Five exercises you couldn't do without.

[PounceOnit]

We all have different goals and needs. But, we're all trying to work out efficiently so that we have time to enjoy the rewards of a fit body (yes some are more fit than others, ha).

What are the five exercises you couldn't do without to reach your goals or maintain your fitness.

Top of my head, I'll start by saying:

Rowing. Great back, chest, shoulder workout.

Squats. Great for legs, ass, back.

Planks. Abs respond to this.

Yoga. Flexibility and de-stresser.

Bike. Cardio workout with less knee strain.

What's your? And why?

 

[LadyJesseQuinn]

I'm really surprised no one has mentioned dancing yet

 

[ManofThunder]

Walking, running, jumping and climbing (which includes pull-ups and hanging sit-ups) through my favourite forest. Sex is nice, too.

I'm really surprised no one has mentioned dancing yet

I'm happy to dance the night away, but most people don't appreciate my David Byrne dance-moves.

 

[Rooker]

Reading folks lists here tells me one could have a great workout with just their 5 faves. I could think one could even narrow down to 3 for a "desert island" list and still get a great workout.

Absolutely. If you consistently pull something toward your body or pull your body toward something, squat something from the ground, and press something away from your body or press your body away from the ground, you’d be strong and fit.

 

[B_Landers]

These are my personal favorites, not what I think are the most “essential” lifts:

1) Pecs: Dumbbell Incline Bench Press
2) Back: Close Grip Pull Down
3) Biceps: Incline Hammer Curl
4) Legs: Trap Bar Squat
5) Shoulders: Seated Barbell Press

 

[sophomore19]

deadlifts - back, hams, glutes, just about every major muscle in the body

squats - ass, quads, ass, posterior chain, ass

dumbbell press - chest pump

shoulder press - love the warm feeling it gives when you work the delts hard

preacher curls - biceps rock

 

[922493]

Deadlift - Legs, glutes, back, shoulders, grip. Good all over exercise and lets me shift large weights.

Squat - Legs, glutes, core. Does this really need explaining?

Bench press - Chest, triceps. Awesome compound exercise and it feels awesome.

Barbell rows - Back, biceps. Great for building the centre of your back and getting an arm pump at the same time.

Clean and press - Legs, back, shoulders, triceps. Gets the whole body involved and just feels awesome doing it.

 

[Exbiker]

Bench presses with barbells and dumbbells. Not at the same time, I mean as two different versions of similar movements. I want big(ger) pecs.

Crunches for abs.

Squats for legs.

Shoulder presses.

"Skullcrushers" for triceps.

:smile:

 

[socalfreak]

Pull-ups ...for back. They're effective, but can be challenging.
Bent barbell rows...for upper back/shoulder development. Same reason as above.
Close-grip bench press...this works your front deltoids , as well as your chest and triceps. Good for building strength.
Squats....overall leg development
Dips...shoulders, chest, triceps

 

[AlteredEgo]

Squats

Dead lifts

Child's pose

Stair climbing on real stairs

V-ups

My strategy has been to focus on large muscles and compound movements, and to engage in cardio that also drives those large muscles, or uses multiple muscle groups.

 

[deleted804793]

Squats

Calf Raises

Deadlifts

Incline Dumbbell Bench Press

Stretches in the Sauna

 

[twoton]

First of all, I'm limited by the facility that I workout in. However, it is provided free of charge by my employer and I can use it during my lunchtime.

There is no proper way to do big heavy lifts. Mostly it has machines, which I avoid. For barbell lifting, about all I can do is bench press and deadlift. There's no squat rack.

No. 1: barbell deads

then, in no particular order:

• dumbbell clean & press
• dumbbell squat (weights held at shoulders)
• pullups
• barbell bench press

I fool around with other stuff, but those are the top 5 I couldn't do without. And I run once in a while.

If I can ever carve out space in my garage I'll get a bar, some plates, and build a squat rack. Then I'll be set for life.

 

[PounceOnit]

Lots of good answers here. Good balance of focal points and some creativeness, too.

Intrigued by the stretches in the sauna.

 

[Hatt_101]

Back squat

Plyo box jumps

High jump take offs using a box

Combination cleans

The last one is a specific high jump circuit

 

[Betty_Cocker]

Squats/Lunges (can I count these as one) work those glutes and hammies

Standing calf raises (with dumbbells)

Overhead/Lying triceps (no waving flags under this grandma's arms) -again 2 exercises but same goal

Shoulder Press - I can feel the work in all parts of my shoulder/blades.

Crunches - plain and weighted and on an exercise ball. Crunch here, there and everywhere ...

I do all of these at home (along with several other exercises) but when I'm at the gym, I love to add the Leg Press Machine.

 

[twoton]

Plyo box jumps

I'd be cautious with these. They have a tendency to rupture Achilles tendons.

 

[944592]

Sex. Standing up, in a hammock.

 

[AlteredEgo]

Twoton looks like he could dead lift my house. Just sayin'.

I used to stretch in the sauna! Best stretching ever.

 

[Hatt_101]

I'd be cautious with these. They have a tendency to rupture Achilles tendons.

not for me ive been doing these for years and my coach is a former Olympic High jumper once ranked #1 in the world so im sure he would never injure us

 

[SprinkleMe69]

Lifting shit all different kinds of ways. Not just with arms but legs also.

Walking/running on treadmill.

Squats and lunges.

I like it when my legs burn.