Toning arms!!!! Any suggestions.

sk2775
sk2775 Posts: 699 Member
edited October 1 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi

I have lost nearly 44 pounds in the last 6 months by walking and cycling....I am happy with this weight loss, but I am not happy with my arms as compared to the rest of my body. My arms are still large and flabby...any suggestions on what I can do to tone?

Thanks.

Replies

  • chubbyandawkward
    chubbyandawkward Posts: 71
    Pushups!
  • Loonymoon
    Loonymoon Posts: 27
    I've never used them myself but I've heard shake-a-weights are good.

    My arms have toned up since I've been doing zumba - I dont' do zumba toning (the one with weights) but even the normal zumba there's several routines where you have to keep your arms elevated and move them a lot. It has helped me.
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    I have honestly heard good ol' pushups and dips are very good ways to tone if you're not a weight lifter.
  • theba2il
    theba2il Posts: 548 Member
    Fitnessmagazine.com has great exercises. Found lots of exercises on YouTube also.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,984 Member
    I've never used them myself but I've heard shake-a-weights are good.
    They're a gimmick. What you hear is people touting them as good because they don't want to be embarassed for getting taken. Happens to the best of us.
  • hroush
    hroush Posts: 2,073 Member
    The heavier you lift, the faster you will "tone" your arms. That being said, you shouldn't just jump in and try to lift your max the first day, but find a good strength training program that progresses to that point.
  • syates83
    syates83 Posts: 87
    30 Day Shred by Jillian...she really uses great arm exercises for toning. I'm on Level 2 (Day 11).
  • sarahsmart88
    sarahsmart88 Posts: 84
    Weight training! Look up videos for proper technique. Or if you don't have access to a gym, pushups and dips are great body weight exercises to start. I have a shakeweight and don't suggest it.... it's okay to begin with but it's only an 8 minute workout, which isn't really much at all. I'd go with good ol fashioned dumbbells.
  • paintitblack
    paintitblack Posts: 60
    Tricep extensions!
  • BelindaBuzz
    BelindaBuzz Posts: 31
    Kettle Bell, Kettle Bell, Kettle Bell....Lots of great workouts on YouTube! I love this and I have a three-day a week regimen I am doing and it does make a difference!
  • mandilynn026
    mandilynn026 Posts: 2
    I found that the "kettlebell" work out was GREAT for toning and not bulking up my arms. I stared with just a 5 lb weight and went up to a 10 lb after about a month. Lots of reps with smaller weights is my suggestion. I got the Kettle-Worx DVD's and weights, but I think you can get the weights at any 2nd hand fitness store for pretty cheap, and the exercises that target your arms you can just look up on line. they are pretty easy to follow. :)
  • HarlCarl
    HarlCarl Posts: 266 Member
    I work with a lady who tried those shake a weights. SAVE YOUR MONEY. They are junk.
  • RunHardBeStrong
    RunHardBeStrong Posts: 33,069 Member
    Push-ups, push-ups, push-ups!!!!
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,984 Member
    Sorry gotta RANT for a second before I give advice: There is no such thing as "TONING" or "TONED". You can tone up your arms to CONDITION them since muscle is either conditioned or not. Somehow "toning" has been slanged in with thin fit bodies. Rant done.

    Lying tricep extensions, pressdowns, kickbacks and pushups all are good CONDITIONING exercises for triceps.
  • starracer23
    starracer23 Posts: 1,011 Member
    If you want to tone, you need to use light weights with a high rep...if you want to bulk up, more weight - less reps and really squeeze at the top of the rep.

    I do push ups on the wall, I can't do them on the floor (yet)
  • NotGoddess
    NotGoddess Posts: 1,198 Member
    I'm doing chair dips and various triceps extensions along with push-ups. Too much skin/fat to notice a huge change yet but I've gone from using 5lb handweights to 10lb so something is happening.

    Edit- typo- I had pull-ups instead of push-ups. I'm still working on the chin-up (singular) :)
  • Loonymoon
    Loonymoon Posts: 27
    I've never used them myself but I've heard shake-a-weights are good.
    They're a gimmick. What you hear is people touting them as good because they don't want to be embarassed for getting taken. Happens to the best of us.

    Fair enough!

