My Top 6 Least Favorite Exercises

Do you guys have an exercise that you just don’t like?

I know I do – several of them actually – and I figured I’d outline my top six least favorite exercises down below.

I’m not saying that these exercises are bad, that they cause cancer, or that they should be totally eliminated from your training plan.

I’m just saying that I’M not much a fan of them, and wanted to share the “why” behind my disdain.

 

1. SkullCrushers

I don’t train arms very often.

Actually, I never train arms, but when I did, skullcrushers were the bane of my human existence.

It doesn’t matter if I do these on an incline, with my elbows tucked, with my elbows flared, while staring creepily at the girl doing squats in the power rack across from me – they absolutely DESTROY the medial side of my elbow.

This doesn’t happen to everyone, and I see a lot of people knock out skullcrushers with no problems whatsoever.

But not me.

I guess I’m just not cut out for them.

And I won’t feel an ounce of regret if a skullcrusher never finds its way in to my training plan again.

 

2. Bicep Curls

I know I’m gonna catch a lot of flack for this, but I’m not a fan of curls.

Not because curls won’t build your biceps.

But because there are literally (well, maybe not literally) 100 better ways for me to stimulate my biceps WHILE training my back and posterior delts.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t have an unlimited amount of time to spend in the gym.

If pull-ups and rows adequately stimulate my biceps – while increasing the strength and size of my upper back, rhomboids, lats, upper traps etc. – why would I sit around doing curls?

Truth is, I don’t, and – although there’s nothing inherently wrong with doing bicep curls – I’d much rather spend my time doing exercises that give me  a bit more bang for my buck.

 

3. Bosu Ball Squats

No explanation needed here.

If you’re doing squats (or any other movement or exercise) on a bosu ball….just…COME ON!

 

4. Behind the Neck Press

Aside from the fact that this exercise puts most peoples’ (not everyone’s) shoulders in an EXTREMELY vulnerable position, when would you EVER be pressing something behind your neck in real life?

It has minimal application.

It’s dangerous (for most people).

And it no longer makes the cut in my training plans.

 

5. Upright Rows

I have nothing against upright rows.

I just don’t like them.

I never really feel my delts or traps engage during the movement, and they completely trash my wrists.

So, I don’t do them.

If YOU like upright rows, and see good results from doing them, keep it up.

I’ll be by the water fountain checking out the hot women on the ellipticals!

 

6. Pull-Ups

Finally, the pull-up.

I have a love-hate relationship with the pull-up.

I love the pull-up because it’s arguably the BEST exercise for bringing up the strength and size of your upper back, lats, posterior delts, core, and biceps.

I hate the pull-up because I suck at them, and can maybe get 5 reps.

Truthfully, I just need to lose some weight and quit wining.

But, we all know that’s not gonna happen, so just realize that at this moment – although it’s a FANTASTIC exercise that almost everyone should do – I’m not a huge fan of the pull-up.

 

Summing Up

So those are my top 6 least favorite exercises.

Like I said before, there isn’t anything wrong with doing these exercises, and I’m not telling you not to use them in YOUR training plans (except when it comes to the bosu ball – DON’T DO IT).

I just don’t use them in mine, and if you have certain exercises that you don’t like – or that aren’t doing anything to improve your overall performance –  find an alternative.