Tag: lats
How The Wide Grip Pulldown Enlarges Your Lats For Real Size
Widen your lats with the wide grip pulldown.
We tend to put a lot of focus on our front, meaning arms, abs, and chest, however the wide grip pulldown can ensure we don’t lose sight of what matters equal to our front, being our backs. Our backs tend to fall by the wayside, which is unfortunate because at the end of the day, they are equally as important as all other muscle groups. Sure, those bodybuilders with massive backs may put a little more emphasis than you want to but showing your back some love can make all the difference.
A great exercise like the wide grip pulldown will ensure your back doesn’t fall victim to neglect so you get a great workout to really boost strength and size. A strong back not only looks good and adds to a great aesthetic, but it also improves stability and posture, really giving those muscles the support they need to see the best gains. The wide grip pulldown is the perfect exercise to help you see the best gains possible for our backs.
Let’s jump right into this exercise and see what makes the wide grip pulldown so great. From what it is, to what muscles get worked, the many benefits of this exercise, and how best to perform it, you will have a well-rounded exercise to add to your back day routine so you only see the best gains.
What Is The Wide Grip Pulldown?
The wide grip pulldown is a beginner level exercise perfect for enhancing those back and biceps muscles, so the focus is on strength and building your physique (1). It is, of course, very similar to the traditional lat pulldown, except the grip is wider and will work those lats and other muscles differently. What you will find with this exercise is that it will boost strength and improve posture in a highly effective way perfect for people and athletes of all experience levels.
Related: How The Close Grip Lat Pulldown Pumps Your Back & Bis
Muscles Worked
With the wide grip pulldown, your lats get some serious work done which is great because these are those essential pulling exercises. Able to support your spine and improve posture, your lats are essential in dealing with many movements, both sport specific and functional. As a part of this exercise as a whole, your biceps, forearms, delts, other back muscles, and abs will feel some work done as well. While the majority of the gains will happen to your lats, you will find that these other muscles will be worked as well.
Benefits Of The Wide Grip Pulldown
The benefits of the wide grip pulldown are hard to ignore and can greatly benefit you in a number of ways. With this effective back exercise, you will only enhance sport specific and functional pulling movements, as well as many others, in efforts to see the best gains possible.
Benefits of the wide grip pulldown include:
Stronger lats: With your lats as the primary target for these muscles, you will find that they will not only grow stronger, but also bigger in size, this giving you the best possible chance at that massive physique (2).
Other muscle worked: With this exercise, you will also get those other muscles worked which is perfect for providing all around muscular development and working to support a well-rounded and symmetrical physique.
Better posture: By increasing strength in your lats, you back will be better supported and you will be able to improve posture and improve overall confidence.
Great for all athletes: As a beginner exercise, this is great for all athletes and can be performed easily and conveniently by all. Easy to learn also allows you to not sweat over trying to learn something complex.
Nice variations: This exercise has plenty of variations so you can effectively work the same muscles but use different machines.
How To Perform It
Performing the wide grip pulldown is relatively easy but does take the right form so you can properly execute this exercise. Be sure to not lean too far back and to use too much momentum when pulling down. You want your muscles to get work done, especially your lats, so focusing on that instead of pulling with your arms can make all the difference for you.
Here are the steps for performing the wide grip pulldown:
Set yourself up on the machine and make sure you are in a comfortable position.
Grab the bar with the widest grip you can. Your hands will be on the farthest most point of the bar with your palms facing away from you.
When ready, engage your core and lean back slightly. Pull the bar down so it goes to around the bottom of your chest and squeeze at the bottom.
Slowly return to the starting position in a controlled motion.
Repeat for your desired number of sets and reps.
Wide Grip Pulldown Alternative Exercises
The right alternative exercises can be a game changer when it comes to seeing great gains. What alternative exercises can do are diversify your workouts so you work those same muscles just in a different way. This will control muscle confusion so your muscles don’t have a chance to get used to any exercise and force you to hit a plateau.
Below are some great alternative exercises to the wide grip pulldown. What you will find is these will fire up your lats, but in a much different way so your growth never stalls.
