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Shopping Guidelines: Seafood

In the last two installments of this series, we laid out and explained concerns and guidelines for buying fruits, vegetables, ...

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Are Advanced Training Methods for You?

Just because that insane workout technique sounds excruciatingly awesome, that doesn't mean you should add it into your routine. You ...

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Testosterone: Understanding the Mechanisms Behind the “Alpha” Hormone

Everybody's familiar with testosterone, the grand daddy hormone most synonymous with both muscle and manhood. Today we provide a comprehensive ...

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Do I NEED Carbs Pre-Workout?

In what situations should I take carbs pre-workout? There is no situation where you NEED pre-workout carbs, but there are ...

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Interview Q&A Series with Ben: Intensity vs. Volume

Question: “Let’s say we have your average trainee who works out four of five times a week, working each bodypart ...

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Wheying in on the Debate: A Case for the Superiority of Whey Protein

Whey protein has been used in one form or another for at least 300 years, yet it has taken until ...

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Back Isolation Exercises

 

__________

(1) Prone Reverse-Flys (for back, not rear delts)BI1

  • head slightly over the edge of the bench (looking at the ground)
  • keep trunk tight to the bench throughout (more chest than abs)
  • reach for opposite walls on the way up keeping arms as far away as possible throughout
  • imagine a line running from one wrist to the other and try to contract everything across it
  • at the bottom, try not to come inside the shoulders, avoid resting / relaxing the working muscle; really fight the negative and aim for constant controlled movement

 

__________

(2) Reverse Pec Deck Flys (for back, not rear delts)

  • keep hips behind shoulders slightly / more chest against the pad and less stomach
  • keep arms rigid and shoulders retracted

__________

__________

(3) Band Pull-Aparts

band pull aparts

  • Abs tight
  • Pronated grip and elbows rigid
  • Rear delt emphasis: keep scapula slightly protracted
  • Mid-back emphasis: allow full protraction and retraction

__________

__________

(4) High Pulley Pull-Aparts

high pulley pull apart

(standing, supported)

  • Apply outward force on the handles as if you are trying to rip it apart
  • Brace against pad or support with hips
  • Set pulley above eye level

__________

__________

(5) Prone DB Retractions

prone db retraction

  • Elbows rigid and neck neutral
  • Pinch the scapula together (this NOT a shrugging movement)