Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Wednesday Workout: You: Tarzan; Who Cares Where Jane Is…

The LTR's weekly fitness column. I just did this workout with him this weekend. I'm still sore. And regarding the LTR's last line...it sounds like he speaks from experience...

When you think about the great Tarzan movies of the 60s and 70s (oh God, I’m dating myself) what is often most striking about the hunk in the jungle – despite who they have playing him – is that impressive “V” shape. The V shape is that broad, hard shoulder and tight little waist combo you might find yourself lusting after but have never quite figured out how to achieve.

Ok, so here is where the good news, and the bad news comes in. The bad news – for people like me and millions of others out there – is that much of a V look is genetic. The bone structure is either there, or it isn’t. The good news is that weight lifting can help create that V look despite your narrow frame.

So for someone like me - who is basically built like a fire hydrant – that spell shoulders, pure and simple. Punch up the shoulders, pinch down the waist, and you’ll find yourself as close to having that fabled V as you’re ever going to get.

Hit the shoulders, once a week, with the following routine:

  1. Seated, overhead barbell press. (The bar should come down in front of your face, not behind your head.) 5x5
  2. Standing dumbbell shoulder press. 5x5
  3. Seated dumbbell lateral raises 5x5
  4. Seated forward dumbbell raises 5x5

To keep your body confused, switch the order of these routines around from week to week. When five sets of five gets easy, move up 10 lbs.

Nothing tops off a nice fitting shirt like some nobly chiseled shoulders. And nothing makes those shoulders look wider than a narrow waist. Hey, I didn’t say it was easy, but at least this routine doesn’t ask you to swing through the jungle, beating your chest and sleeping with chimps.

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