Tuesday, June 10, 2014

No Weights No Problem Arm Workout


Looking to tone up your arms at home, but down own any weights? No problem! Here is a quick mini workout that you can do each day to help lose the bat wings while building a little more definition-using only your body-weight!

*Do 3 reps of each exercise daily*


No Weights No Problem Arm Workout
30 Arm Circles
20 Push Ups
30 Tricep Dips
1 minute Plank
40 Burpees
10 Triangle Pushups
50 Jumping Jacks

Demos

Push-Ups:
  • Get into a plank position with hands planted directly under the shoulders (slightly wider than shoulder width apart). Ground the toes into the floor to stabilize the bottom half of the body. Engage the abs and back so the body is neutral. In other words, flat as a… plank (ah, now we get it!)
  • Begin to lower the body—back flat, eyes focused about three feet in front of you to keep a neutral neck—until the chest nearly touches the floor. (Note: Some experts say a push-up isn’t a push-up unless the chest actually grazes the ground). Don’t let the butt dip or stick out at any point during the move; the body should remain flat from head to toe all the way through the movement. Draw the shoulder blades back and down, while keeping the elbows tucked close to the body, so the upper arms form a 45-degree angle at the bottom of the push-up position.
  • Keeping the core engaged, exhale as you push back to the start position as explosively as possible without leaving the ground.

Dips:
  • Position your hands shoulder-width apart on a secured bench or stable chair.
  • Slide your butt off the front of the bench with your legs extended out in front of you.
  • Straighten your arms, keeping a little bend in your elbows to keep tension on your triceps and off your elbow joints.
  • Slowly bend your elbows to lower your body toward the floor until your elbows are at about a 90-degree angle. Be sure to keep your back close to the bench.
  • Once you reach the bottom of the movement, press down into the bench to straighten your elbows, returning to the starting position. This completes one rep.

Plank:
  • Start off on a yoga mat in the pushup position. Starting with the pushup position is the easiest way to get into the plank.
  • Lower both your forearms to the ground so that both your elbows and fists are flat to the ground. Your palms should be balled up, and directly underneath your shoulders.
  • Curl your toes under and engage your abs by tilting your pelvis and pulling your belly button toward your spine.
  • Straighten your body but keep your neck and spine neutral. Imagine that you’re a plank of wood, and that you’re straight as an arrow.
  • Flex your abdominals and squeeze your glutes. These are the two major muscle groups you’ll be working out in this exercise.
  • Hold this position, also known as the plank, until after the burning begins. Keep your eyes on the floor in front of you. Avoid raising your behind. Your body should make a straight line from your heels to the back of your head.

Burpees:
  • Begin in a standing position. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart. Now, lower your body into a squatting position, placing your hands on the floor in front of you.
  • Kick your feet back so that you are in push-up position. Keep your hands firmly on the ground to support your body.
  • Lower your chest to do a push-up. Bring your chest back up.
  • Kick your feet back to their original position. Stand up, and then jump into the air while clapping your arms overhead.
  • Repeat.

Jumping Jacks:
  • Assume an erect position, with feet together and arms at your side.
  • Slightly bend your knees, and propel yourself a few inches into the air.
  • While in air, bring your legs out to the side about shoulder width or slightly wider.
  • As you are moving your legs outward, you should raise your arms up over your head; arms should be slightly bent throughout the entire in-air movement.
  • Your feet should land shoulder width or wider as your hands meet above your head with arms slightly bent.
Triangle Push-up:
  1. Begin the move by positioning the hands on the mat directly under the chest with the fingers spread and the thumbs and forefingers touching, making a triangle shape.
  2. Straighten the legs into a plank position (harder) or keep the knees on the floor for an easier version.
  3. Make sure the back is flat and the abs are engaged as you bend the elbows, lowering until your chin or chest touches the mat. If you can't go that low, go as low as you can and work to build enough strength to lower all the way down over time.
  4. At the bottom of the movement, your elbows will naturally flare out to the side.
  5. Press back to start, keeping the torso rigid, and repeat for 1-3 sets of 8-16 reps.
Arm Circles:
  • Start by standing straight with your feet shoulder width apart. Your arms should be straight out to the sides, so that your body forms a T.
  • Slowly start by making small circular motions with both arms on either side. After a few repetitions of small circles, enlarge your circles and do the same amount of reps.
  • Your end position should look the same as the start position. Breathe in and out, and release arms to the side of the body.


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