Best Beginner Workouts With Cable Machines To Get Lean And Burn Fat

Cable Hip Extension is an exercise where you attach your leg to a cable machine and extend it behind you while standing. This helps strengthen your glutes and improve balance, as the cable provides controlled resistance.

How to do it

1. Set the pulley to the lowest position and attach the ankle cuff to your right ankle.
2. Stand facing the pulley with your feet hip-width apart, holding the frame for support.
3. Engage your core and keep your back straight.
4. With a slight bend in your knee, extend your right leg behind you by squeezing your glute.
5. Return to the starting position and switch to your left leg.

Cable Crunch is an exercise that strengthens your core using a cable machine instead of just your body weight. You perform it while kneeling, allowing for greater control over the resistance and direction of the movement.

How to do it

1. Set the cable pulley to the highest position and attach a rope.
2. Kneel upright and hold the rope ends, placing the base on the back of your neck.
3. Bend forward at the hips until your torso is parallel to the floor, then curl your ribs towards your hips.
4. Return to the starting position.

The Cable Row is an exercise that strengthens your back, shoulders, and biceps. It uses a cable machine for proper positioning and resistance control, helping you build muscle and strength in your upper body.

How to do it

1. Sit on the bench and place your feet on the foot plates.
2. Hold the handle with both hands, keeping your back straight.
3. Pull the handle towards your torso while leaning back slightly.
4. Squeeze your shoulder blades together at the end of the movement.
5. Slowly return to the starting position while maintaining tension in your back.

The Lat Pulldown is a great exercise for strengthening your back, shoulders, and biceps. It's similar to a Pull Up but is more stable, making it easier for beginners to control the movement and adjust the resistance.

How to do it

1. Attach a bar to the pull-down pulley and grip it with your hands shoulder-width apart, palms facing forward.
2. Sit upright on the seat, placing your knees under the adjustable pad.
3. Engage your core and keep your spine straight.
4. Pull the bar down towards your chest by bending your elbows, leaning back slightly.
5. Slowly return the bar to the starting position.

The Cable Tricep Pushdown is an exercise that works the triceps, the muscles at the back of your arms. Using a flat bar allows you to keep your palms facing down, helping to stabilize your wrists as you perform the move.

How to do it

1. Set the pulley to the highest position with a straight or angled bar attached.
2. Grip the bar with your palms facing down and elbows bent at 90 degrees, close to your body.
3. Keep your core tight and your shoulders back.
4. Push the bar down by extending your elbows, keeping them close to your sides until your arms are straight.
5. Return to the starting position by bending your elbows back.

The Cable Front Raise is a shoulder exercise that targets the front deltoids while providing consistent resistance using a cable machine. This helps build shoulder strength and definition while also engaging the core for stability.

How to do it

1. Adjust the cable machine pulley to its lowest setting and attach a bar.
2. Stand facing away from the machine with the bar between your legs.
3. Place your feet shoulder-width apart and slightly bend your knees.
4. Grab the bar with an overhand grip and pull it to your hips, feeling tension in the cable.
5. Engage your core, keep your back straight, and look forward.
6. With your arms nearly straight, raise the bar to eye level in an arc by using your shoulders.
7. Hold the raised position briefly before returning to the starting point with control.

The Single Arm Cable Press is a great exercise for strengthening your chest, shoulders, and triceps. It helps identify and fix strength differences between your arms while mimicking the motion of throwing a punch, making it useful for combat sports.

How to do it

1. Set the cable machine's pulley at solar plexus height.
2. Attach a handle to the cable.
3. Stand in front of the machine with one hand in line with the handle.
4. Hold the handle in one hand with your palm facing in.
5. Step away until there is tension in the cable.
6. Get into a slight lunge position.
7. Engage your core and keep your back straight as you look forward.
8. Extend the arm not holding the handle in front of you and bring the handle arm to your side at chest height.
9. Push the handle forward as if throwing a punch, while pulling your other arm back.
10. Pause for a moment, avoiding twisting your body.
11. Return to the starting position with control and tension.
12. Repeat on the other side.

The Cable Pull Through is an effective exercise that strengthens your glutes and improves your hip hinge movement. It uses a cable for steady resistance, making it easier to build muscle and enhance glute power. This is a good choice for beginners wanting to develop their lower body strength.

