Bodybuilding Tips

You may not be familiar with some of the terminology used in body building. Along the same line, you should know what certain exercises are and how to safely perform them. There are all sorts of exercises you can perform – so many, in fact, space prevents us from listing all of them. However, learning the basics can be a great help.

Dumbbell Bench Press

Sit on the edge of a flat bench with the dumbbells resting on your knees. In one smooth motion, roll onto your back and bring the dumbbells up to a position slightly outside and above your shoulders. Your palms should be facing forwards.

Bend your elbows at a ninety-degree angle with your upper arms parallel to the ground. Press the weights up over your chest in a triangular motion until they meet above the center line of your body. As you lift, concentrate on keeping the weights balanced and under control. Follow the same path downward.

Standing Military Press

For this exercise you will use a barbell. Stand with your legs about shoulder width apart and lift the barbell to your chest. Lock your legs and hips and keep your elbows in slightly under the bar. Press the bar to arm’s length over your head.

Lower the bell to your upper chest or your chin depending on which is more comfortable for you. This exercise can also be performed with dumbbells or seated on a weight bench.

Lying Tricep Push

Sit on a flat bench holding a curl bar with an overhand grip. Lie back so that the top of your head is even with the end of the weight bench. As you are lying back, extend your arms over your head so that the bar is directly over your eyes. Keep your elbows tight and your upper arms stationary throughout the exercise.

The biggest key to this exercise is keeping your upper arms in a fixed position. Slowly lower the bar until it almost touches your forehead. Press the bar back up in a slow, sweeping arc-like motion. At the finish, lock your elbows completely.

Side Lateral Dumbbell Raise

Stand upright with your feet shoulder width apart and your arms at your side. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with your palms turned toward your body. Keep your arms straight and lift the weights out and up to the sides until they are slightly higher than shoulder level. Then slowly lower them back down to your side again.

Keep your palms turned downward as you lift the dumbbells so that your shoulders rather than your biceps do the work. Make sure you are lifting the dumbbells up rather than swinging them up. Don’t lean forward while doing this either or you risk injury to your back.

Preacher Curls

This exercise is best done with a special preacher curl bench, but you can do this without it with a little modification. Sit at the end of the weight bench, and place something such as a firm pillow or a few pillows under your armpits on your lap. Hold the curl bar in your hands with palms facing upward. Don’t hunch over the pillow, sit as straight as you can.

Using a shoulder width grip, grasp the bar in both hands. Curl the bar upward in an arc. Be careful not to swing or rock to get the bar moving. You need to be using your muscles to lift the weight, not momentum. The goal of this exercise is to work the biceps.

Bring the bar up to your chin keeping in mind that the resistance is greatest during the beginning of the lift. Lower the bar slowly working the muscle on the way down as well. You can also do this with dumbbells or work one arm at a time.

Seated Dumbbell Curl

Sit at the end of a bench with your feet firmly on the floor. Keep your back straight and your head up. Start with the dumbbells at arm’s length with your palms facing in. Curl the weight up and twist your wrist once they pass your thighs. Squeeze your biceps at the top and then slowly lower the weight.

Do not swing the dumbbells down; lower them as you are working those muscles! You can do this standing, but the seated position prevents bad form.

Today is or lucky day due to a Coleman queen airbed

A Coleman queen airbed made my day (or should I say – night), when I went on my first camping adventure. While I was packing for my first camping trip and thinking about my plans, I was really beginning to get worried about sleeping on the ground. As of late, my back had been bothering me pretty bad. I had a sleeping bag, but was not sure If would provide enough support for my back. However, I was very busy and had waited to the last minute to pack, leaving myself without any other option.

So, I went on the trip and I was having a great time until I thought about going to sleep for the night. As I finished putting up the tent, a fellow camper noticed I had (in his words) a pretty flimsy sleeping bag. He elaborated by saying that when he went camping, he only used Coleman products. He then said “today is or lucky day, I happen to have an extra Coleman airbed that I picked up for a friend that had to cancel at the last minute.” He always seem to be so prepared, he then took out a battery operated pump and within a few short minutes the airbed was inflated. I had great nights sleep. I slept like a baby and did not even worry about the animals that could attack during the night (lol). In the morning, I decided to put the sleeping bag out to pasture!

I was very surprised as to how comfortable the airbed actually was. It felt better than my regular bed at home. When I got back home, I decided to go to the store and check out the airbeds that were available. It was interesting to see how many different choices that were available. I have family and friends that visit and stay overnight, particularly around the holidays, and could certainly use a few extra beds. The Coleman queen airbed is available in a variety of styles. I was able to choose from single high or double high styles. Some even offered memory foam and pillow top features. Then, I also had the option of getting an airbed with a built-in pump or buying a separate electric or battery operated pump (ideal for outdoor use). The prices were really affordable and it was very convenient having so many options to choose from.

I made my purchase and brought the airbeds home, relieved to have a bedding option for my visitors that would coming to stay next month. I did have one small concern though that, after I used them for the first time, they would be difficult to fold up and store. Then I discovered that Coleman offers an effortless Wrap ‘N’ Roll storage system that makes for hassle-free storage. With this storage system, a Coleman airbed can be easily deflated, folded and roll up to be stored in its carrying case. This makes it convenient because it is compact enough to not only fit in a smaller space (in a closet or vehicle), but can easily be transported by one person. I don’t have a lot of extra space for storage in my apartment, so I was happy if folded up into a nice compact size.