Suggestions, Critique of Strength Routine Please

I am progressing from my current strength type routine to a more intense routine.  This is the one I am considering changing to.  Suggestions and critiques are welcome.  My goal is to improve my overall fitness, especially my core and leg strength and balance so that I can enjoy my runs even more. Thank you for the feedback!-wow, today is such a typo day day for me haha

The lower body stuff looks fine, on the upper body side you have 2 horizontal pushes and no vertial pushes, switch either the pushups or bench press with some sort of military press.

The pulling exerciese (rows and pull overs) are fine, lat pull-downs or pullups might be a better option than pull overs but if equipment is a limiting factor then pull overs are fine.

Why all of the arm isolation stuff? 2 exercises each for biceps and triceps? those muscles are already being worked doing your pushes and pulls, do you really need to spend extra time doubleing the exercises for these tiny muscles?

I'm no expert but I like all the suggestions on the website, they all seem really effective to me and I actually think I might steal this routine :)

Thanks floggingsully.  I am not sure why those arms are thrown in there.  Even though I would like to lose the jiggle from my underarm, arm strength is not my current goal.  However, I would like to hear suggestions on some strengthening shoulder exercises, since I need to build strength there.  I know I have good form on my arms movement when I run, but that is the only upper body area I have trouble with on my runs.  Thanks again!

betty - if you put in the military press that sully suggests, that will hit your shoulders.

Original Post by bettypage4:

Thanks floggingsully. I am not sure why those arms are thrown in there. Even though I would like to lose the jiggle from my underarm, arm strength is not my current goal. However, I would like to hear suggestions on some strengthening shoulder exercises, since I need to build strength there. I know I have good form on my arms movement when I run, but that is the only upper body area I have trouble with on my runs. Thanks again!

A military press of some sort will work your shoulders. So would compound upper body exercises such as pull ups.

When I do lat raises I feel it in my shoulders sometimes, but I'd really recommend a press.

It sounds like a good starter/intermediate routine.  If you want to loose the arm jiggle, I would suggest doing an arms day with lots of tricep moves (dips, pull-downs, close-grip push ups...).  If you want to add some more hard core things to it, I get a lot of routine ideas from www.bodybuilding.com.  If you go to the women's section you can check out some actual ladies' routines and pick moves that will work the areas you want to tone.

For balance, I would suggest doing any lightweight upperbody moves while standing on the half-ball saucer thing....lightweight being the key, don't hurt yourself!

Good luck!