Real Life is Mostly One Sided

Even though much of the exercise we do is bilaterally balanced (both arms together or both legs together) the reality is that most tasks in the real world are unilateral (one arm or one leg at a time). By using two limbs during exercise, we are symmetrically balanced and we load the body very evenly. This puts much less stress on your trunk which allows the muscles to work to a much higher level of resistance. However, when you start a lawn mower, throw a ball or step on the brake on your car you typically do it with one limb. Although at first glance that may seem to be undesirable, it is both unavoidable and offers some hidden benefit. By loading the body asymmetrically, core muscles are engaged to stabilize the trunk. The next time you get on a chest press, row or leg press, try using one limb at a time to do the exercise. It may take a little longer but you won’t need as many crunches or back extensions to tone up those abs and back.

Better Balance

Improving your leg strength will improve your balance - The Truth on Fitness: Developing Better Balance. Use the Eagle Leg Press with a moderate to light weight. Push hard and fast to develop power, for 10 to 15 repetitions, then rest and do it again. Use the same strategy on the calf raise to develop the muscles around the ankle.

Slender Hips

Use the leg press and the hip abduction/adduction. Eagle Leg Press has a patented technology that really helps to tighten your glutes. The addition of exercises to tighten your inner and outer thighs will create the perfect exercise package to get the hips in shape.

Tiny Waist

Use three CYBEX machines. The rotary torso, abdominal machine, and back extension (strong abs need to be balanced with a strong back). Remember to use enough weight for a maximum of 15 repetitions. If you can do more than 15 reps, add weight.

Nice Chest and Back

To lift your chest, strengthen the pectoral muscles with the chest press. You’ll get extra advantage by using one arm at a time – which is most easily accomplished with the unilateral motion of CYBEX Eagle. Pair this with the incline pull or Eagle Row to strengthen the muscles in your upper back and achieve a balanced look.

Broad Shoulders

Nicely defined shoulders help to create a great hourglass look. Combine the overhead press with the lateral raise for a great result. Do the overhead press first, and if you’re using the Eagle Overhead Press, try doing one arm at a time.

Develop Your Core

Try working one arm or one leg at a time (on the row, chest press, or leg press). Using only one limb forces your core musculature to work harder to stabilize the motion. Remember—real life is asymmetric.

Upper Arm Flab Reducer

This is a tough one. You can’t reduce weight in spots but you can tighten flabby muscles and build muscle mass in specific areas. Use the triceps extension and remember that weight—not higher reps—builds muscle mass. The Eagle Arm Extension is the perfect machine to use for this. It is designed to effectively focus on the triceps without fear of overstressing shoulder.

Extra Tip

Just like you should work the reciprocal muscles of the abs and the back in tandem, use the following machines together in your workout. row and chest press; shoulder press and lat pull-down; leg extension and leg curl; hip abduction and hip adduction; fly and rear delt. Working opposing muscle groups together keeps the body from developing out of balance.

Add Weight to Lose Weight

1. Should I do more reps with less weight? 2. Or use more weight and do fewer reps? If you are looking to shed pounds, the answer is #2. Select a weight heavy enough that you are able to do 15 reps maximum. Work up to completing three sets of 15 reps. It seems contradictory— but increasing lean body mass is the best way to lose excess fat and maintain a long-term healthy body weight.

Best Butt Workout

Get on the Eagle Leg Press and adjust the back to position #4. Adjust the footplate so that when your toes are at the top of the footplate, your knee is at a 90° angle. Select a weight where you can’t do more than 15 reps. Repeat 15 reps three times. {EXTRA TIP: for added variety, do one leg at a time placing less stress on the back and greater emphasis on the glutes}.

Flattest Tummy

Get on the Eagle or VR3 Ab machine. It may not look like it is going to work your abs—but from the first lean-forward you will know it is working just the area you need to tighten up those ab muscles. {EXTRA TIP—REALLY IMPORTANT: Always work opposing muscle groups in tandem. Do 10–15 reps on the ab machine and then 10–15 on the back machine. Repeat 3 times}.