No Flab With That Blouse Is So Necessary
|
A guide to toning up flabby arms
by Cathy Gatson
With Spring in the air and Summer just around the corner?it will soon be time to "change clothes and go"?sleeveless. If you've been shopping lately, you may have noticed many of the blouses, tops and dresses for Spring/Summer are haltered, strapless, or sleeveless, exposing lots of skin. The styles are sexy but flabby arms are not. If the backs of your arms are waving in the wind, then here are the most recommended and easiest exercises that I've found to improve muscle tone to your arms, shoulders and chest just in time for Spring.
The muscles you want to target are:
Biceps - located at the top of your upper arm. Clench your fist and make a muscle, the bump that should appear is your bicep.
Triceps - located at the back and below your upper arm.
Pectoralis Major & Minor - chest muscles
Push ups are a tried and true exercise which work the triceps, chest, and shoulders. You may modify the traditional push up by both knees on the floor rather than straightening them behind you. Place your hands on the floor in front of you, shoulder width apart and push your upper body away. Go at a pace that works for you but be consistent. Gradually increasing your reps. No need to go the gym for this exercise. You can drop and do 20 right before you climb into bed.
Kim King, head strength and conditioning coach for Olympic Sports at the University of Pittsburgh, suggests the following exercises:
Dumbbell triceps curl
· Stand erect with back straight and feet shoulder width apart.
· Hold dumbbell (if weights are not available substitute weights with 32 oz. waterbottles) in right hand and raise overhead with arm extended.
· Keep upper arm close to head and perpendicular to the floor.
· Slowly lower dumbbell behind head until forearm touches (nears) bicep.
· Raise dumbbell to starting position and repeat movement.
· Inhale when lowering dumbbell, exhale when raising (extending) arm upward.
· Repeat with opposite arm. This exercise can also be done while seated.
Dumbbell triceps extension
· Stand holding dumbbell in your right hand with palm facing in.
· Bend forward until your back is nearly parallel to the floor.
· Position left hand on left knee.
· Position upper right arm against side (parallel to ground) with lower arm vertical to ground.
· Press dumbbell back until arm parallel to floor.
· Pause for a moment, then lower dumbbell slowly to starting position, then repeat.
· Inhale when raising dumbbell, exhale when lowering. Repeat with opposite arm.
Hammer bicep curl
· Stand erect with feet shoulder-width apart.
· Hold a light dumbbell in each hand with arms extended down and palms facing inward.
· Keep upper arms tight against ribs and perpendicular to the floor.
· Raise one dumbbell at a time by flexing the arm at the elbow.
· Curl movement should bring dumbbell in line with the shoulder.
· Lower dumbbell slowly until elbow is fully extended.
· Repeat with opposite arm.
· Exhale during upward movement; inhale during downward phase.
According to the fitness manager at 24 Hour Fitness at Hilltop, Izaac Tyrell, the most effective way to reduce weight is "by eating a balanced diet (consisting of carbs, protein and a little fat), doing cardio-vascular exercises in combination with weight training".
Izaak reiterated what I've read in countless health magazines which is there is no "spot reduction" way to reduce fat in other words, there is no quick fix to flab-less arms!
If done correctly, the exercises mentioned, will yield noticeable results but only if incorporated with cardio exercises and a low fat, nutritious diet. Start now and by summer you should be able to brush your shoulders off and wave flabby arms goodbye!
Resources: For more information on weight loss, and exercise, The Ultimate Weight Loss Revealed by Brad Callen e-book has great fat burning tips and cardio exercise programs (www.free-weight-loss-resources.com). Another great resource for nutrition and exercise tips is www.ivillage.com. Winsor Pilates video available at Target for $29.95 an awesome program designed to tone and sculpt your entire body and help you lose weight. Tamilee Webb's, "I Want Those Arms" a good video for beginners to intermediate excercisers. available on VHS for $14.95 www.collagevideo.com
Cathy Gatson is a freelance writer and owner/operator of Yada Beauty Lounge, a hair and body salon in Northern California.
|
|
|
Effective Make-up And Beauty Tips And Products: Dos And Donts, Avoid These Most Common Mistakes!
