Training opposing muscle groups together works the front and back part of an area on your body at the same time, which promotes strength, stability, and muscle growth.
As a fitness expert, one of the most common questions people have when they first start strength training is, “What muscle groups do I work out together?”
Whether you’re just getting started strength training or you’ve been in the groove for a while, it’s important to be educated on getting the most out of your workouts. I often recommend training opposing muscle groups (agonists and antagonists) at the same time because they work together for many of the daily movements we make, and it’s very efficient.
Simply put, you are working both the front and the back of one particular area of your body within the same session. This training strategy also helps you create a plan to target different areas of your body on different days of the week while still providing necessary rest periods.
These are four of the best muscle group combinations to work together:
- Workout #1: Chest and Back
- Workout #2: Quads and Hamstrings
- Workout #3: Biceps, Triceps, and Shoulders
- Workout #4: Glutes and Abdominals
Knowing what muscle groups to train together will help build muscle and promote overall strength and sculpting! Below, I’ve laid out the best workouts for training opposing muscle groups.
Muscle Group #1: Chest & Back
This opposing muscle groups workout will target your chest and back muscles to strengthen and tone your upper body. It’s all about the push (chest) and pull (back) muscles.
Chest & Back Workout Instructions:
- Grab a medium-to-heavy set of dumbbells in a weight that allows you to complete the workout while providing a little challenge (somewhere between 8-15 lbs). I typically use 12 lb dumbbells when working my upper body!
- Complete the exercises below in a circuit format, performing each exercises for a total of 45 seconds, followed by 15 seconds of rest.
- The 15 second rest period allows to you catch your breath and prep for the next movement.
1. Chest Fly
The chest fly is a great addition to any strength training program that targets your chest and shoulder muscles.
How to Perform a Chest Fly:
- Lie on back with knees bent and feet on the floor and hold dumbbells straight up over chest.
- With a slight bend in the elbow, slowly open arms wide out to the side.
- Squeeze your chest as you bring the weights back together at the top.
- Repeat for the desired number of reps.
2. Renegade Row
The renegade row is a compound exercise that targets your back, shoulder, and core muscles simultaneously. You’ll feel your muscles burning, and your heart rate go up!
How to Perform a Renegade Row:
- Begin in a full plank with dumbbells in hands, arms extended, and toes (kneeling variation is fine if you are not able to do a full plank). Engage your abdominals drawing the belly inward towards your spine.
- Pull the right dumbbell up toward right hip bone keeping the weight close to your side. Slowly return it to the floor and repeat with the left dumbbell.
3. Push-Up
The push-up is the holy grail of strength moves because it targets several muscle groups in one efficient exercise. The chest, aka your pectorals, are the focus but you also use your shoulders, triceps and core.
How to Perform a Push-Up:
- Begin in a plank position with hands below shoulders, legs long behind you, and body contracted to hold your spine in a straight line.
- With elbows pointing slightly back, bend elbows and slowly begin to lower your body until you are just above the ground. Keep your gaze over your fingertips and body in a straight line.
- As you exhale, tighten your belly and then push yourself back up to a plank position. That is one repetition.
4. Reverse Grip Double Arm Rows
The reverse grip double arm row exercise targets the back muscles, which is an often-overlooked muscle group in women and will help improve your posture.
How to Perform a Reverse Grip Double Arm Rows:
- Start with legs together and sit back into a slight squat engaging abdominal. Arms are in front of the body holding dumbbells at hip height with palms facing the ceiling.
- Draw elbows back past hips gently hugging the side body so you feel lats and triceps engage and return forward with control.
5. Chest Press
The chest press is a class move that targets your chest muscles with shoulders and arms being the helper muscles.
How to Perform a Chest Press:
- Lie on back with knees bent and feet on the floor. Elbows are bent and dumbbells start at shoulder height.
- Extend arms fully pressing away from your chest. Then, slowly lower to start position.
