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35-Minute PULL Workout: Back and Bicep Workout (SplitStrong 35, DAY 7)

Strengthen your Upper Body PULL muscles with this BACK and BICEPS Workout at home! Super-setting back exercises, bicep exercises AND Cardio Tabata intervals. The ultimate dumbbell arm workout for defined back and biceps at home.

This is DAY 7 of our SplitStrong 35 Workout Program.

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You crushed our “Push Day” Workout (Day 2 of the SplitStrong Workout Program) last week, and now it’s time to balance it out by targeting your upper body PULL Muscles (BACK and BICEPS)! 

From back rows to biceps curls, this is STRENGTH TRAINING for your back and biceps with dumbbells. No fancy gym machines needed.

woman performing a single arm dumbbell row in a Back and Biceps Workout

Pull Workout FAQs

Should You Train Back And Biceps Together?

Yes! Back and biceps are two arm muscles that you use for ‘pulling movements.’ Your back and bicep muscles contract when you pull the weight towards you. So it’s ideal to pair these two muscle groups together in a back and bicep superset workout.

Why Pair Upper Body Strength And Cardio?

Studies show that people who include both weight training and cardio exercises (like HIIT) in their weekly exercise routine have the best overall results in terms of weight loss, strength and cardio endurance. I personally like to pair cardio with an upper body strength day because you get the muscle building benefits of strength training AND the calorie burning benefits of HIIT training. 

woman performing a dumbbell back fly in a Back and Biceps Workout

Back and biceps workout for building upper body strength and defined arms at home. 

Four dumbbell back exercise and three dumbbell bicep exercises combined with heart-pumping cardio tabata intervals!

This back and bicep superset workout for women is the perfect strength and cardio combo.

Workout Equipment:

A medium-to-heavy set of dumbbells.

I recommend 8-25 lbs depending on your fitness level. I’m using 15 and 20 lb dumbbells in this workout video. The last 2-3 reps of each exercise should feel challenging to complete; that means you chose the right weights.

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woman performing a plank and single arm row in a back and bicep workout

Workout Instructions:

Follow along with the guided Back and Biceps Workout on YouTubeled by certified personal trainer, Lindsey Bomgren. 

Your Workout Looks Like This:

  • 3 Circuits (a back circuit, bicep circuit, and combo back and biceps finisher circuit)
  • 2-3 Dumbbell Strength Exercises and 2 Cardio Tabata Exercises Per Circuit
  • Timed Intervals (for the strength exercises: 40 seconds of work per exercise, 20 seconds rest; for the cardio exercises: 20 seconds of work, 10 seconds of rest)
  • Repeat Each Strength Circuit x2 Sets and Each Cardio Tabata Circuit x3 Sets
  • Workout Includes 5-Minute Mobility Warm-Up and 5-Minute Cool Down Stretching

Workout Outline

CIRCUIT ONE: Back
STRENGTH
1. Bent Over Back Row
2. Dumbbell Pullovers
3. Single Arm Back Fly
CARDIO TABATA
1. Jab, Cross, Knee Strike
2. Launcher Plank and Dumbbell Row

CIRCUIT TWO: Biceps
STRENGTH
1. Flip Grip Bicep Curl
2. 4 Bicep Curls and Isometric Bicep Hold
CARDIO TABATA
1. 2 Hooks and Ground to Squat Jump
2. Jack and Weighted Press Out

CIRCUIT THREE: Back and Biceps
STRENGTH
1. 3-Way Back Row
2. Alternating Hammer Curls
CARDIO TABATA
1. 2 Jabs and 2 Lateral Shuffles
2. Superman Burpees

Woman performing a single arm back fly in a Back and Bicep Workout

Prefer to Watch On YouTube?

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7 Back and Bicep Exercises with Dumbbells

Bent Over Row (Single, Single, Double)

Targets: The largest back muscle, latissimus dorsi (or lats); biceps and core.

how to do a Bent Over Back Row with dumbbells

How To Do A Bent Over Back Row (Single, Single, Double)

  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Hold a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing in towards each other.
  2. Hinge forward at the hips maintaining a flat back, and belly button pulled back towards your spine.
  3. Pull the dumbbell in your right hand back towards your right hip (think of pulling from your elbow versus your wrist). Stop once your right elbow is in line with your rib cage, making a straight line from shoulder to elbow.
  4. Hold the row at the top for a moment squeezing your shoulder blade down and back. With control, lower the dumbbell back to the starting position.
  5. Repeat with the dumbbell in your left hand.
  6. Then, squeeze your shoulder blades together as you row both dumbbells towards your rib cage (the “double” row).

Dumbbell Pullover

Targets: The arms, back (lats), abs and core.

