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Looking at the likes of First Lady Michelle Obama or Hollywood actress Kate Hudson can make us feel really envious of their slim, toned arms. While they have personal trainers to help them keep their bingo wings at bay, most of us don't have that luxury and have to try and conceal our wobbly bits with long-sleeved tops or jackets. But thankfully, there are some arm exercises you can do that can banish the excess fat and help you wave goodbye to the Michelin man look.
While most of us think that lifting heavier weights will bulk us up instead of slimming us down, the key to good muscle definition actually lies in upping the number you exercise with. If you do this once or twice a week, it will shock your body and build lean muscle. If you're usually a three or five pound weight girl, try alternating with ten, 12, or 15 pound dumbbells. Mixing your light and heavy weights each day will keep your muscles on their toes, as it were, never quite knowing what you're going to put them through. Your strength will then to start to build a lot quicker.
Another way to get lean upper limbs is to up your cardio workouts. According to the USDA, you should perform 60-minute sessions five times a week to really notice a difference. Incorporating interval training into this hour will also help, thanks to its after-burn effect. If you've never heard of interval training before, it's when you alternate short periods of intense exercise with recovery time. Doing this is believed to continue burning up to 200 calories throughout the day, compared to continuous steady exercise.
For something a little less intense, yoga can be a great way to tone your arms. A good example of an arm toning pose is the three-legged dog. Begin in Down Dog, then step both feet together so your big toes are touching. With your left heel on the mat, raise your right leg into the air and then bend the knee. Lift your head up and turn to look over your left shoulder, arching the spine. Hold here for five breaths, keeping the belly still and breathing into the chest.
Not only is yoga good for stretching your limbs, but it's a great way to cool down and de-stress after a cardio workout or a hard day at work.
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