Skinnier arms - wrist issue

AmandaPandah
AmandaPandah Posts: 222 Member
edited January 4 in Health and Weight Loss
I desperately want to reduce the fat on my arms, but I've got an issue with my wrist, and putting a strain on it (like lifting) makes it hurt for weeks. What can I do to get toned arms without having my wrist killing me?

P.S It's a condition I've inherited from my mother, so I can't cure it. :(

Replies

  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,461 MFP Moderator
    I have tendinitis in both my wrist and resistance bands really helped me instead of weights. Also i use pushup bars.
  • toddis
    toddis Posts: 941 Member
    swimming?
  • AmandaPandah
    AmandaPandah Posts: 222 Member
    I thought of swimming! Is that good for your arms?
  • frood
    frood Posts: 295 Member
    Is there some particular motion that causes the pain or does it happen with any sort of weight held in your hands?

    I think you're basically asking for tricep exercises. Could you do something like chair dips or pullups (or some assisted/modified version)? Dips are great for triceps. I did them (using handles, since I couldn't put my palms flat) as part of my broken wrist PT.
  • karinefitness
    karinefitness Posts: 336 Member
    I also had some issues with my wrists when I started lifting. They would be in pain for days after working arms (especially with barbell curls, even with the EZ bar)... My wrists would be painful/sore/sensitive for days after weight lifting :(

    I kept going because I thought that it might be because my wrists were too weak (they're tiny...) and I just decided to endure the pain and now it's fine; I don't experience any wrist pain anymore. It took a few months before the pain went away though :/

    Maybe try using straps? I've had people recommend them but I never tried them myself.
  • AmandaPandah
    AmandaPandah Posts: 222 Member
    See, I only have problems with my left wrist, so I don't think it'll go away. My mum had surgery on her wrists a couple years back, so I think it's genetic.

    I can pull but not push, haha.
  • toddis
    toddis Posts: 941 Member
    The people at my gym put a foamy thing between their legs...(don't go there) and just swim using their arms. I think this would be very effective for your arms.
  • FredDoyle
    FredDoyle Posts: 2,272 Member
    Lose fat on arms = lose fat on whole body.
    Exercise will strengthen and increase the muscle size somewhat.
    As they say, you can't spot reduce fat areas.
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    It's hard to know what advice to give without knowing what the wrist issue is and what makes it worse. Do you have a doctor or a PT that you got specific instructions from and can ask questions to?

    I understand that it isn't curable and is genetic. Is it something that could improve if you strengthened the muscles? Sometimes you might be surprised what sticking it out can do for improvement. You could stick with very basic moves, starting at a lower weight and lower reps and just gradually increase it to test out your abilities (if that progression would actually help you). Otherwise is there some type of movement that helps you use the muscles while addressing taking away the specific types of strain that causes problems such as using the weighted cords at the gym. Using props that allow you to reposition your wrists while you do push ups (such as blocks or something).
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    Lose fat on arms = lose fat on whole body.
    Exercise will strengthen and increase the muscle size somewhat.
    As they say, you can't spot reduce fat areas.

    ^^^
    This.
  • frood
    frood Posts: 295 Member
    I can pull but not push, haha.
    Well that's something you can work with! You could try the pullups (or assisted or modified) and lat pull downs. Both work the right areas of the arms...as well as back and chest and shoulders. I do the assisted pullups - right now I can lift about half my body weight for 5 reps and the machine does a counterweight for the rest.
  • kmacgera
    kmacgera Posts: 137 Member
    Start wimpy, so wimpy that it doesn't hurt. That goes for starting any weight lifting regimen.

    If there is no way to avoid aggravating it, then don't do that exercise again.

    Swimming is great!

    Just my opinion.
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