The following details my primary back and biceps workout from this past Wednesday night at Kirkland Gold’s Gym.  The workout was designed by my coach, John Meadows, and I trained alongside my bride.  Here is what we did…

 

Seated Cable Rows

 

We attached D handles and a couple carabiners available here: https://www.elitefts.com/carabiner-4-pack.html.

 

Set 1 x 10 reps with 110lbs

Set 2 x 10 reps with 130lbs

Set 3 x 10 reps with 150lbs

Set 4 x 10 reps with 170lbs

Set 5 x 10 reps with 190lbs

 

*Drive your elbows back and contract hard while spreading the handles.  Work your way up doing sets of 10 reps until you get to where you couldn’t get 10 if you increased weight again.  I counted this as 3 working sets.

 

Here is a video:

 

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25cxGUShjQg]

 

Chest Supported Rows

 

I used a Life Fitness machine with a semi-supinated grip – FYI.

 

Set 1 x 8 reps with 190lbs

Set 2 x 8 reps with 205lbs

Set 3 x 8 reps with 235lbs -> drop to 175lbs x failure (9 reps)

 

*Work up to a very hard set of 8 reps without getting sloppy with your form before doing a final drop set.

 

Dumbbell Pullovers

 

Set 1 x 10 reps with 70lbs

Set 2 x 10 reps with 75lbs

Set 3 x 10 reps with 75lbs

Set 4 x 10 reps with 75lbs -> drop to 55lbs x failure (11 reps)

 

*Lay on the bench vs across it and really work the stretch before finishing your final set with a drop set.

 

Dumbbell Rows

 

Set 1 x 6 reps with 140lbs

Set 2 x 6 reps with 140lbs

Set 3 x 6 reps with 140lbs -> drop to 90 x failure (12 reps)

 

*Grind some heavier weight here for sets of 6 before doing a drop set.  I took a breather between doing the drop sets.

 

Banded Good Mornings

 

I used the following band for this exercise: https://www.elitefts.com/shop/bars-weights/bands/pro-monster-mini-restistance-band.html.  I can’t get crazy due to my lower back, so select a band which matches your abilities.

 

Set 1 x 10 (super-slow) reps with Pro Monster Mini Resistance Band

Set 2 x 10 (super-slow) reps with Pro Monster Mini Resistance Band

Set 3 x 10 (super-slow) reps with Pro Monster Mini Resistance Band

 

*Wrap the band around the back of your neck and step on the other end for this exercise.  I used a 5 second eccentric and concentric here and really flexed my back hard at the top.

 

Guillotine Curls

 

This wasn’t part of John’s program, but was a training tip from T-Nation which I wanted to try today.

 

Set 1 x 10 reps with 120lbs

Set 2 x 10 reps with 120lbs

Set 3 x 10 reps with 120lbs

Set 4 x 10 reps with 120lbs

 

*The key here is to hold the contraction in the flexed position and then extend your arms slowly on the eccentric portion of the movement.

 

Here is a video:

 

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf8XAK2mw40]

 

Standing Unilateral Cable Biceps Curls

PicsArt_05-27-02.10.08

Set 1 x 8 reps with 60lbs

Set 2 x 8 reps with 60lbs

Set 3 x 8 reps with 60lbs

 

*These are performed as though you are doing a front double arm biceps pose, but while holding the D handles from the upper pulley in a cable cross-over.  Flex hard in the contracted position and use a 3 second eccentric (negative).

 

That concluded this primary back and biceps workout.

 

Train hard!

Mark