Good arm exercises?

[Abby]

Does anyone know of any good exercises for your arms? I'm trying to tone up that area, but seem to be coming up short. I'm not super jiggly back there, just a little soft.

Tips?

[ilooklikefit]

French presses are good, as are close-grip bench press. However, my suggestion is to focus more on compound exercises (movements that work many of the major muscle groups) rather than isolation exercises (movements that only target one, smaller muscle group at a time). The former burns more calories, which will help you lose weight all over, thus allowing the muscle definition in your arms to be more visible.

[Kendra Brandt]

I read in Women's Health that tricep kickbacks work well.

[Dashan Lewis]

Diamond pushups work real good. Keep your hands close together and do regular pushups. They work the triceps more this way.

[Kerri Sparling - SixUntilMe]

Are there any videos of this exercise? I have no idea what a french press is (isn't that coffee?!).

[Gina T.]

ilooklikefit said:

French presses are good, as are close-grip bench press. However, my suggestion is to focus more on compound exercises (movements that work many of the major muscle groups) rather than isolation exercises (movements that only target one, smaller muscle group at a time). The former burns more calories, which will help you lose weight all over, thus allowing the muscle definition in your arms to be more visible.

I'll have to try those. They sound like good exercises. But French Presses? Sounds more like a specialty coffee! ;)

[Kayana]

Hi, Triceps are the biggest muscles in the arms so close grip push ups, cable pull downs, skull crushers etc. Don't forget your shoulders though as good muscle definition in the arms is pointless with no shoulder definition. Good luck x

[Kayana]

A french press is the same as 'the skull crusher'. lie on a bench with a weight of your choice (start with the ez bar if you're new to weights), extend the arms. Keep the upper part of your arms still and bend from the elbow bringing your hands to the fore head or just behind and then 'press' the forearm back into the extended position. I reccommend you ask a fitness instructor to take you through this at the gym you train in as it is a tricky exercise but targets the area you want it to.

[Hayley KJ]

You could try tricep dips, you basically use a chair with its back to a wall. Go from a sitting position with your hands each side holding the chair, let your bottom drop off the edge of the chair with your legs stretched out on the floor a bit. Take the weight on your arms and bring your body up and down (your bottom should be skimming the edge of the chair seat) using your body weight as the resistance.

[Gina T.]

Kayana said:

A french press is the same as 'the skull crusher'. lie on a bench with a weight of your choice (start with the ez bar if you're new to weights), extend the arms. Keep the upper part of your arms still and bend from the elbow bringing your hands to the fore head or just behind and then 'press' the forearm back into the extended position. I reccommend you ask a fitness instructor to take you through this at the gym you train in as it is a tricky exercise but targets the area you want it to.

I'll give those a go too! Thanks Kayana!

[Gina T.]

Hayley KJ said:

You could try tricep dips, you basically use a chair with its back to a wall. Go from a sitting position with your hands each side holding the chair, let your bottom drop off the edge of the chair with your legs stretched out on the floor a bit. Take the weight on your arms and bring your body up and down (your bottom should be skimming the edge of the chair seat) using your body weight as the resistance.

Ive done these before. they work pretty well, but they sometimes hurt my shoulder. could I be doing them wrong?

[Colin]

Tricep pressdowns work well. So do triangle pushups.

[Strongbad]

I personally think suplexing cougars is the best arm exercise you can do.