The 15-Minute Armed for Summer Workout
With summer heating up, it's time to break out the essentials: sundresses, tanks, and lots of skin. If your arms aren't ready to see the light just yet, don't freak. New York City personal trainer Hannah Davis has a plan that will get you toned and tight in no time at all.
The trick: Most women focus on single-joint exercises, like biceps curls, which work primarily one muscle, says Davis. "Doing complex moves recruits more muscle fibers and works your upper body to total fatigue." That means you'll burn more calories and shed arm fat faster, so your arms, shoulders, and upper back will be sleek in time for their big reveal.
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Follow this workout two to four times a week: Warm up with three sets of the inchworm, resting for no more than one minute between sets. Perform the remaining three exercises as a circuit: Complete 15 reps of each move, rest two to three minutes, then repeat for a total of three sets.
INCHWORM
Stand with your feet hip-width apart, bend over, and touch the floor in front of your feet with both hands. Keeping your legs straight and core tight, walk your hands forward as far as you can without letting your hips drop. Pause, then slowly walk your feet toward your hands. That's one rep. Do 12.
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ALTERNATING ARM RAISE
Stand holding a pair of dumbbells at your sides, one palm facing in, one palm facing the front of your thigh, feet hip-width apart. Keeping your arms straight and shoulders down, simultaneously raise one weight in front of you and the other out to your side, both to shoulder height. Return to start. That's one rep. Repeat with opposite arms and continue alternating.
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ARNOLD
Stand with your feet hip-width apart, holding a pair of dumbbells in front of your thighs, palms facing away from you. Curl the weights to shoulder height, then rotate your hands so that your palms face forward and press the dumbbells toward the ceiling until your arms are extended directly overhead. Pause, then reverse the movement to return to start. That's one rep.
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ROW WITH TRICEPS KICKBACK
Hold a dumbbell in your right hand and place your left knee and hand on a bench so your hips and shoulders form 90-degree angles with your legs and arms. Keeping your back flat and core tight, bend your right elbow to lift the weight to the side of your chest, then raise the weight behind you until your arm is completely straight. Reverse the move to return to start. Finish all reps, then repeat on the other side.
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TELL US: What's your favorite sleeveless outfit for summer?
--By Caitlin Carlson, Women's Health
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