6. Overhead Pull
The overhead pull exercise effectively targets your back muscles. For your information, this is my personal favorite back exercise!
How to Perform an Overhead Pull:
- Lie on back with knees bent and feet on the floor. Arms are extended above the chest to start. Engage your abdominals.
- Lower dumbbells past your head keeping arms mostly straight with elbows slightly bent.
- Keeping abdominals tight, raise dumbbells back to start. The low back should stay firm against the floor throughout.
Repeat this circuit three times for a complete 20-minute upper-body workout!
Muscle Group #2: Quads & Hamstring
This opposing muscle group workout focuses on the quads and hamstrings and it will get your legs pumping while improving strength, stability, and performance.
The goal of this lower body workout is to target the quad and hamstring muscles together and to feel the burn.
If you get to the last couple of reps and you feel like you can’t do one more, that’s exactly where you should be. However, if you come to the last couple of reps and feel like you could do more, pick up heavier weights!
Quads and Hamstrings Workout Instructions:
- You will need a set of medium-to-heavy dumbbells. AI would personally grab a set of 12 or 15 lb dumbbells, but anywhere between 8 lb and 20 lb dumbbells would be recommended depending on your level of fitness.
- Complete 12 repetitions per exercise and repeat the entire workout a total of 3 times!
1. Basic Squat
The basic squat is a fundamental lower body exercise that targets your glutes, quads (thighs) and hamstrings (back of the legs).
How to Perform a Basic Squat:
- Stand tall with your feet hip-distance apart. Your hips, knees, and toes should all be facing forward.
- Bend your knees and extend your buttocks backward as if you are going to sit back into a chair. Make sure that you keep your knees behind your toes and your weight in your heels.
- Rise back up and repeat.
2. Deadlift
The deadlift is a compound weightlifting exercise that engages muscles throughout your body, especially targeting your hamstrings and glutes. Good form is key to keeping it from going into your lower back.
How to Perform a Deadlift:
- Start standing with feet hip-distance apart and then dumbbells resting in front of thighs.
- Tighten your abdominals and keep a flat back as you bend the knees slightly, lowering the dumbbells towards the floor.
- Squeeze the glutes and use your hamstrings and legs to lift and return to your upright position.
3. Alternating Lunges
The alternating lunge exercise targets lower body muscles while also improving balance and coordination.
How to Perform Alternating Lunges:
- Stand tall with your feet hip-distance apart.
- Take a large step forward and lower your body toward the floor. Both legs should be bent at a 90-degree angle at the bottom of the lunge.
- Push off the front leg to rise back up to start, and repeat on the other side.
- Perform 6 reps on each side.
4. Single-Leg Hamstring Bridge (Left Side)
The single-leg hamstring bride is used to engage your hamstrings and glutes which stabilize the body and improve lower body strength and stability!
How to Perform a Single-Leg Hamstring Bridge:
- Lie on back with bent knees hip-distance apart, and feet flat on mat stacked under the knees. Extend one leg long towards the ceiling.
- Squeeze glutes and lift hips off the mat into a bridge. Lower and lift the hips for the desired number of reps then repeat on another side.
5. Pistol Squat
The pistol squat is a bodyweight exercise that challenges your balance, strength, and flexibility in your lower body. This is an advanced exercise so if needed, hold onto a counter or table for stability.
How to Perform Pistol Squats:
- Stand with feet hip-distance apart and extend 1 leg long on the front of the body.
- Bring hands to hips or the front of your body for balance. Sit back into a squat with weight in the heel of the foot, then slowly stand back up using your glute and hamstring muscles.
- Repeat for the desired number of reps and switch sides.
6. Single-Leg Hamstring Bridge (Right Side)
Complete the same single-leg hamstring bridge you did earlier but on your right side!
How to do a single-leg hamstring bridge (right side):
- Lie on your back with bent knees hip-distance apart and feet flat on the mat stacked under the knees. Extend one leg long towards the ceiling.