With the amount of importance given to make-up these days, many women just tend to do a bit too much. Getting the right make-up for the particular occasion is the call of the entire womanhood. But beauty shouldn't be misinterpreted as just by carrying a beautiful face. A overall healthy body reflects eternal beauty which one should be longing for. The idea is to look younger and FEEL YOUNGER.Here are some precious makeup Do's and Dont's which one should know very well before applying make-up.* Find the formula that meets your skin's needs and your lifestyle. Though, it isn't that hard also to get it right. Generally, we apply make-up in a hurry and we tend to ignore this vital part.* Women generally don't wash their brushes as they are always busy a...(related: Beauty)
Tips On Choosing The Best Skin Care Product For You
Your face is the first thing that people notice when they meet you. So, it is no wonder that skin care is big business! Millions are spent each year to treat acne, under eye circles, wrinkles, discolorations, and a variety of other ailments. If you are in the market for a skin care line, there are a few things that you should consider before settling on a product. First you need to look at the type of ingredients the product contains, and then find out what works best for your particular skin type. So, get ready to put your best face forward!A good skin care product is only as good as its ingredients. Make sure to read the label before you buy. If you are unable to pronounce anything on the bottle, move on to something else. The best skin care products are made with natural ingredients. Look...(related: Beauty)
Cosmetic Surgery Procedures - Buttock Lift
Every patient has their own individual needs for plastic surgery. Reshaping the buttock to the ...(related: Beauty)
Tummy Tuck ? Cosmetic Surgery Procedure
A tummy tuck cosmetic surgery procedure will take about two to five hours, depending on the nature of the job. If you are only receiving a partial abdominoplasty it will probably only take between one to two hours.The surgical procedure starts with a long incision across the hipbone directly above the pubic area. Another cut is then made to remove the belly button from the original tissue in order to place it back after the surgery is complete.The...(related: Beauty)
Tooth Whitening, Tooth Treatment: Get That Perfect Smile!
I would say a smile throughout the day keeps doctor away. Undoubtly, laughter is the best medicine as it not only supplies nutrients to the skin but also makes your skin glow. But if the condition of your teeth doesn't allow you to smile confidently, don't worry, just read on to learn how to improve the condition of your teeth.Thanks to your tight schedule and fast lifestyle, you have yellow teeth which not only affects your confidence but also puts off the other person. But with the help of modern dentistry, your teeth can be bleached. You can have that perfect set all over again. But the sad part, the bleaching affect is temporary. The bleaching or whitening affect depends on the discoloration...(related: Beauty)
Look Younger With Antioxidant
What does Antioxydant have to do with anti-aging? You might not think in the first place that Antioxydant has a great benefit to prevent early aging. Furthermore, you might not be aware of what Antioxydant is and how it is also beneficial for your health.Antioxydant can make you look younger than your age. Antioxydant is ...(related: Beauty)
Color Contact Lenses For Light Eyes - What Works Best?
You may ask why a person with naturally blue or green eyes would want to wear color contact lenses? One reason is to make the natural color look brighter and more defined. Another reason is to change the hue just a bit - ad a touch of emerald to naturally blue eyes, for instance, and you will get a beautiful aquamarine.All color contacts can be separated into two types - enhancement color lenses and opaque color lenses. Both will work for people with light eyes, ...(related: Beauty)
Houston Plastic Surgeon
If you live in Houston Texas and you are looking for a plastic surgeon, then you're not alone. Houston is o...(related: Beauty)
Beauty Tips: 10 Steps For Radiant Skin
When it comes to a glowing complexion what we put into our bodies and how we treat our skin and ourselves has a huge impact on how we lo...(related: Beauty)
site-map - Copyright © 2007 | Contact Webmaster | All Rights Reserved | Free Articles and Information | Beauty