what is the best way to build up upper body strength?

Answer 1

Worry about your legs first!!! Please.

There are already too many men running around who look like chickens ... I mean they have a big chest, back, and great arms --- but they're toodlying around on chicken legs. Disgracefully funny ... but enough is enough ... it's time that men start balancing their bodies in work outs!!!

If your determined to only worry about your "upper body":

1. Bench press ... maximum weight 3 set of 8 reps. Put more into resisting the weights than pushing.
2. Bi-ceps curls ... maximum weight 3 sets of 8 reps. (resistance)
3. Tri-cept dips with weights (max weight) 5 sets of 8 reps. (tri-cepst are the biggest mussel in arm)
4. Rows ... work largest portion of back mussels ... 4 sets of 8 reps.

Answer 2

I totally agree with Giggly Giraffe, if you wanna work-out, plz, do start a full body work !
You do not work-out only to show off, but to be healthier, body building is a "full commitment" sport...
People think that fitness and all is a field of exercises for lazy ppl, WRONG ! When you start this kind of activities, you have to be careful with how you exercise, how you eat, how you sleep,...
It's very hard work to get good results !
So, if you're not ready to commit, don't start !
Of course, you could still buy a pull-ups bar, that you fix in any door frame, and start pulling up with short series first, minimum 100(10x10), then add more as you get more comfortable with this exercise. You can also varie a little bit the position of your hands, either the space between them, or the position of your hands on the bar, like thumbs front(like you're facing your thumbs), or thumbs back(like you're facing your hands). Then, after that, you could try with one hand, the other one positioned on your wrist, to keep balance...
But, don't forget to do some for the bottom part of your body, like squat...Get some extra weight on your shoulders, any kind, of a minimum of 60-80 pounds(a bag of cement is the ideal !), or a small kid... LOL !!!
Then start crouching down, with you back strait up though, very important !
Then go back up, still strait, still very important !
Then back down, then back up, and so on...
The same, a minimum of 100(10x10)...
Do both exercises every morning for AT LEAST 45mins and that should do it !
And you can add some push-ups if you want...(no need to tell you how to do that, right?)
Enjoy !

Answer 3

I use free weights. Some people perfer machines, I always feel like I have more control over the weights. Also if you go to (ex) GNC they have supplements you can take that help with as well, for example Gakic can improve your strnght by 10.5%. they can help with your needs as well.

Answer 4

push-ups, and chin-ups are great general exercises for upper body strength....