[guerrillamama]

I've been doing push ups, but apparently I'm not doing them right, cuz I'm only sore in the chest muscles (don't know what they're called). What's the best way to strengthen/tone arms?

Going to the gym is not an option, gotta be sthing I can do at home.

What about weights while jogging? Does that work? How do I find/choose weights? Keeping in mind I've got a dog leash in one hand while jogging.

 

[june'smom]

I think I would get some kinda heavy free weights. Less reps and more weights are supposed to be good. Then you could have more flexibility on what muscles you wanted to work.

Good luck. I am starting on my arms here and it is really hard to motivate.

Louise

 

[HomeBirthMommy]

I agree with the heavier weights. Weights while jogging just seems painful and awkward to me. There are some great exercise videos in The Firm series that focus on arms/upper body. My arms have never looked as good as they did when I was doing The Firm.
Some things you could do:
Tricep push-ups (do a google search for a good pic-there are several different variations)
Lat rows (although this targets your back more)
bicep curls
hammer curls
tricep dips (seen here)

This site has lots of good target area exercises.

Generally I use 10 pound weights when doing bicep work and 5-10 for triceps.

Hope this helps!

 

[guerrillamama]

Thanks!

I've never bought weights before. How do I know which ones to get?

 

[HomeBirthMommy]

I just use the small hand held weights. They're kind-of dumbell shaped. You can get them at Target and sometimes you can find them really cheap at a used sporting goods store like Play-it-Again. These are nice and easy to hold.

 

[Leilalu]

I kind of subscribe to the pilates idea that you shouldn't use a 10 pound weight for a 5 pound movement, type thing. I used to work out with heavy weights, still could if I went to our garage and got them out, but I prefer small hand weights. That way, you can build up resistance yourself without injuring ligaments. There are several hand weight excersisse if you look online. I have some in my favorite book-The Pilates Body, by Brooke Siler.

Or you can do the shortcut and grab your kid and lift them up and down in front of you, shoulders down, arms out, feet slightly apart,until you feel like your arms are going to fall off

Ds loves that one!

 

[HomeBirthMommy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leilalu Or you can do the shortcut and grab your kid and lift them up and down in front of you, shoulders down, arms out, feet slightly apart,until you feel like your arms are going to fall off

Yes! This is also very effective (and not quite as painful) in the pool.

 

[Leilalu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeBirthMommy Yes! This is also very effective (and not quite as painful) in the pool.

Isn't it great though??!
I do agree, the pool makes it more doeable. But for about a week or so, ds wanted me to play that game at night, where we sat on the floor, and I picked him up and bounced him back down and then he pushed with his feet back up when I lifted him(sounds a bit confusing, sorry)and we kept doing that for a looooong time. by the end of the week my arms didn't look so flabby

 

[guerrillamama]

Thanks! Have been lifting my husky 2.5 yo, to his delight. Can't do a lot of that! But it's cheaper than going to the gym.

 

[mandib50]

best way to build arms is to do heavy weights/low reps of compound movements. direct arm exercises are accessory work and aren't completely necessary.