🏋️‍♂️ The WORST chest exercises you should ditch

POWERED BY:

Today’s newsletter is sponsored by Tru Grit. Be sure to browse Tru Grit’s durable (and affordable) fitness equipment by heading here.

Here's what's going on today:

• The ongoing battle between strength and hypertrophy

• Jeff Nippard's favorite chest exercises

• 30-minute HIIT workouts to get your sweat on

Exercise Tips

Sophie's Choice

The two great pillars of the resistance training world are hypertrophy and strength. Much like choosing your path early in the game of Life, these two (eventual) divergent goals shape your training philosophy. BarBend senior writer Jake Dickson breaks down the intricacies of training for each.

Strength training usually boils down to powerlifting, weightlifting, or Strongman lifts, depending on which Hogwarts School of Strength house you enroll in. By contrast, hypertrophy training is more diverse and will involve a larger array of exercises and equipment types than strength training. (Though there’s going to be some overlap.)

You can benefit from both kinds of training, but you need to avoid getting mixed up in the process.

A Message From Tru Grit

Discover Strength You Didn't Know You Had

"REFUSE TO QUIT" isn't just a motto; it's a promise to you.

Tru Grit is bringing back the essence of tough training with their premium, but affordable, fitness equipment.

Whether you're a seasoned lifter or just beginning your fitness journey, these products, including the innovative Runner and Runner Elite, are designed to push your limits.

With Tru Grit, every workout is a step towards greatness.

See what it means to truly never quit.

Bodybuilding

Top Tier

Jeff Nippard is known for his critical eye for hypertrophy training. He hates wasting time in the gym and wants to use science and experience to grow muscles as efficiently as possible. It is unsurprising, then, that he has compiled a list of the best (and worst) exercises for one of the most prized muscle groups among lifters: the chest.

Ranking staples like dips and the barbell bench press in the A tier will warm the hearts of many who would be loathe to give them up. But other moves, like the dumbbell pullover and the hex press, weren't so lucky, landing in the dreaded F tier.

Chest training can be all about changing angles and loads, so spice up your pecs with some of the top lifts here.

Workouts

HIIT It Hard

On one hand, HIIT workouts are the darling of the fitness world for their brevity, convenience, and effectiveness. On the other hand, they are very hard. And the five 30-minute HIIT workouts we rounded up below offer both the benefits and the pain that come with actually executing them. If you can stick it out, the benefits of HIIT are legion.

There's something for everyone here. If you don't have access to even the most basic fitness equipment, there are bodyweight workouts to tear you up. But if you have some barbells or resistance bands on hand, we have options for those, too. Pack more than one shirt so you have something dry to change into when you're done.

From Our Sponsor

Up for a challenge that tests your grip, grit, and gulp? Enter the Major Fitness Mug Challenge. It’s not just about hydration; it’s about proving your mettle. Secure your mug for a shot at $200 or guarantee a $50 prize just for joining the fray. Ready to sip your way to victory?

Everything Else

Of Romanians and Powerlifting

• The dumbbell Romanian deadlift can be done in virtually any gym, so stop making these simple mistakes and start getting the most out of it.

• Russel Orhii broke a record in a meet ... but only kind of. Watch his plate-rattling feat here.

• Powerlifting America held its Raw Nationals in the biggest little city in the world: Reno, NV. Get the results here.