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Owen's Shoulder and Biceps Workout
Exclusive to MensHealth.com
"I do this routine more to prevent injury than to build muscle," says Owen McKibbin. But anybody who tries it for a few weeks is bound to get some muscle-building benefit, as well as strength and stability around the fragile shoulder joint.
"I've put people on this shoulder routine, and it makes everyone feel better," he adds. McKibbin starts with a pair of 35-pound dumbbells and drops all the way down to 10-pounders. But when you try it for the first time, even if you're in pretty good shape, you probably want to start with 20-pounders and work your way down to 5's, or even your wife's plastic-coated 2 ½-pounders.
1. Press-and-curl combo
Sit on the end of a bench, holding the weights at arm's length, palms out. Curl the weights up to shoulder height, then twist them so your palms are facing out again. Now press them overhead. Lower the weights and repeat. Do 10 repetitions of the press-and-curl combo, then 10 of just the shoulder press.
2. Lateral raise
Drop those weights and pick up lighter ones (Owen uses 10's for this). Hold the weights at arm's length, with a slight bend in your elbows, palms facing your thighs. Now lift them straight out to the sides. Do 15 repetitions.
3. 90-degree lateral raise
Now put down those weights and pick up slightly heavier ones (Owen uses 15-pounders). Bend your elbows 90 degrees and do 15 to 20 more lateral raises.
4. Front raise
Put those weights down and grab the lighter ones (Owen uses 10's). Hold the weights at arm's length, palms facing thighs, and raise them straight out in front of you. Do 10 repetitions.
5. Reverse-grip press
Without resting or switching weights, hold the weights in front of your shoulders, palms turned toward your torso, as if you've just finished a biceps curl. Now press them up 15 times.
6. Rear-deltoid raise
Finally, without resting or switching weights, hold them down at arm's length again, palms turned toward thighs. Bend over at the waist. Raise the weights out and back, as if you were flying. Do 18 to 20 repetitions. Believe it or not, McKibbin then repeats the whole process. He may drop down to 8-pound weights for the final exercises. "But if my form is good, I stay with 10-pounders," he says. Do yourself a favor and wait a while before you build up to that.