Renegade Rows
Bent Over Reverse Fly
Wie Grip Pull-Ups
Barbell Rows
Dumbbell Rows
Wrap Up
The wide grip pulldown is a great exercise for increasing strength and size in your lats. As necessary muscles needed for pulling movement, both functional and sport specific, you will find that this exercise is perfect for those muscle building needs. An easy to perform exercise, the wide grip pulldown is perfect to add into your routine and can really round out your workouts perfectly.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Envato
References
Andersen, V.; et al. (2014). “Effects of grip width on muscle strength and activation in the lat pull-down”. (source)
Newton, H. (1998). “The Lat Pulldown”. (source)
How Gorilla Rows Seriously Build Your Posterior Chain
Build that massive back with gorilla rows.
Building our backs can be a challenge but exercises like gorilla rows are perfect for giving us that increased strength and size we need most. Our backs are an important part of our body and work to provide postural and structural support as well as increasing our ability to perform a number of exercises and movements. By putting an emphasis on our backs, we work to better improve our gains so we see results we want most.
The best part about gorilla rows are that they require minimal equipment and are easy to perform. This allows you to create a workout that is versatile and convenient so you never have to worry about being pressed for time. Our busy schedules often interfere with our workouts but by putting an emphasis on the right exercises, we better set ourselves up for increased success.
Let’s take a look at gorilla rows and see what this exercise is all about. From what it is, to muscles worked, the many benefits of them, and how best to perform them, by the end of this, you will have a complete guide into this incredible exercise. All of your gains are important and knowing just how to better tackle them can be beneficial for your overall performance.
What Are Gorilla Rows?
Gorilla rows are a great compound exercise to really give your posterior chain an effective workout. By working to build overall lat development, you also get great work done with other upper body muscles to increase overall strength and size as well. Perfect for functional and sport specific movements, this exercise is relatively easy to perform, this exercise can take your gains to the next level. Great to use with kettlebells, that is the only equipment you need to perform this exercise.
Muscles Worked
As a compound movement, gorilla rows work a number of muscles, which will build serious strength and size. Your lats are one of the primary muscles targeted and gorilla rows can add to that serious width. Your traps, rhomboids, and delts will get some work done as well as your biceps and forearms resulting from the increased need for stronger grip. Of course, your spine will be worked and keeping good form is obviously very important but it is your core that can really work to boost stability and offer support. Gorilla rows are a highly effective compound movement that is perfect for seeing serious gains start to unfold.
Benefits Of Gorilla Rows
The benefits of gorilla rows are hard to ignore and for those looking to increase strength and size in their back, these are highly effective. Plus, with the other muscles worked, you get a great compound movement to help you tackle any and all of those strength wants and needs.
Benefits of gorilla rows include:
Great lat builder: An effective lat builder, gorilla rows work well for building up your pulling movements and increasing width for a larger aesthetic.
Increased upper body strength: By working your upper body muscles as an effective compound movement, you really build nice upper body strength and size with your other muscles (1).
Functional and sport specific: These exercises are perfect for building functional strength for everyday movement as well as sport specific actions for your respective sport (2).
Easy to perform: Gorilla rows are relatively easy to perform one you get a hang of the movement and how it will work.
Good core work: Relying on your core for real stability, your core will feel a burn and you will build better strength for overall support and stability (3).
Plenty of variations: This exercise offers many variations for you to still see great gains while diversifying your workout.
Limited equipment: With gorilla rows, you barely need any equipment. All you need are a set of weights, with kettlebells being easier.
How To Perform This Exercise
Here are the steps for performing gorilla rows:
Place two kettlebells or dumbbells in front of you with your desired weight of choice. Your feet will be a bit wider than hip width apart.
Bending your knees slightly, hinge forward and grab the handles. Engage your core and make sure your spine is in a neutral position.
When ready, bring one of the weights up towards your hip as if you were performing a dumbbell row-type movement.
Lower that weight to the floor and repeat with the other side. Gently lower that weight back down to the floor.
Repeat for your desired number of sets and reps.
