Comments on: The Right to Bare Arms

Question: The Right to Bare Arms

troika — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:03:34 -0800

How can I best lose some excess upper arm flab?

I'm a midtwentysomething girl, fit and happy with my body. Except for the upper arms - they're your classic 'bingo arms' and wearing sleeveless tops has me really self-conscious. What sort of exercises can I do to try and tone them? I don't currently belong to a gym but I'm on the edge of joining one, otherwise I run and bicycle for fitness.

By: Class Goat

Class Goat — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:32:39 -0800

Unfortunately, there's no such thing as "spot reduction". For instance, doing exercises in that section of your body may well increase the amount of muscle there, but won't reduce the amount of fat.

Fat management is a body-wide phenomenon. The only way to lose fat is to lose weight. The only way to spot-reduce is liposuction.

By: chrisamiller

chrisamiller — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:40:00 -0800

The only way to lose fat is to lose weight.

Bingo. That said, if it's mostly loose skin, putting on some muscle in that area could help firm things up.

By: axltea

axltea — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:48:05 -0800

I'd suggest try something with a boxing type workout maybe? Get a punching or speed bag?

Also just doing bicep curls with weights will target, biceps obviously

Also pushups and pullups target different parts of your biceps/triceps

By: thatbrunette

thatbrunette — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:03:11 -0800

Pushups!

I'm the same; mid-twentysomething girl. I exercise often, yoga and running were my favourite forms of exercise. But while I was thin, my arms still had too much...well, too MUCH for my liking. I started doing push ups late this summer, and the upper arm jiggle is gone!

I highly recommend this site for getting started.

By: 26.2

26.2 — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:13:30 -0800

Triceps dips.

By: carbide

carbide — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:21:32 -0800

Ditto building muscle. I've been swimming a lot, and while I am losing weight, the big difference in my arms came quite fast as the muscles became more defined in my arms and shoulders.

By: cocoagirl

cocoagirl — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 02:33:51 -0800

In this order I think:
- Weight loss
- Triceps work: this will firm up the rear/underside--wingy--portion of the arm
- Front and rear delt work: these are the small muscles at the tops of your arms. When a bit defined they really say "My arms are in amazing shape!" even if overall they aren't. They're small muscles and can be easily injured, so be gentle.

By: inigo2

inigo2 — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 07:07:45 -0800

It's true you can't spot-reduce weight. That said, I nth the calls for focusing on tricep work, and also recommend the hundred pushups site.

By: iamkimiam

iamkimiam — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 07:47:10 -0800

Data point here...I have super muscular arms (pushups, swimming, surfing) and when my arms are relaxed they still look flabby to me. Friends tell that they're not at all. It may be a perception thing. I guess there's a difference between relaxed muscle arms and relaxed fat arms (I personally don't see it...you may not either).

By: Oriole Adams

Oriole Adams — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:34:26 -0800

A short but effective tricep workout.

By: jakubsnm

jakubsnm — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:40:48 -0800

stop eating around 6pm...

By: BrotherCaine

BrotherCaine — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:08:13 -0800

If you change the proportion of muscle to fat in your arms, aesthetically it will look like 'spot reduction'. If you can't exercise then the second best option is probably something like ultrashape.

By: Space Kitty

Space Kitty — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:49:06 -0800

Yoga has always done the job for me.

(Note to self: go to yoga)