Baby Got BACK - Back Muscles, That Is :)

Personally, I love seeing someone with a strong back. Maybe it's just because I've been in fitness for so long, but a toned back is one of the first things I notice...

If a person's back is proportionately developed, it shows me that they train with attention and care, and a balanced approach - something I think we should all be striving for!

I find that those who pay attention to those muscles tend to stand up a little straighter, fill out their t-shirt a little better, and have that v-shaped, tapered-waist look that so many desire.

However, I sort of feel like this muscle group doesn't always get the love it deserves, particularly from women...

But why? Even a little tone makes a big difference, and I think a strong back is beautiful!

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When we think of lifting, we often give the muscles we see in the mirror every day the most attention. If we do consider the muscles on the back of the body, glutes, hamstrings, and calves often come next.

But what about up above? Just because you don't see it often doesn't mean it's not there! Plus, if you're working all your other muscles, neglecting a whole section of your body can make for a much less balanced look.

So don't forget to work that back of yours!

And don't worry ladies, incorporating back-targeting exercises into your workouts won't make you all of a sudden wake up one day looking like the guy below... One more time: get that fear out of your head, because I promise you that it just doesn't work that way!

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Here are some of my favorite back-sculpting exercises to incorporate into your regimen (if you haven't already):

• Renegade rows

• Kettlebell swings

• Bent over row (single arm or both, supported on a bench or not)

• Pull ups/chin ups (play with your grip width)

• Shrugs

• Rear delt flys

There are TONS of exercises out there to target your back muscles, but these are just a few of my favorites :)

When I think about toning my back, I think about everything from my neck to my butt, but focusing mainly on the upper parts - to me, these include shoulders, traps, rhomboids, lats, obliques, erectors... Lots and lots of muscles back there, so get them all involved!

Ps. Just a little tip - a bit of extra broadness across the shoulders and back makes your waist look smaller, for anyone who cares about that... It's usually a pretty solid selling point for getting back exercises into the mix, especially for all my ladies out there!

Do you like to work your back? What are some of your favorite exercises?

Please feel free to comment, upvote, or resteem if you'd like! :)