Best Upper Body Workouts With Cable Machines To Get Lean And Burn Fat

About

Cable machines offer unparalleled versatility with adjustable resistance directions and interchangeable handles enabling tailored muscle activation. To achieve a toned and lean physique while burning fat, this workout incorporates resistance training that maintains elevated heart rates, employs lower weights, and promotes higher repetitions for optimized caloric expenditure and muscle retention. The upper body encompasses diverse muscle groups such as the chest, back, shoulders, and arms, with compound exercises like bench press, lat pull-down, and rows featured alongside isolation movements for targeted development.

Engaging in this effective routine supports achieving a lean and sculpted upper body.

The 15 Best Upper Body Exercises with Cable Machines to Get Lean and Burn Fat

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Ranked based on Fitbod's internal data set of the most effective exercises. Learn More

  • 1. Cable Crunch

    SETS LOGGED
    1,462,723
    Abs Strength
    91 mScore
    Abs
    Photo of Hi-Lo Pulley Cable
    Hi-Lo Pulley Cable
    Photo of Rope Cable
    Rope Cable

    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

    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.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    65lbs
    2
    8reps
    65lbs
    3
    8reps
    65lbs
  • 2. Cable Russian Twists

    SETS LOGGED
    173,692
    Abs Strength
    69 mScore
    Abs
    Photo of Hi-Lo Pulley Cable
    Hi-Lo Pulley Cable
    Photo of Stability (Swiss) Ball
    Stability (Swiss) Ball

    Cable Russian Twists are a core exercise that strengthen your obliques using a cable machine and a stability ball. This move challenges your balance and engages your entire core for better strength and stability.

    How to do it

    Cable Russian Twists are a core exercise that strengthen your obliques using a cable machine and a stability ball. This move challenges your balance and engages your entire core for better strength and stability.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    30lbs
    2
    8reps
    30lbs
    3
    8reps
    30lbs
  • 3. Cable Wood Chop

    SETS LOGGED
    728,250
    Abs Strength
    84 mScore
    Abs
    Photo of Hi-Lo Pulley Cable
    Hi-Lo Pulley Cable

    The Cable Wood Chop is a great exercise that works your obliques and core, helping to build strength and stability while mimicking natural movements. It's beneficial for everyday activities and athletic performance, using a cable machine for consistent tension.

    How to do it

    The Cable Wood Chop is a great exercise that works your obliques and core, helping to build strength and stability while mimicking natural movements. It's beneficial for everyday activities and athletic performance, using a cable machine for consistent tension.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    30lbs
    2
    8reps
    30lbs
    3
    8reps
    30lbs
  • 4. Cable Row

    SETS LOGGED
    6,108,322
    Back Strength
    98 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Row Cable
    Row Cable

    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

    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.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    55lbs
    2
    8reps
    55lbs
    3
    8reps
    55lbs
  • 5. Lat Pulldown

    SETS LOGGED
    8,113,246
    Back Strength
    100 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Lat Pulldown Cable
    Lat Pulldown Cable

    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

    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.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    70lbs
    2
    8reps
    70lbs
    3
    8reps
    70lbs
  • 6. Cable Rope Tricep Extension

    SETS LOGGED
    5,575,234
    Triceps Strength
    100 mScore
    Triceps
    Photo of Rope Cable
    Rope Cable

    The Cable Rope Tricep Extension is a great exercise to specifically strengthen your triceps. Using a cable machine allows for better control and consistent tension, making it ideal for adjusting weights easily and performing high-repetition sets.