Gorilla Rows Alternative Exercises
As mentioned before, there are many alternatives you can try to mix up your workouts and give you a break from gorilla rows without sacrificing any gains. Some awesome alternative exercises to gorilla rows are:
Single-Arm Rows
Dumbbell Rows
Pendlay Rows
Renegade Rows
Plank Rows
Towel Grip Inverted Rows
Best Exercises To Pair With Gorilla Rows
For those looking to increase their gains, pairing the right exercises together can make all the difference for you. Dumbbell rows are nice to add with gorilla rows for they both work similar muscles but differently, giving you the ability to push through fatigue and increase growth. Also, the deadlift and farmer’s walks are great to pair with it and will really enhance your back day routine for the better.
Wrap Up
Gorilla rows are a great exercise to add to your routine and for those looking to enhance lat development and overall upper body gains, look no further than gorilla rows. Able to provide for serious benefits and give you the best chance at a wider aesthetic, it’s no wonder why people have turned to gorilla rows for all their posterior chain needs. Easy to perform with minimal equipment required, gorilla rows are versatile and convenient to help you see serious gains. Place these into your back day routine and see what they can do for you today.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Envato
References
Kak, H.; et al. (2013). “A Study of Effect of the Compound Physical Activity Therapy on Muscular Strength in Obese Women”. (source)
Weiss, T.; et al. (2010). “Effect of Functional Resistance Training on Muscular Fitness Outcomes in Young Adults”. (source)
Hibbs, A.; et al. (2008). “Optimizing performance by improving core stability and core strength”. (source)
How To Spot, Stop & Avoid Invisible Lat Syndrome
Let’s get rid of this ridiculous syndrome.
You have seen invisible lat syndrome before. Those wannabe Olympia bodybuilders and meatheads “unable” to put their arms down by their sides because their lats are so “big”. Sound familiar? It’s awkward, annoying, and just flat out embarrassing, for the wannabe that is.
Invisible lat syndrome has unfortunately plagued gyms everywhere with those seeking to look bigger than they actually are. And the worst part is, it doesn’t even make you look bigger.
So, what causes this and why do people have it? How can we spot it and hopefully try to stop it? Let’s jump right into this and answer all of these questions for you. Next time you are in the gym, keep an eye out for those meatheads that just can’t seem to make their arms go down. Trust us, you can’t miss them.
What Is Invisible Lat Syndrome?
Invisible lat syndrome (ILS), also referred to as imaginary lat syndrome, is the idea that your pump was so big, and that your lats are so wide, that you can’t return your arms to your side like normal. This typically happens after a someone lifts massive weights and has that inflated feeling in their muscles. Their armpits will be open wide and their arms will awkwardly look as though they don’t know where to go. Think about if you had basketballs or volleyballs under your arms. That’s what it would feel like.
The ironic thing is, we have most likely all felt this feeling. It is normal to have that inflated feeling after a massive lift. But the difference is we tend to recognize we are not Ronnie Coleman, Arnold Schwarzenegger, or Dorian Yates and quickly return our arms to their respective resting positions; down by their sides, where they should be.
Why Do People Have It?
Why people have invisible lat syndrome is a mystery and all that we could truly gather are a few superficial reasons for potentially why someone would subject everyone else in the gym to look at that foolishness. While we can do our best to spread awareness about this issue, unfortunately we leave it in the hands of those individuals who suffer from it to make the choice to stop. Some possible reasons people have ILS are:
A genuinely massive pump where they physically can’t put their arms down by their sides- this is highly unlikely, but to be fair, it needed to be on the list.
Idolizing their favorite bodybuilder and seek to mimic how they look. Typically, professional bodybuilders will pose with this look to impress the judges. But look at those same bodybuilders in the gym on a normal day and they wouldn’t dare walk around with watermelons under their arms.
Want attention and need people to know they are working out. How annoying is that? You are at a gym, of course we know you are working out. Unless they are looking to find their soul mate and feel this is how to portray dominance or a sense of control over the gym. Try throwing a punch in the invisible lat syndrome position. Trust us, it won’t go well.
How To Stop Invisible Lat Syndrome Of Others
It is up to us humble gym goers and athletes to try and put an end to invisible lat syndrome as best we can. Even if we don’t fully understand what causes it, we need to stay focused in our mission to end this ridiculousness. If you see someone suffering from invisible lat syndrome, avoid eye contact. Don’t give them the attention they so desperately seek and let them waddle around alone, admiring themselves in the mirror until it’s time to go home. The more you look and draw attention to this, the more they will do it and it will never end.