Note, this is one of the only dumbbell back exercises that creates lateral flexion (like using the lat pulldown machine). 

how to do a dumbbell pullover

How To Do A Dumbbell Pullover

  1. Lay flat on your back with legs bent at 90 degrees. Hold one or two dumbbells in your hands with arms extended overhead (one dumbbell horizontally or two dumbbells vertically).
  2. With a slight bend in the elbows, slowly lower the dumbbells overhead towards the ground. Try to keep your low back pressed into the mat/ground.
  3. Then exhale as you pull the dumbbell(s) overhead, engaging the lats. Think of pulling your armpits down towards your hips to return back to the starting position.

Modification: Hold one dumbbell horizontally (one head of the dumbbell in each hand) instead of using two dumbbells.

Single Arm Back Fly

Targets: The rear delts (rear shoulders), and major upper back muscles including the rhomboids and trapezius.

how to do a single arm back fly | back and bicep exercises

How To Do A Single Arm Back Fly

  1. Stand with your feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent. Option to keep feet parallel or take a slightly staggered stance to better support your low back (stepping your right leg slightly behind your left leg, as pictured above).
  2. Hold one dumbbell in your left hand at your left hip; palm facing in.
  3. Hinge forward at the hips, and pull the dumbbell out to the left side of your body, up to shoulder-height. Keep a soft bend in your left elbow and squeeze your left shoulder blade.
  4. Lower the dumbbell back to the starting position with control.
  5. Switch sides and repeat on the right arm.

Modification: Option to place your non-working hand on a chair or bench for additional core and balance support.

Flip Grip Bicep Curl

Targets: The bicep muscles (upper arms). The brachialis (mid-arm) and brachioradialis (forearm).

how to do a flip grip bicep curl | dumbbell bicep exercises

How To Do A Flip Grip Bicep Curl

  1. Start standing with feet hip-width apart and core engaged. Hold a dumbbell in each hand at your sides, palms facing outward (underhand grip or supine curl).
  2. Keeping your elbows locked by your sides, squeeze your bicep muscle to curl the weights up to shoulder-height.
  3. At the top of the movement, rotate your hands so palms face in towards each other (hammer curl). With control, slowly lower the dumbbells down to your sides.
  4. At the bottom of your movement, flip your grip so palms face out again. Return to the starting position and repeat this movement.

4 Bicep Curls And Isometric Bicep Hold

Targets: The bicep muscles. While one arm is working through movement the other arm is recruiting bicep strength in an isometric hold.

Bicep Curls and Bicep Isometric Hold | Back and Biceps Workout

How To Do Bicep Curls And Isometric Half Curls

  1. Start standing with feet shoulder-width apart and core engaged. Hold one dumbbell in each hand at your sides, palms facing out (standard bicep curl grip).
  2. Keeping your elbows locked by your sides, hold the dumbbell in your left hand in a half curl (elbow bent at 90-degree angle).
  3. Then squeeze your right bicep to curl the dumbbell in your right hand up to shoulder height. Repeat for four bicep curls on your right arm.
  4. Then, switch sides. Hold the dumbbell in your right hand at a 90-degree angle as you perform four bicep curls on your left arm.
  5. Repeat this pattern.

3-Way Back Row (Wide Row, Narrow Row, Reverse Grip Row)

Targets: Upper back, mid-back, lower back (lats, rhomboids, traps, rear delts), and biceps.

3 way back row | back and bicep workout

How To Do A 3-Way Back Row (Wide Row, Narrow Row, Reverse Grip Back Row)

  1. Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent.
  2. Hinge forward at the hips with a neutral spine, core engaged.
  3. Grip a set of dumbbells, palms facing in towards your body (wide row position).
  4. Pull your elbows wide towards the ceiling, squeezing your shoulder blades together as you bring your elbows parallel to shoulders. Control the dumbbells back down to the starting position.
  5. Rotate your palms to face in towards each other (narrow row position). Pull the weights back towards your hips, elbows parallel to ribcage. Return to starting position.
  6. Rotate your palms to face outwards (reverse grip row position). Pull the weights back towards your hips, elbows parallel to ribcage.
  7. Return to starting position and repeat this 3-way row pattern.

Alternating Hammer Curls

Targets: Both heads of the bicep muscle as well as the forearm muscles.

how to do alternating hammer curls

How To Do Alternating Hammer Curls

  1. Start standing feet hip-width apart and core engaged. Hold a dumbbell in each hand at your sides, palms facing in towards each other (hammer curl).
  2. Keeping your elbows locked by your sides, alternate single hammer curls on each side, squeezing your bicep muscles to curl the weights up to shoulder-height as you exhale.
  3. Your goal is to constantly be in motion – as one dumbbell gets to shoulder height and starts lowering, the other hand should begin to raise.
  4. Continue this alternating curl movement.

SplitStrong 35 Free 2-Week Workout Program

A 2-week, FULL BODY workout plan with new workout videos DAILY — a 5 day workout split, 35-minutes a day, 5-days a week.

If you liked this back and bicep workout (day seven of the SplitStrong 35 workout plan); download the full training plan.

Free Workout Program for Women | SplitStrong 35 program description graphicFree Workout Program for Women | SplitStrong 35 program description graphic

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35 Minute Back And Biceps Workout At Home

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