    How to do it

    The Cable Rope Tricep Extension is a great exercise to specifically strengthen your triceps. Using a cable machine allows for better control and consistent tension, making it ideal for adjusting weights easily and performing high-repetition sets.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    40lbs
    2
    8reps
    40lbs
    3
    8reps
    40lbs
  • 7. Cable Tricep Pushdown

    SETS LOGGED
    3,225,406
    Triceps Strength
    96 mScore
    Triceps
    Photo of Rope Cable
    Rope Cable

    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

    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.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    40lbs
    2
    8reps
    40lbs
    3
    8reps
    40lbs
  • 8. Cable Front Raise

    SETS LOGGED
    178,281
    Shoulders Strength
    86 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Hi-Lo Pulley Cable
    Hi-Lo Pulley Cable

    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

    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.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs
  • 9. Single Arm Cable Press

    SETS LOGGED
    298,585
    Chest Strength
    85 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Hi-Lo Pulley Cable
    Hi-Lo Pulley Cable

    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

    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.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs
  • 10. Tricep Overhead Extension with Rope

    SETS LOGGED
    816,830
    Triceps Strength
    81 mScore
    Triceps
    Photo of Rope Cable
    Rope Cable

    The Tricep Overhead Extension with Rope is a great exercise to strengthen your triceps. Using a cable machine allows for better control and keeps tension on the muscles throughout the movement for effective results.

    How to do it

    The Tricep Overhead Extension with Rope is a great exercise to strengthen your triceps. Using a cable machine allows for better control and keeps tension on the muscles throughout the movement for effective results.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    40lbs
    2
    8reps
    40lbs
    3
    8reps
    40lbs
  • 11. Cable One Arm Underhand Tricep Extension

    SETS LOGGED
    588,980
    Triceps Strength
    84 mScore
    Triceps
    Photo of Rope Cable
    Rope Cable

    The Cable One Arm Underhand Tricep Extension is a focused exercise targeting the triceps. Using an underhand grip helps keep your elbow close to your side, allowing for better control and balance when working each arm individually.

    How to do it

    The Cable One Arm Underhand Tricep Extension is a focused exercise targeting the triceps. Using an underhand grip helps keep your elbow close to your side, allowing for better control and balance when working each arm individually.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    17.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    17.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    17.5lbs
  • 12. Cable One Arm Tricep Side Extension

    SETS LOGGED
    618,087
    Triceps Strength
    84 mScore
    Triceps
    Photo of Rope Cable
    Rope Cable

    The Cable One Arm Tricep Side Extension is a focused exercise that primarily targets the triceps. Doing it one arm at a time helps ensure even strength and allows for a unique movement angle that activates the muscles differently than standard tricep exercises.

    How to do it

    The Cable One Arm Tricep Side Extension is a focused exercise that primarily targets the triceps. Doing it one arm at a time helps ensure even strength and allows for a unique movement angle that activates the muscles differently than standard tricep exercises.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    17.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    17.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    17.5lbs
  • 13. Single Arm High Cable Tricep Extension

    SETS LOGGED
    352,773
    Triceps Strength
    85 mScore
    Triceps
    Photo of Rope Cable
    Rope Cable

    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

    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.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    15lbs
    2
    8reps
    15lbs
    3
    8reps
    15lbs
  • 14. Cable Underhand Tricep Pushdown

    SETS LOGGED
    383,200
    Triceps Strength
    82 mScore
    Triceps
    Photo of Rope Cable
    Rope Cable

    The Cable Underhand Tricep Pushdown targets the triceps, especially the inner part, using an underhand grip. It's great for improving arm strength and definition while providing consistent resistance through the entire movement.

    How to do it

    The Cable Underhand Tricep Pushdown targets the triceps, especially the inner part, using an underhand grip. It's great for improving arm strength and definition while providing consistent resistance through the entire movement.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    40lbs
    2
    8reps
    40lbs
    3
    8reps
    40lbs
  • 15. Balance Trainer Cable Crunch With Side Bends

    SETS LOGGED
    21,407
    Abs Strength
    48 mScore
    Abs
    Photo of Crossover Cable
    Crossover Cable
    Photo of BOSU® Balance Trainer
    BOSU® Balance Trainer

    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

    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.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    25lbs
    2
    8reps
    25lbs
    3
    8reps
    25lbs

Alternative Workouts

Alternative Upper Body Workouts to Get Lean and Burn Fat

Alternative Upper Body Workouts with Cable Machines

Alternative Workouts with Cable Machines to Get Lean and Burn Fat