Another way that may work well is to lift equal amounts of weight or perform the same exercises and when finished, don’t look like that. This will show them that there is absolutely no reason to look like that and if you can lift that weight and perform that exercise without it, then people know it is all for attention’s sake.
How To Avoid It For Yourself
To avoid invisible lat syndrome on your own is not that difficult. Just lift, enjoy your workout, and don’t try to be someone you are not. By allowing yourself the freedom to lift big, look great, and see that shredded and massive physique unfold, you will be well on your way to seeing huge gains and won’t look like a fool whose head is too big for their body.
Actually Building Your Lats
Your lats do matter and having strong lats work to assist with a larger physique, that V-shape look, and any pulling motion that comes your way. As one of the largest muscles we have, maintaining good form and giving your body the best chance at success requires knowing what to do to really build strength and size.
Knowing which exercises can increase lat development is important and looking to the right exercises will get you seriously wide lats. The barbell pullover is a great exercise for massive growth while the underhand lat pulldown will build those wing-like lats. Looking to the idea of the lat pulldown vs. pull-up, both are great for offering functional and sport specific gains all while building that stronger, more defined back. Whatever your intended exercise is, place these into your routine and see what they can do for you. You absolutely won’t be disappointed by the results.
Wrap Up
Invisible lat syndrome is that unfortunate thing we see in the gym all too much. As upstanding members of the gym going community, it is our place to take a stand and stop it. Do your part, don’t pay attention to these wannabe’s, and hopefully we can eradicate invisible lat syndrome for good. Although this uphill battle is going to take all of us.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Envato
Chris Bumstead Back Workout For A Sprawling Christmas Tree
3x Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead shares a massive back workout!
Believe us when we say there will be major posterior pounding on the Chris Bumstead back workout routine. Honestly, we would be disappointed if we did not have to crawl out of the gym by the end of the 3X Mr. Olympia Classic Physique champion’s training regimen.
Building a V-taper is easier said than done. Your back is the second largest muscle group after legs. An effective back training session can be as taxing (if not more) than a leg workout. You need to target your back from every angle to ensure overall development.
Check Out: Chris Bumstead Gives Answer On Whether or Not to Use Steroids
Chris Bumstead Stats
Name: Christopher Adam Bumstead
Nickname: CBum
D.o.B: 2 February 1995
Birthplace: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 225 pounds
Chest: 51″ (130 cm)
Waist: 30″ (76 cm)
Bicep: 20″ (51 cm)
Chris Bumstead Story
The reigning Mr. Olympia Classic Physique champ was born in Ottawa, Canada. He was involved in multiple sports through his childhood, playing football, baseball, basketball, and hockey in high school.
CBum started lifting at the age of 14 and fell in love with working out. He went from 170 to 225 pounds between the ninth and twelfth grades, growing his legs the most.
After building what he thought was a good physique, Bumstead met his sister’s boyfriend (a pro bodybuilder), Iain Valliere, and things started to change for the better. Iain made Chris believe that he could compete and become a fierce competitor.
Check Out: Iain Valliere Deadlifts 675lb Five Times Ahead Of 2021 Arnold Classic
In 2016, at the age of 21, he earned his pro card after taking home the IFBB North American Bodybuilding Championship trophy.
Chris Bumstead draws inspiration from the golden age bodybuilders. He focuses on keeping his waist small and building broad shoulders. It would be safe to say that CBum is one of the most popular bodybuilders of our time.
Bodybuilding legends like Jay Cutler have predicted that Chris could win the Mr. Olympia crown if he were to change divisions in the future. Given his monster size and razor-sharp conditioning, we would not be surprised to see him lift the Sandow a few years down the line.
Trivia: In 2021, Chris Bumstead won his third consecutive Mr. Olympia Classic Physique title at the age of 26. He was the runner-up in 2017 and 2018.
Next Read: Chris Bumstead’s Rules For Cheat Meals & Alcohol
Chris Bumstead Back Workouts Principles
CBum follows a 5-day training split, and some of his favorite exercises include squats, incline dumbbell press, and bent-over barbell rows. He uses the following training principles to make the most of his back workout:
1. Get the Form Right
Chris Bumstead is big on building a strong foundation. Before he starts prepping for a show, he takes a few weeks to work on his lifting form. Once in tune with the exercises, he adds weight to the bar (or machine) and gets after it.
