Incline dumbbell press
Lie back on a bench set to a 30-degree angle and lift the weights up to shoulder height, palms facing away from you. Breathe out as you press up with both arms. Lock out your arms and squeeze your chest before returning slowly to the start position.
Chin-up
Grab the pull-up bar with your palms facing towards you and a grip that is narrower than shoulder width. Pull yourself up until your head is above the bar. Slowly lower back to the start position.
Flat dumbbell flye
Lie down on a flat bench holding two dumbbells at your shoulders with your palms facing inwards. Press the dumbbells up until your arms are almost fully extended. This is your starting position. From here, with a slight bend in your arms, arc the weights down to your sides until you feel a stretch across your chest. Squeeze your pecs to return the weights to the start position by reversing the movement.
Alternate kettlebell bent over row
Holding a kettlebell in each hand, knees slightly bent, hinge at the hip: bending forward so your torso is almost parallel to the floor. Ensure your spine is relaxed. Row the bells into your chest one at a time, squeezing your shoulder blade at the top of the movement. Return to the start position, and repeat.
Spiderman press-up
Get into a traditional press-up position. Lower yourself toward the floor and bring your right knee to your right elbow, keeping it off the ground. Press back up and return your leg to the starting position. Repeat with the alternate leg.
Renegade row
Get into a press-up position with your hands on the handles of two dumbbells. Keeping your core tensed, row the right dumbbell up to your abs then return to the start position. Repeat with the left dumbbell to complete one rep.
