Steppin’ up to the plates

Add comment August 8th, 2008

I was working out with a client last week and trying to think of a new chest exercise for him, when I remembered one I had seen in Men’s Health awhile back.

You take two free-weight plates of equal weight and press them together between your hands out in front of your chest. You’re not allowed to wrap your fingers anywhere around the edges of the plates and it’s a really good idea to hold them out far enough to save your toes in case of a mishap.

Then you just hold them together for as long as you can.

I started him out with five-pound weights and it didn’t take long until it became a competition. His best was a shaky minute and 33 seconds. Mine was a minute and 53.

Round two is scheduled for his workout this coming Monday.

The Men’s Health article ( I saved it as I often do when I see exercises I like) says the exercise builds the chest, biceps, shoulders and abs, and will help strengthen your grip. It suggests trying it at “the end of an upper-body routine or a chest workout, or in place of cable crossovers.”

Have fun.