A barbell is a straight long cylindrical bar with different diameters that helps tone, tighten, and burn fat. It is safe and perfect for beginners, and you can do a variety of exercises with it. Here are 11 barbell exercises for women to target the upper and lower body and the core. Scroll down!

1. Barbell Deadlift

Target: Hamstrings, Glutes, Lower back, Traps, and Core How To Do

Hold a barbell with the palms facing inward and hands and feet shoulder-width apart. Keep the chest up, engage the core and glutes, and rest the barbell against the thighs. Hinge from the waist and bend your upper body down. Lower the barbell until it almost touches your feet. Get up, stand straight, and thrust your hips forward. Engage the core and glutes to prevent lower back pain. Do 3 sets of 8-12 reps with 20 seconds rest between the sets.

Note: Avoid deadlift if you have lower back pain or injury.

2. Barbell Upright Row

Target: Shoulders and Upper back How To Do

Hold the barbell with the palms facing inward, touching the thighs. Keep the hands and feet shoulder-width apart, and the knees soft and chest up. Engage the core and glutes. Pull the barbell up towards your chin and keep the elbows out. Lower the barbell back to the starting position. Do 3 sets of 8-12 reps.

3. Barbell Bent-Over Row

Target: Upper back, Glutes, Shoulders, and Upper arms How To Do

Hold a barbell with the palms turned outward. Keep the hands shoulder-width apart, bend the knees slightly, roll the shoulders back, and keep your chin up. Hinge from the waist and bend your upper body forward. Keep your core and glutes engaged and look down. This is the starting position. Keep the elbows close to the body and pull the barbell towards your chest. Inhale and lower the barbell back to the starting position. Do 3 sets of 8-12 reps.

4. Barbell Bicep Curl

Target: Biceps How To Do

Hold a barbell with the palms facing outward, and keep the hands and feet shoulder-width apart. Roll the shoulders back, keep the chest up, and engage the core and glutes. Curl your arms up and stop when the elbows are completely flexed. Inhale and lower the barbell back to the starting position. Do 3 sets of 8-12 reps.

5. Barbell Tricep Extension

Target: Triceps How To Do

Lie down on a mat, flex the knees, and keep the feet flat on the floor. Position a barbell above your head before lying down. Extend your arms behind your head and grab the barbell. Keep the hands shoulder-width apart. Pick the barbell up, extend your hands, and position it right over your chest. This is the starting position. Keep the upper arm stable and bend the elbows to lower your forearm. Stop when the barbell is about to touch the floor. Exhale and bring your forearm up. Do 3 sets of 8-12 reps.

6. Barbell Roll Out

Target: Abs, Glutes, Hamstrings, Shoulders, and Lats How To Do

Kneel on a mat and place a barbell in front of your knees. Lower your upper body to grip the barbell. Keep the hands shoulder-width apart and the palms facing inward. Engage the core and glutes. This is the starting position. Push the barbell with your hands and roll it forward. Move your upper body as you roll and keep the spine straight. Come back to the starting position. Do 3 sets of 8-12 reps.

7. Barbell Chest Press

Target: Chest, Shoulders, Upper back, and Biceps How To Do

Lie down on your back on a barbell rack bench with the legs on either side of the bench. Keep the feet flat on the floor. Grip the barbell and lift it to unhook it from the rack. Extend the arms and bring the barbell above your chest. This is the starting position. Inhale and lower the barbell. Stop when it is a few inches above the lower ribs of your chest. Exhale and push the barbell back up to the starting position. Do 3 sets of 8-12 reps.

8. Barbell Shoulder Press

Target: Shoulders, Chest, Biceps, and Upper back How To Do

Hold a barbell with palms facing inward. Keep the hands and feet shoulder-width apart and the knees soft. Roll the shoulders back, keep the chest up, and engage the core and glutes. Pick it up from the floor to the chest level. Flex your wrists so that the palms face outward. Keep the elbows close to the body and look forward. This is the starting position. Exhale and push the barbell above your head. Inhale and slowly bring the barbell back to the starting position. Do 3 sets of 8-12 reps.

9. Barbell Lunge

Target: Hamstrings, Quads, Glutes, and Core How To Do

Position a barbell on the rack at the shoulder level and stand facing away from it. Grip the barbell, position it on your shoulders, and lift it. Bring your left foot at the same level as the right foot. Walk a few steps away from the rack. Engage the core and glutes, keep the feet shoulder-width apart and the chest up, and look forward. This is the starting position. Exhale and take a step ahead with your right leg. Inhale, bend your knees, and lower your body into a lunge position. Exhale, get back up, and place your right foot back. Repeat with the left foot to complete one rep. Do 3 sets of 12 reps.

10. Barbell Squat

Target: Glutes, Hamstrings, Quads, Lower abs, and Lower back How To Do

Position a barbell on the barbell rack at your shoulder level and stand facing away from it. Grip the barbell, position it on your shoulders, and lift it. Walk a few steps away from the rack. Engage the core and glutes, keep the feet shoulder-width apart and the chest up, and look forward. This is the starting position. Push your hips back, bend your knees, and lower your body to get into a sitting or squatting position. The knees should point out and not overshoot the toes. Exhale and get back up. Do 3 sets of 10 reps.

11. Barbell Hip Thrust

Target: Glutes, Hip adductors, Hamstrings, Quads, and Core How To Do

Hold a barbell with the hands shoulder-width apart and palms facing inward. Sit on the floor with your back against the barbell bench. Bend the knees, keep the feet flat on the floor, and rest the barbell on your pelvic area. Push against the bench to lift your pelvis off the floor. This is the starting position. Exhale and push your pelvis up and extend it. The hips, thighs, and upper body should be in the same line. Inhale and hinge from the pelvis to bring it down. Before it touches the floor, push it up again. Do 3 sets of 8-12 reps.

These 11 barbell exercises target all areas of the body and can help tone and strengthen it. If you are wondering what sets barbell exercises apart and why include them in your routine, scroll down.

Benefits Of Barbell Exercises

Help improve posture Help build muscle strength

Improve muscle power Prevent muscle loss and helps build lean muscle Improve athletic performance

How often should you do barbell exercises? Scroll down to find out in the following section.

How Often To Use The Barbell

Barbell exercises are weight training or strength training exercises. As a rule of thumb, it is best to do these exercises thrice a week. However, target each body part on different days and do not do all 11 exercises simultaneously.

The Takeaway

Aging and muscle loss are natural biological processes. However, you can prevent it, retain strength and stability, and look toned and sculpted if you add weight training to your workout routine. Barbells are great weight training equipment as they are beginner-friendly, and you can use them with or without the weight plates. Follow the steps and do the 11 barbell exercises mentioned above to tone, tighten, and strengthen your body – because being fit and looking good is ageless! How long do barbell exercises take to show results? It depends on your fitness levels and the type of exercises you do. Usually, it takes 8-12 weeks to show noticeable results. Should I eat before or after lifting weights? Both pre-and post-workout meals are important. Eating before lifting weights helps provide you energy to perform, while a meal after it helps your body recover and adapt. Is peanut butter good after lifting weights? Yes. Peanut butter is rich in protein and helps build and repair muscles after lifting weights.

Sources

7 Best Barbell Weight Racks Of 2021 Top 15 Biceps Exercises For Women – A Step-By-Step Guide 10 Best Home Exercises To Get Rid Of Flabby Arms 15 Best Chest Workouts To Firm And Lift Breasts 15 Best Exercises To Reduce Back Fat For Women