    I found that getting a large heavy motor-scooter and pushing that around toned my arms up LOL
  • atessieri
    atessieri Posts: 53 Member
    YES!!! i know it sounds and looks a little silly but i hold my ars out to the side (straight out) and make little circles... i do 100 forwards and backwards, it works really well and alst tones my back and side fat lol so quick and easy and works! good luck :)
  • dmpizza
    dmpizza Posts: 3,321 Member
    Elliptical machine?
  • rufflestx
    rufflestx Posts: 76
    I started small, my arms were in such bad shape. Lay flat on your tummy (in bed or on a mat) and just lift one arm at a time, as high as it will go, straighten and directly up from your side.. Do ONLY 3 or 4 the first day, I felt the burn after only 3 lifts each. Now I use small weights and lifting my arm keeping it straight, and I really see a difference in the floppy upper arm..
  • AggieCass09
    AggieCass09 Posts: 1,867 Member
    hundredpushups.com <--- this works!!!
  • Jetjedi
    Jetjedi Posts: 24 Member
    Shadow boxing with a 3 pound dumb bell. Jabs, uppercuts, straights. Works very well.
  • grimrpr
    grimrpr Posts: 14
    Well 2 things..
    If your arms are big (with fat, not muscle) you don't need to tone. You need to lose fat, and gain muscle. The other option is that your arms are big, and contain lots of muscle. The solution is the same for both. Weight training. It is the most effective way of losing weight and toning your body. If gyms are out of the way or out of your price range, check into getting some dumbbells.

    The weight to start with is the weight that you can do 12 repetitions of an exercise and not be dying. It should be hard, it should even hurt a little (not ahh my arm fell off, but ahh.. my arm is tight). Don't be embarrassed to try this out AT THE STORE. There are some pricey dumbbells that are 'select a weight' that start at 5 and go to 25 or something.. this is GREAT but more usually than 2 dumbbells alone.

    Key exercises:
    pushups
    hammer curls (youtube if you don't know)
    shoulder press (again, youtube)
    tricep extension
    Lateral Raises.

    Those exercises are GREAT, remember to give your muscles time to recover.. you'll notice a plateau effect after a while, which means 'time to change up the workout'.

    If you are beefy with untoned muscle.. do the same.. I'd suggest doing 4 sets each comprising of 12 repetitions. when you can do those without a severe strain (in set 4) its time to move up in weight.
  • sk2775
    sk2775 Posts: 699 Member
    Thanks everyone for all the wonderful suggestions. I just bought some dumbbells and I also have a gym in my condo, so its time to start some resistance training.
  • grimrpr
    grimrpr Posts: 14
    Thanks everyone for all the wonderful suggestions. I just bought some dumbbells and I also have a gym in my condo, so its time to start some resistance training.

    I would HIGHLY suggest going to bodybuilding.com and checking out their exercise routines for total body fitness. However, if you JUST look at the exercise, there is usually a video listing DO's and DO-NOT's. I use that religiously.
  • SirBen81
    SirBen81 Posts: 396 Member
    Major Muscles in your arms, their location, and some common ways to exercise them.

    Tricep(the back of your arm): Pushups(elbows in against your ribs), Chair Dips
    Bicep(the front of your arm): Dumbell curls
    Deltoid(the top of your shoulder): Dumbell shoulder lifts


    These are common exercises and if you google video any of these you will find proper form. With some research you can also find out the many other ways to work out your arms, but the ones listed above are simple and easy.
  • sroutley
    sroutley Posts: 11
    Major Muscles in your arms, their location, and some common ways to exercise them.

    Tricep(the back of your arm): Pushups(elbows in against your ribs), Chair Dips
    Bicep(the front of your arm): Dumbell curls
    Deltoid(the top of your shoulder): Dumbell shoulder lifts


    These are common exercises and if you google video any of these you will find proper form. With some research you can also find out the many other ways to work out your arms, but the ones listed above are simple and easy.

    Yeah I would agree stick to simple excercises and even using light weights such as 2kg in each arm will get you results. Biggest thing to remember is that you need to do it until you feel a nice burn and remeber if you're aching the next day.....IT'S WORKING!!
  • sk2775
    sk2775 Posts: 699 Member
    Thanks all....can't wait to get started......
This discussion has been closed.

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