How to do it

1. Set the pulley to the lowest position with a rope attachment.
2. Stand with your back to the pulley, hold the rope with palms facing in, and keep your arms resting on your hips.
3. Step forward 1-2 feet from the pulley with feet wider than shoulder-width apart.
4. Engage your core, keep your back straight, and hinge your hips back while keeping your knees slightly bent.
5. Hinge until your back can no longer stay straight, then return to the starting position.

The Single Arm High Cable Tricep Extension targets the triceps for better arm definition. Using the cable machine allows for a full stretch of the tricep muscles, promoting growth and strength.

How to do it

1. Stand with your back to the cable machine in a staggered stance, with your active arm aligned with the cable.
2. Grab the handle with one hand, keeping the cable over your shoulder.
3. Push the handle forward, fully extending your arm while keeping your elbow and shoulder locked in place.
4. Pause at the end, feeling the tension in your tricep.
5. Slowly let the handle return to the starting position, maintaining good posture and engagement in your core.

The Balance Trainer Cable Crunch with Side Bends strengthens your core and tones your obliques using a balance trainer and cable machine. This exercise challenges your stability while focusing on your side muscles, improving overall core strength and definition.

How to do it

1. Set the cable machine to the lowest position and adjust the balance trainer between the cable arms.
2. Sit on the balance trainer with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
3. Lie back on the balance trainer, hold the cable handles, and extend your arms down towards the insides of your thighs.
4. Crunch up by pulling your ribcage towards your hips, raising your upper back off the trainer.
5. Return to the starting position and move the handles to the sides of your torso.
6. Crunch to the right, reaching for the right handle, then repeat on the left side before returning to the start.

The Pallof Press is an exercise that strengthens your core, including the abs and lower back, while improving posture. It uses cable resistance to effectively stabilize your body and reduce lower back strain.

How to do it

1. Stand with your feet hip-width apart, facing a cable machine.
2. Grab the handle at shoulder height with both hands, keeping it at the center of your chest.
3. Brace your core and exhale as you push the handle forward.
4. Keep the handle steady as you extend your arms straight out.
5. Bring the handle back to your chest by flexing your elbows.
6. Repeat the exercise on the other side.

The Cable Wood Chop (Low to High) is an exercise that strengthens your core, obliques, and shoulders by moving a cable from low to high across your body. It improves your overall body coordination and stability, which is important for athletic performance.

How to do it

1. Set the cable machine to the lowest position.
2. Stand behind the machine with the pulley to your side.
3. Grab the rope handle with both hands, palms facing each other.
4. Keep your core tight, back straight, and look forward.
5. Pull the cable up and to the side using your core and shoulders.
6. Pause for a second at the top of the movement.
7. Slowly return to the starting position, maintaining core tension.
8. Switch sides and repeat.

The Cable Crossover Fly is a chest exercise that uses cables to maintain tension and control. This exercise helps isolate different parts of the chest for a focused workout.

How to do it

1. Set the pulleys to just above head height.
2. Stand with one foot forward, holding the pulley handles at shoulder height with palms facing forward.
3. Engage your core and keep your spine straight.
4. With arms extended, sweep the handles down in a wide arc towards the bottom of your ribcage.
5. Return to the starting position.

The Cable Lateral Raise is a shoulder exercise that targets the middle deltoid muscle. Using a cable machine allows for better control and can help identify strength differences between your left and right sides.

How to do it

1. Adjust the pulley to the lowest position and attach a handle.
2. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, facing the pulley with your left side.
3. Grab the handle with your right hand, keep your palm facing in.
4. Tighten your core to maintain a straight back.
5. With a slightly bent elbow, raise the handle to shoulder height while rotating it slightly upwards.
6. Lower the handle back to the starting position and repeat on the other side.

The Freemotion Shoulder Press is a beginner-friendly exercise that targets your shoulder muscles. Using a Freemotion machine helps you maintain stability, making it easier to control your movements and focus on your form.

How to do it

1. Adjust the dual pulleys to the lowest position with handle attachments.
2. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding the handles at shoulder height with palms facing forward and elbows close to your sides.
3. Press the handles overhead until your arms are fully extended, keeping your wrists and forearms straight.
4. Lower the handles back to the starting position to repeat the exercise.