Most rookies let their egos get the better of them in the gym. Remember – weightlifting and bodybuilding are two different sports. Chasing weights before nailing down your form can put you at risk of injuries.
If you are new to the fit lifestyle, do not hesitate to ask for help from more experienced lifters in your gym. Tip: If you are in it for longevity, you should steer clear of the broscientists.
Next Read: 5 Uncomfortable Truths About Exercise Form
2. Do Not Pull With Your Biceps
Many lifters use their biceps to pull the weight during back training. Doing this takes the tension off the back and puts it on your upper arms. If you have a more intense pump in your arms compared to your lats at the end of a back exercise, you are probably doing it wrong.
Focus on pulling the weight using your elbows and keep them close to your sides while performing back exercises. Flaring out your elbows distributes the tension to your biceps and shoulders.
For some people, gripping the dumbbell, barbell, or machine handle too hard has been known to ignite bicep and forearm recruitment. If you face similar issues, weightlifting straps can take the tension off your arms and transfer it to your target muscles.
Watch: Chris Bumstead Is The Next Generation Of Jacked And Shredded Bodybuilder
3. Focus on Lat Isolation
You should be able to see your lats and shoulder blades move during your back exercises. If you only notice arm movement, you are not following a full range of motion. On top of that, with every rep, pause and squeeze the life out of your lats.
For optimal lat recruitment and stimulation, you need to follow a full range of motion and contract your muscles with every rep. Just going through the motions for the sake of it is not going to cut it. You need to have a strong mind-muscle connection to make the most of your workouts.
If you face muscle or strength imbalances, unilateral lifts will help better isolate your lats and fix the issues. Research has shown that most athletes can benefit immensely from adding unilateral training to their training regimen.
Related: Chris Bumstead Shows Off Dungeon Style Gym and Training
4. Use Different Grips
Switching grips can make your back light up like the 4th of July. A pronated (palms facing downward), supinated (palms facing upward), and neutral (palms facing each other) all target your back differently.
You also have the option of adding more variations in your back training by using W or V-bars during cable exercises. Having a mix of these grips in your back workouts can ignite muscle growth and help grow that sprawling Christmas tree.
5. Include a Ton of Variety
You need to constantly add variety to your training to ensure that you never hit a wall. Performing the same exercise over and over for weeks on end is a sure-shot way of hitting a plateau.
Chris Bumstead changes up the start of his back workout after every three back days. He rotates through deadlifts for three back workouts, then switches to rack pulls for the next three sessions, and then skips both, moving right to dumbbell rows for the last three workouts of the cycle.
Apart from switching exercises, you could also add variety to your workouts by using advanced training principles like supersets, dropsets, intraset stretching, and experimenting with the number of reps, sets, and time under tension (TuT).
Must Read: Four Plateau-Busting Strategies To Apply To Your Training
6. Keep Rest Between Sets to a Minimal
If you are eating 5,000 monster calories like Chris Bumstead, you need to utilize every opportunity you can find to burn them off. While performing the Chris Bumstead back workout, limit your rest duration between sets and exercise to less than 60 seconds.
Note: Do not waste your resting time checking Instagram or clicking selfies. Use it to stretch your muscles and pose. Posing can improve your mind-muscle connection and help induce muscle-ripping pumps.
Related: Chris Bumstead Details 5,000-Calorie Diet During Bulking Phase
Chris Bumstead Back Workout
If you have seen Chris Bumstead hitting back poses on stage or his Instagram page, you know there are no weak spots in his posterior muscle chain. Let kids near CBum while he is posing, and they might end up hanging lights and stockings on his sprawling Christmas tree.
Building thickness in his already-wide back is one of Chris Bumstead’s back workout goals.
During Mr. Olympia 2021 presser, Bumstead explicitly mentioned that his back gains were on another level, and he had added 10 pounds of muscle mass just in his back.
Watch: Dennis James – Can Chris Bumstead Improve His Back Enough To Beat Breon Ansley?
Chris Bumstead Back Training Routine
Here is the Chris Bumstead back workout that will help you achieve similar results:
1. Deadlift: 6 sets of 6-8 reps
Steps:
Stand behind a barbell with a shoulder-width stance and your knees slightly bent.
