Getting rid of my batwing arms!!

karahunts
karahunts Posts: 64 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hey guys!

I have definitely increased my level of exercise and improved my diet but now nothing is toned! I know I need to do more than cardio but the gym is not an option for me. Right now my main concern is my not so toned arms. They aren't horrible but I'm only 18 and I want them to look less flabby!

So what can I do to help tone them up and stop the flab??? Without a trip to the gym of course....
Would push ups help? or is that only for the chest?
I would also like to know how much I should be doing as a complete beginner

Replies

  • Alicia_P_28
    Alicia_P_28 Posts: 76 Member
    I was just talking about my flying squirrel arms! Interested in some workouts for that area as well..
  • vorgas
    vorgas Posts: 741 Member
    Diamond pushups. Lots of them.
  • SatchGallamax
    SatchGallamax Posts: 549 Member
    Unfortunately you cannot spot reduce. You "tone up" by reducing your overall body fat %, and that is done with a moderate calorie deficit. Strength training (your entire body) will also help. This article is a great place to start for body weight exercises you can do at home: http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/12/09/beginner-body-weight-workout-burn-fat-build-muscle/. There are also tons of videos on Youtube.

    Good luck!
  • Alicia_P_28
    Alicia_P_28 Posts: 76 Member
    Diamond pushups. Lots of them.

    LOL...I can barely make it thru a girly pushup. And I'm more than likely in poor form while I do that ONE...One day..I will be able to do a REAL pushup!!
  • Mother_Superior
    Mother_Superior Posts: 1,624 Member
    Unfortunately you cannot spot reduce. You "tone up" by reducing your overall body fat %, and that is done with a moderate calorie deficit. Strength training (your entire body) will also help. This article is a great place to start for body weight exercises you can do at home: http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/12/09/beginner-body-weight-workout-burn-fat-build-muscle/. There are also tons of videos on Youtube.

    Good luck!

    What she said. Also, if you have an Android phone you can download the "You Are Your Own Gym" app for a really good body weight routine.
  • freyaheart
    freyaheart Posts: 220 Member
    I'm right there with you honey but sadly we can't spot reduce like others have said. Try to squeeze in more cardio, take a zumba class or make sure when you run/walk to really engage your arms.
  • Unknown
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  • Hexahedra
    Hexahedra Posts: 894 Member
    Pushups are great. When you develop your triceps, they will fill the flabby spots nicely. Diamond pushups put the emphasis on your triceps, but even regular ones still give the triceps a good workout.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • Ely82010
    Ely82010 Posts: 1,998 Member
    Hey guys!

    I have definitely increased my level of exercise and improved my diet but now nothing is toned! I know I need to do more than cardio but the gym is not an option for me. Right now my main concern is my not so toned arms. They aren't horrible but I'm only 18 and I want them to look less flabby!

    So what can I do to help tone them up and stop the flab??? Without a trip to the gym of course....
    Would push ups help? or is that only for the chest?
    I would also like to know how much I should be doing as a complete beginner


    These links may be helpful. Good luck!

    http://www.askthetrainer.com/toning-triceps-exercises/

    http://www.askthetrainer.com/best-exercises-for-women/

    http://www.askthetrainer.com/bosu-ball-exercises/

    http://www.askthetrainer.com/abdominal-exercises-for-women/

    http://www.askthetrainer.com/arm-exercises-for-women/
  • PetulantOne
    PetulantOne Posts: 2,131 Member
    Unfortunately you cannot spot reduce. You "tone up" by reducing your overall body fat %, and that is done with a moderate calorie deficit. Strength training (your entire body) will also help. This article is a great place to start for body weight exercises you can do at home: http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/12/09/beginner-body-weight-workout-burn-fat-build-muscle/. There are also tons of videos on Youtube.

    Good luck!

    What she said. Also, if you have an Android phone you can download the "You Are Your Own Gym" app for a really good body weight routine.

    ^All of this
  • Missjulesdid
    Missjulesdid Posts: 1,444 Member
    the only way to help batwing arms is to try to fill the skin with something other than fat.. so you have to try to fill that skin space with muscle.. work building muscle in your arms.. especially your triceps. There's no guarantee this will work 100% but it should help. It's not uncommon for even young slender women to have batwings... My youngest sister started getting them in highschool and she was 125 pounds and did hundreds of pushups a day as she was on the wrestling team so they really worked out her upper body.. and even with all this conditioning, she still had a bit of the bat wing thing going on. It's not fair.... I blame our mother :wink:

    For someone like me, there's absolutely NO HOPE to EVER build enough muscle to fill in all my excess skin so when I make goal weight I'm having those suckers cut off.. I'd rather have the scars than the bingo wings.
  • Alta2000
    Alta2000 Posts: 655 Member
    Try befit channel on youtube. they post new videos every week about everything, from Jillian Michaels to Jane Fonda, pilates, bootcamp, specific areas. or try blogilates.com
  • karahunts
    karahunts Posts: 64 Member
    Diamond pushups. Lots of them.

    LOL...I can barely make it thru a girly pushup. And I'm more than likely in poor form while I do that ONE...One day..I will be able to do a REAL pushup!!

    ....I just tried this 'diamond pushup' for the first time....my arms gave in...
  • Ely82010
    Ely82010 Posts: 1,998 Member
    Diamond pushups. Lots of them.

    LOL...I can barely make it thru a girly pushup. And I'm more than likely in poor form while I do that ONE...One day..I will be able to do a REAL pushup!!

    ....I just tried this 'diamond pushup' for the first time....my arms gave in...


    Try to do push ups in a raised surface like a sturdy bench or low table; or start with wall pushups. it will help you to develop strength and technique.
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    Push ups work your triceps in addition to your chest. Just keep losing weight and do some push ups.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    push ups.

    100 push up app. you can run through it with modified push ups until you can do a few regular push ups.
  • karahunts
    karahunts Posts: 64 Member
    Thanks everyone! I guess I'll be incorporating some pushups into my regime!
  • pspetralia
    pspetralia Posts: 963 Member
    If you can't get to a gym for weights, try the Nerdfitness.com beginner body's eight strength training workout.
  • sunglasses_and_ocean_waves
    sunglasses_and_ocean_waves Posts: 2,757 Member
    If you want something to get you started but aren't ready for push ups, have a look at Ellen Barrett's Slim Sculpt. I used this to get my strength back after several surgeries, and I love it so much I try to do it once a week.
  • rbn_held
    rbn_held Posts: 692 Member
    Push ups. I had the same problem until I started doing them daily. I started out on the wall because I could not do one single push up. Now I can do 15 guy pushups in a row. I have never tried the diamond pushups, may have to try them today.
  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
    You want to do exercises to work your triceps muscles. Im not saying that you'll lose 100% of your batwings/bingo wings, but you will reduce the amount of jiggle.

    One thing you can try is weighted ball slams. Get a medicine ball and hold it with both hands . Bring it over your head so it actually touches the back of your head, then bring it to the front and slam it down as hard as you can. Do 10, rest, then 10 more. Repeat 3-4x. You can also take that same medicine ball and hold it straight out in front of you and raise and lower it 6-8 inches. Personally, I use a 13.2# ball, but I've been doing it a while.
  • odonogc
    odonogc Posts: 223 Member
    Yoga and Pilates!
  • BonaFideUK
    BonaFideUK Posts: 313 Member
    cardio isnt going to do anything for batwing arms really. You need to get yourself a pair of dumbbells and start doing upper body exercises.

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