5 Exercises To Tone Your Arms You Need To Try
It’s almost summer, which means swimsuit season, and with that comes showing off all of our beautiful and unique bodies! One part of our body is our arms. Wearing bikinis and tank tops are part of that summer attire, and they definitely show off our arms. Doing exercises to tone your arms are a great way to make you feel confident in your summer body! Here are five exercises to tone your arms that you need to try! By the end of the day, your arms will be sore, but you’ll be asking for more because it will make you feel proud of yourself!
For most of these exercises, I recommend using light weights or dumbbells to help tone your arms and give you a little bit more of a challenge. Even a very light dumbbell weight will help, and light weights can help you tone your arms without giving it bulk. If you like bulk, make your weights a little more heavy!
1. Lateral Raise
For this exercise, the weights can be a big help, but doing the exercise without weights will still be beneficial! Take your weights and then stand with your hands by your sides. Slowly, lift your arms laterally, until your arms are parallel with the floor, or at shoulder height. Your palms should be facing the floor. Hold for a second or two, and then slowly lower your arms. Repeat this action. I recommend doing this exercise for three sets of ten repetitions. Be sure to keep a slight bend in your elbows as well as your knees.
2. Push Up
The push-up, while it can be incredibly difficult, is also incredibly good for your entire body, not just your arms. You should not use weights for this exercise. The push-up will help not only help build strength in your shoulders, arms, and your pectoral muscles but will also strengthen your core. Start by laying on your stomach with your feet shoulder width apart and your hands flat on the ground slightly larger than shoulder width apart. Using your arms, lift yourself up from the ground, and then, after holding for a second or two, slowly lower yourself down to hover above the floor. Keep your body straight. Then, repeat by pushing yourself back up and down again. I recommend three sets of eight repetitions. It is a difficult exercise, so if you can’t do it fully just yet, you are welcome to keep your knees on the ground!
3. Bicep Curl
For this exercise, I recommend using a dumbbell weight. Standing with a slight bend in the knees, hold the dumbbells in your hands with your palms facing forwards. Bend your elbows, lifting your palms to your shoulders. Then, slowly lower your arms until you are back in your original position. I recommend three sets of ten repetitions for this exercise. This exercise will help your biceps and forearms look toned and fantastic!
4. Overhead Extension
For this exercise, I recommend using a dumbbell weight. Standing with your knees shoulder-width apart and slightly bent, hold the dumbbell in both of your hands. Hold it up above your head, and slowly lower it down behind your head before slowly bringing it back up. Keep your wrists straight during this exercise. I recommend three sets of ten repetitions.
5. Plank to Push Up
Start in a plank position on your elbows. Lift one hand to a high plank position, and then the next until you are up in a full high plank position on your palms. Then, place an arm down to the elbow, and then the next arm until you are in a regular plank position. Continue this for as many repetitions as you can in one minute. This is one of the best exercises to tone your arms.