Hinge at your hips and bend slightly at your knees.
Push back your butt while keeping your core engaged so that your back stays flat.
Squat down and bend at your knees to grab the bar with a mixed grip – one hand in supinated and the other in a pronated position.
Keeping your core tight, push through your heels, and lift the weight, straightening your knees first, keeping your back flat, and then reversing the hinge at your hip to stand up.
Pause at the top of the movement and contract your lats and shoulder blades.
Return to the starting position in a controlled motion.
Repeat for recommended reps.
Check Out: Chris Bumstead Answers: Is Classic Physique Easier Than Men’s Open? | GI Vault
2. Single-Arm Neutral-Grip Dumbbell Row: 4 sets of 10-12 reps (each arm)
Rather than using a staggered stance on dumbbell rows, Chris Bumstead likes to square his feet to the bench where he stabilizes his body with his resting arm. It makes the movement more concentrated.
Steps:
Set an incline bench at a 60-degree angle to the floor.
Place your left hand on the edge of the inclined side of the bench, take a step back, and stand with a narrower than shoulder-width stance.
Grab a dumbbell with your right hand using a neutral grip.
Pull your elbow back and upwards towards the roof without letting it flare out.
Pause and contract your lat at the top of the movement.
Return to the starting position with a slow and controlled motion.
Repeat for recommended reps before switching sides.
3. Seated Cable Row: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
Use a V-handle attachment on the cable row machine. To hit your lower lat, make sure you are performing seated rows low – below your belly button.
Steps:
Sit on the cable row machine with your knees bent and grab the V-bar attachment with a neutral grip.
Position yourself with your knees slightly bent and so that you have to reach to grab the handle with outstretched arms yet without curling the lower back over.
Pull the handle toward your lower abdomen without using momentum and swinging back and forth.
Keep your torso upright and chest raised throughout the movement.
Contract your shoulder blades and lats at the top of the movement.
Return to the starting position with a controlled motion.
Repeat for recommended reps.
4. Close Grip Lat Pulldown (rope attachment): 4 sets of 12-15 reps
Incorporating both close and wide-grip pulldowns in the Chris Bumstead back workout help target different posterior muscles.
Steps:
Sit on the pulldown machine with an upright torso.
Secure your legs under the thigh pad.
Grasp the rope attachment with a neutral grip (palms facing each other).
While keeping your chest raised, pull the rope down until your elbows move behind you.
Keep your elbows close to your body throughout the movement.
Pause and contract your shoulder blades and lats at the bottom of the movement.
Slowly return to the starting position.
Repeat for recommended repetitions.
5. Wide-Grip Lat Pulldown: 2 sets of 12-15 reps (dropset)
Wide-grip lat pulldowns consist of dropsets. After performing 12 reps, you will drop down the weight and perform another 15 reps. Choose a weight that will make you hit failure in the dropset.
Steps:
Choose your weight, and sit down on the pulldown machine with an upright torso.
Adjust the thigh pad so that your legs fit snuggly under the support.
Grasp the bar with a pronated (overhand) grip, with your hands more than shoulder-width apart.
Pull down the bar until it is a few inches away from your upper chest.
Pause and contract your shoulder blades and lats at the bottom of the movement.
Return to the starting position with a controlled motion.
Repeat for recommended reps.
6. Dumbbell Pullover: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
While performing the dumbbell pullover, focus on a deep stretch and only come about 3/4th of the way up to keep tension on the lats.
Steps:
Lie across a stable flat bench. Your upper back, neck, and head should be fully supported.
Plant your feet shoulder-width apart on the floor.
Hold a dumbbell at its neck with both hands.
Extend your arms toward the ceiling, over your chest. Your palms should be facing each other, and your elbows slightly bent.
As you inhale, extend the weights back and over your head, keeping a strong back and core.
Exhale slowly and come about 3/4th of the way up.
Repeat for recommended reps.
Related: Golden Era Lifts: 5 Exercises From The Iconic Era You Need To Try
7. Back Extension (bodyweight): 2 sets to Failure
Back extension is one of the most effective ways of training your lower back. CBum performs two bodyweight sets of back extensions to failure.
