Many people think they need to go to gyms or use expensive equipment when it comes to building body strength
. Actually you can build a powerful upper and lower body without any of these fancy equipment or expensive gym memberships. All you need is your own bodyweight, gravity and a cheap pair of dumbbells.
If you are serious about keeping fit then you need to develop an exercise regime that involves strength training and cardiovascular exercises. Combing these two types of exercises will ensure there is an equal balance in your bodys muscle mass and cardio strength.
For strength training you also need a balance between the upper and lower body to ensure there are no imbalances. For example, if you do 20 push ups they should be followed by 20 pull-ups to balance the different sets of muscles that are being used separately.
The following two exercises are simple and effective at building powerful arm strength. You will need a pair of dumb bells to perform this exercise.
The Shoulder Press
As well as building strength in your shoulders this exercise also targets your upper chest, back and your triceps.
With this exercise you can begin either standing or sitting down. Your feet should be hip distance apart. Hold a dumbbell in each hand and raise and rest them just above your shoulders. The palm of each hand should be facing forward. In an arc like fashion push the dumbbells upwards so that the edge of each dumbbell is close together at the top. At this point, hold for a second then lower slowly and repeat. Try and begin with 10 reps and then increase the number as you build up your strength over time.
The Standing Fly
This is a simple but effective exercise to build strong shoulders. Begin with your feet at hip-distance apart. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with the palms facing your outer thighs. From the sides raise your arms until they reach level with your shoulder height. Pause for a second and lower gently. Then repeat the motion again. Start with 10 reps to begin with and then increase the number as you build up your strength over time.
Make sure you do a warm up exercise and then stretching exercises before each training session.
If you have any medical condition or injury then always consult a doctor or physician for advice before doing any new type of exercises.