- Squeeze glutes and lift hips off the mat into a bridge. Lower and lift the hips for the desired number of reps then repeat on another side.
Muscle Group #3: Biceps, Triceps and Shoulders
I designed this HIIT upper body workout as a great way to combine your biceps, triceps and shoulders in one efficient training program. All you need is dumbbells and your bodyweight!
Bicep, Tricep and Shoulder Workout Instructions:
- Choose a light to heavy set of dummbells (I use anywhere between 10-12 lbs) that you can hold onto for a 20 second internal.
- Perform each exercise at the highest level possible for a working interval of 20 seconds, followed by a rest of 10 seconds before moving to the next move.
- Repeat the entire training sequence again for a total of 5 intervals (approximately a 20 minute workout)
Block 1: Bicep Curls, Push Up Punches, Hammer Curls
Perform each of these exercises for 20 seconds followed by 10 seconds of rest before moving to the next exercise:
Block 2: Tricep Kickbacks, Tricep Dips, Overhead Tricep Extensions
Perform each of these exercises for 20 seconds followed by 10 seconds of rest before moving to the next exercise:
Block 3: Overhead Shoulder Presses, Shoulder Front Raises, Renegade Rows
Perform each of these exercises for 20 seconds followed by 10 seconds of rest before moving to the next exercise:
Muscle Group #4: Glutes & Abdominals
The ever popular glutes and abdominals muscle groups workout will strengthen your core and firm up your buns while improving posture and overall athletic performance. A good abs and booty workout is one of our most popular workouts on our app, Get Healthy U TV.
Glute and Abdominal Workout Instructions:
- Perform circuit 1.
- Complete the burnout round if you still have the energy!
Circuit 1: Glutes and Abs
Complete each of the circuit 1 exercises below for 30 seconds each, followed by 15 seconds of rest and rotate through the complete circuit three or four times through:
- Cross Behind Lunge (30 Seconds)
- Forearm Plank (30 Seconds)
- Glute Kicker (30 Seconds)
- Full Sit Up (30 Seconds)
Circuit 2: Burnout Exercises
End your workout by completing the two exercises below to “burnout” or for 30 seconds. Complete this circuit two times through:
Sample Schedules
These sample workout schedules will help you plan your week. As I stated below, by working opposing major muscle groups together, you can split up your body throughout the week allowing ample rest for each muscle group.
Whether you can only fit in workouts two times per week or split it up into three or four days, the key thing I will always remind you is consistency matters. Stay consistent and work to fatigue and you will see results.
Opposing Muscle Workouts: 4 Days a Week
| Monday | Upper Body: chest and back |
| Tuesday | Legs: glutes and hamstrings |
| Thursday | Upper Body: shoulders and arms |
| Saturday | Lower Body: glutes and abdominals |
Opposing Muscle Workouts: 3 Days a Week
| Day 1 | Chest, back (opposing groups), shoulders |
| Day 2 | Biceps, triceps (opposing groups) abs |
| Day 3 | Quads, hamstrings (opposing groups) glutes |
Opposing Muscle Workouts: 2 Days a Week
We know life is busy so if two strength sessions per week works best in your schedule, divide up the body into the upper and lower body. Because you are doing more muscle groups in each session, you may do less repetitions or less exercises for each muscle group, which is actually good for beginners.
| Day 1 | Upper Body: chest, back, bicep, tricep, shoulders |
| Day 2 | Lower Body and Core: glutes, hamstrings and abs |
FAQS
Combining opposing muscle groups works the front and back parts of an area on your body at the same time, which promotes strength, stability, and muscle growth.
Combining different muscle areas on separate days is an effective way to give your muscles enough time to rest between workouts. This helps to prevent overtraining and injuries.
Basically building muscle boosts your metabolism. Muscle is a more metabolic tissue that burns more calories even at rest than body fat does. So all strength training is worth it. I outline above the opposing muscle groups to work together.
