Top 4 Most Underrated Exercises

December 30 2013

Top 4 Most Underrated Exercises

Let’s face it, most people perform the same strength-training exercises each time they visit the gym. Whether it’s squats for the legs or bicep curls for the arms, they’re stuck in the mindset that certain exercises are the ‘best’ for certain muscle groups. Don’t get me wrong, exercises such as this are highly effective, but there are plenty of other exercises which oftentimes go unnoticed. In this post, we’re going to reveal 4 of the most underrated exercises of all time.

#1) Deadlift

The first underrated exercise we’re going to talk about is the deadlift. Yes, this is the same exercise that you see competition bodybuilders performing at the gym and even on television. If you aren’t incorporating deadlifts into your normal gym routine, you’re missing out on one of the most effective upper and lower body workouts. Lifting a massively weighted barbell above your body strains your quads, shoulders, chest and arms.

#2) Tricep Dips

The tricep dip is another highly underrated exercise. It may only consist of lowering your body, but the weight of your body alone is enough to build more muscle mass in your triceps. You can perform tricep dips by gripping a bench behind your body, followed by lowering and raising your body. Continue performing these until you’ve reached your limit, take a short break, and attempt to hit this number of reps once again.

#3) Leg Lifts

Okay, so how much of a benefit can lifting your legs into the air really have? The short answer — LOTS. If you’re looking for a solid core and ab muscle-building workout, you can’t go wrong with leg lifts. It forces nearly every core muscle to constrict with minimal effort. Simply lay down with your back on the floor, lift your legs 2-3 feet, and hold them for as long as you can. If this isn’t intense enough for you, try wearing some ankle weights for added pressure.

#4) Dumbbell Standing Shoulder Press

One of my favorite dumbbell shoulder workouts is a standing military shoulder press. You don’t need to visit the gym to get a solid shoulder workout; all it takes it a pair of dumbbells to perform. Hold a dumbbell in each hand and raise them so they are next to your shoulders. Next, extend your arms up in the air, followed by lowering them back down to the original position. Perform 3 sets of 10 reps each for a solid shoulder workout.