When it comes to women getting in shape, building their upper body is usually listed in the “What they don’t want” section.
However, this is usually because the first thing that comes to mind are female bodybuilders.
When many do think about what they would like their upper body to look like, Jennifer Aniston’s slender and toned figure is always one that stands out and the 50-year-old Friends actress is a name that hundreds of our clients at Ultimate Performance say they want to look like.
Strong, yet feminine. Not bulky, yet a lean and defined look. If you’re a woman who is looking to build a strong body yet maintain and enhance your feminine qualities, this workout is for you!
Most women tend to shy away from training their upper body. Usually because of the fear they might lose their feminine shape.
While this is not only a myth, the lack of training your upper body can prevent you from building the feminine figure you truly want.
To break down the physique, there are going to be three main areas of focus:
Whether you’re wearing your favorite summer dress or a tank top, the first thing people will notice are your arms. Having a shapely booty is great, but if your arms are not toned, very few people will question if you work out.
One of the best things to compliment a women’s physique is a set of lean and toned arms – and Jennifer Aniston is a perfect example of this. Just check out any photo of her on the red carpet and you’ll see her perfectly-sculpted arms compliment any dress she wears.
Because you’ll be training your arms already as a byproduct of training shoulders and back, we will give less attention and frequency here, and focus more on ‘sculpting’ the muscle with higher reps and more specific movements once per week.
A great set of arms can easily be overshadowed if you don’t have defined shoulders.
Building your shoulders will give your arms that lovely defined look that will make everyone turn their head and ask if you’re a fitness model.
Because shoulders are such a small muscle with 3 different portions (front, side, and rear) they are best trained with higher frequency as well as targeting them from as many angles as possible.
They say abs are made in the kitchen, and while this is true, if they’re not developed enough it can take quite a lot of dieting to drop to a low enough fat percentage to see them.
Abs are definitely a body fat issue more so than anything else. However, spending some time training them in the gym 1-2 times per week like you would any other muscle group is important to developing that show-stopping look.
We’re not looking to develop the abs into ‘3D bricks’ dominating your midsection like a CrossFit athlete, we are however looking to tighten that midsection and give you those lovely subtle lines that scream to people “she’s in incredible shape”.
When wearing an evening dress or tank top, body fat on the back can make many women feel self-conscious.
While we’re not looking to build a lot of muscle here, we are focused primarily on shaping three key areas:
To maintain the feminine qualities we want, we want to make sure we avoid any stimulus to the traps and upper back, and focus more on the areas that will only accentuate already existing feminine qualities.
Training the lats will not only help bring more shape to the body, but it will also give the illusion of your waist looking smaller. While we’re not looking to grow ‘wings’, a little stimulus of the muscle can go a long way.
Developing the mid portion of your back will open a wide range of new wardrobe ideas as well as allow you to sport backless dresses with more confidence than you’ve ever had before.
Last but not least, the lower portion of the back, primarily the spinal erectors, will give your body that final touch of feminine strength it deserves. This area, when well developed, will also make your booty perk higher.
Here are two workouts that will help you get a body like Jennifer Aniston:
This guide is aimed at trainees with a good knowledge of the exercises and how to train safely and effectively.
If you are unsure and want access to training programmes, nutrition information and over 250+ demonstration videos, sign up for LiveUP online coaching today or consult a qualified PT.
The Set-Up
The Movement
Trainer Tips
The Set-Up
The Movement
Trainer Tips
The Set-Up
The Movement
Trainer Tips
The Set-Up
The Movement
Trainer Tips
The Set-Up
The Movement
Example: Pull the rope to the face without allowing the shoulder blades to move, return the rope to the starting position without allowing the shoulders to protract.
Concentric: The fully-shortened position is determined by how far you can pull the rope apart while maintaining the shoulder blades in a neutral position.
Eccentric: The fully-lengthened position is determined by how far you can stretch the rear delts and upper back muscles without allowing the shoulder blades to protract.
Common Mistakes: As the set becomes progressively more challenging, it’s typical to see extra range of motion being gained by moving from the hips as you swing backward.
It’s also common to see the biceps curling the weight to the face versus allowing for the upper back and rear delts to do the work.
Trainer Tips
The Set-Up
The Movement
Trainer Tips
The Set-Up
The Movement
Trainer Tips
The Set-Up
The Movement
Trainer Tips
The Set-Up
The Movement
Trainer Tips
The Set-Up
The Movement
Trainer Tips
The Set-Up
The Movement
Trainer Tips
The Set-Up
The Movement
Trainer Tips
The Set-Up
The Movement
Trainer Tips
The Set-Up
The Movement
Trainer Tips
By Eric Bowling