Steps:
Position yourself on the back extension machine with your hips on top of the cushioned pads and your feet secured under the leg anchor.
Your body should be in a straight line at the starting position.
Place your arms behind your head or cross them in front of your chest.
Lower your torso until your head is a few inches off the floor.
Return to the starting position explosively and lift your torso a few inches.
Pause and contract your back for a couple of seconds.
Repeat for recommended reps.
Conclusion
By the end of the Chris Bumstead back workout, your muscles will be begging for mercy. Remember – Do not engage in ego lifting. If you do not feel a pump after every set, you should lower the weight and focus on contracting your back with every rep.
Put in the work, and the Gods of bodybuilding shall bless you with the physique of your dreams. Good luck!
Who is your favorite bodybuilder? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Hardest Muscles To Build
The hardest muscles to isolate and build mass.
Everyone has that specific set of muscles that infuriates them. That one spot where no matter how hard you train – no matter how hard you push yourself, you just don’t see the results you want.
But if you ask around the gym you’d probably find that there are some muscles most people agree to have a problem with. Those universal complaints that most bodybuilders have even after years of hitting the gym.
As always, we are happy to help by breaking down these tricky muscles and hopefully providing you with a better way to deal with them – leading you on a more pleasant path towards maximizing your over all muscle gain.
First thing’s first though, there is something to be said about genetics. As in, some people just have a harder time with certain muscles because of the DNA coursing through their body. It can’t be helped and sometimes that just means you have to work harder than the person next to you.
Also, proper form is key for all of these muscle groups. It’s key for any workout really – but part of what makes these specific ones so hard is because most people do not use correct form. So keep that in mind as you move forward with isolating these muscles. Whatever you are doing, you always want your spine to be properly aligned and make sure that you perform the full range of motion for the muscles you are working out.
CALVES
These are big ones. Calves are often either the most complained about muscle to build mass or the most overlooked. Either way they often pose more of a problem compared to other muscle sets. And there’s an actually a reason behind why they are so challenging. The anatomical configuration of the calf muscles resists the act of hypertrophy. Aka – by nature they literally resist muscle synthesis.
What is often the problem is that most people treat calves as an extra at the end of a workout – but because the calves are so much harder to develop they actually need to be focused on intensely. They key is to not make your calves an afterthought.
Here’s a breakdown on the three major muscles that make up the calves:
1. The gastrocnemius muscle (this is what gives the calf its curved shape).2. The soleus (the long flat muscle underneath).3. The Tibialis Anterior (this is the large frontal muscle).
That third one, the Tibialis Anterior might have surprised you. That’s because it is often overlooked when it comes to building those calves – which in turn makes the calves such a challenge for most people.
You must create a well structured workout routine that focuses on all three of these muscles in order to actually see growth. If you can focus on those then you will start to see some changes coming your way.
Here are a few examples of exercises you can do to pinpoint those calf muscles.
Barbell Seated Calf Raises Reverse Calf Raises (These will hit those oft overlooked Tibialis Anteriors!) Standing Barbell Calf Raises
LATS
The Latissimus Dorsi is another muscle that can be a real stinger in your workout routine if you don’t know the best ways to isolate and use correct technique. The main problem is that it is almost impossible to truly isolate the lats. What’s most important is to cut back on the amount of weight in order to perform the reps at a full range of motion (remember?). This will build the foundation for your lats leading to building actual mass in that area.
Surprisingly chin ups and pull ups are very effective in building your lats. Often experienced bodybuilders will be able to perform these with such ease that they use a dip belt with extra weight to push themselves even further. Elbow position is one of the most important aspects behind this. If your elbows are out wide you’ll trigger your upper lats. If your elbows are in tight you’ll be hitting up those lower muscles. Keep this in mind when performing your workout routine.
Also make sure to keep your hands facing away or down in order to maximize the amount of lat involvement.
Here are a few other suggestions to help build those back muscles.
Straight-Arm Pulldown Close-grip front lat pull downs Kneeling high pully rows One-arm standing cable rows
There you have it. Everyone may be different – but hopefully you now have a better understanding on how to handle two of the more challenging muscles over all.
What is your most challenging muscle to build? Let us know in the comments or shout it out to us on Facebook and Twitter!