The “glamor muscles” Chest, Biceps, Triceps, Abs, and Quads get most of the attention from the ladies (and men), thanks to the fact that they are the most visible. However, don’t make the mistake of over-training these muscles to the exclusion of your other muscle groups. You could end up with imbalanced musculature and posture problems.
Here are a few of the less popular muscle groups you NEED to focus on:
1- Brachialis
This is the proper scientific name for your forearm muscles, the muscles that do all the work of gripping, holding, and squeezing things. If you neglect your forearms, heavy lifts, presses, and curls will place a lot of strain on your wrists, increasing your risk of carpal tunnel syndrome and joint damage. Hammer Curls, Reverse Curls, and Farmer’s Walks are all excellent for increasing your forearm strength.
Video:
2- Obliques
While most core workouts pay plenty of attention to your abs (of course) and lower back (vital for proper posture and spinal support), your obliques, or side muscles, often get neglected. These muscles help you to twist and turn, and contribute to proper posture when lifting imbalanced loads (think Single-Arm Overhead Presses). Make sure to mix exercises like Side Plank and Woodchoppers into your core workouts.
