What Muscles Do You Need To Build To Look Better In A Shirt?

The Muscles You Need To Build To Look Better In A Shirt

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One of the first things people will notice is how well your sleeves fit. Whether you’re wearing a button-up or a short sleeve basic, you'll need to build your whole upper body to fill it out.

Unfortunately, you can't rely on just bicep curls to bust your sleeves. Getting your rig ready requires targeting every muscle above your waist. So we've put together a good workout that will maximise every part of your body that comes in contact with your tee.

But before you aim to get that perfect shot of your toned-up pythons for the ‘gram’, remember, this working is going to be tough. And it has to be, for maximum hypertrophy.

Attacking the top half of your body in a session is difficult, so it's important to focus on the three key muscles: chest, biceps and triceps. Fortunately, the exercises we lay out below will also recruit shoulders, back and traps, so you won't leave any muscles out.

For a better post-workout pump, ensure you fluid intake is on point prior to the session and try to eat a meal 30 minutes prior to doing this session.

Check it out:

Complete one set in each part so one set of bicep curls, then tempo push ups, dish rocks, ring rows.

Ensure you record your weights so if the session is repeated you can measure your improvement.

Warm Up

A1: 21s Biceps Curls 2 x 21 reps at 40%

A2: Tempo Push Up 2 x 10 at 32x1 rest 30 seconds

A3: Dish Rocks 2 x 30second efforts

A4: Ring Rows 2 x 10 at 21x1 tempo

(3 seconds from top of push up to floor, pause at bottom for 1 second, explode into top of push up)

ensure thighs don’t touch the ground on each descend to floor (Squeeze Butt, and tense abs)

B1: Hammer curls 4 x 12 reps at 80%

B2: banded Tricep push down with SKLZ band red or yellow 4 x 30 reps red band

🔨Hammer Time 🔨 Complete session @coachingzonefivedock by the 🐻 @complete_sp A1 Incline Bench Press 4x8 @ 20X1 rest 30sec A2 Single Arm DB Row 4x12/arm @ 21X1 rest 90sec B1 DB Alternating Hammer Curls 3x15 @ 2121 rest 30sec B2 Banded Triceps Push Downs 3x30 @ 10X0 rest 90sec C 9min Repeating Ladder Lvl 1 3,6,9,3,6,9... Toes to Bar DB Single Arm Push Press Pull Ups / Jumping Pull Ups Burpee Bar Touches Lvl 2 3,6,9,3,6,9... Bar Muscle Ups Handstand Push Ups Chest to Bar Pull Ups Burpee Bar touches #coachingzonefivedock #cspgym #hammercurls #curls #lululemon #alphafit #novofit

C1: Zotmans Press 4 x 12 reps at 80%

C2: Sled Pulls 4 x 10m efforts 70%,80%,90%,90%

D1: 3 x 12 at 21x1 rest 30 seconds (70-80%)

D2: 3 x 15 Ring Rows at 21x1 rest 60 seconds (Bodyweight)

E1: DB Shoulder Press 3 x 15 at 31x1 at 70% rest 30 seconds

E2: Banded Pull Aparts 3 x 30 red SKLZ Band

Tips on the Dumbbell Shoulder Press aiming at strength and utilising a slower eccentric tempo. Tip: use a lighter weight to maintain efficient movement, and slow down your timing from full extension to the start position. 💪 #techniquetuesday @coachingzoneau @coachingzonefivedock @complete_sp @angus_beef_media 🎥 #cspgym #coachingzone #coachingzonefivedock #technique #dumbbell #shoulderpress #lululemon #bodyscience #completestrengthperformance #strength

All equipment has been tried and tested with AlphaFit.

Now that you have completed your session, getting that post-gym selfie might be a little painful. Maybe check-in with the girl who caught your eye to see if she'd be willing to take that photo?

Todd Liubinskas

Men's Health Fitness Director // Group Training // Health & Wellness Content Writer // Lest Get Going Charity // Founder Strength & Conditioning Coach // Strength & Conditioning Coach