5 Simple and Effective Arm Exercises to Tone Up

Toning is very different than building muscle. You need specific workouts if you want to tone up your arms then you would if you wanted to bulk up. There are some simple arm exercises to tone up that you could do just about anywhere. Upper arms are often the most troublesome areas for some people. But it isn’t as difficult as you may think to tone up your arms. You could add these 5 exercises into your workouts and start seeing results. 

You can get the sculpted arms you have always wanted by using some simple and effective arm exercises to tone up and eliminate that trouble zone with ease.

There is a major difference between toning and bulking. Bulking up is when you workout to build more muscles and gain more strength. Muscle mass is the name of the game when you are bulking. Toning is when you are just trying to burn layers of fat that are hiding the muscles you already have. It is almost impossible to control where the fat is stored and lost from but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth trying. Resistance training is a good place to start if you want to tone up. In fact, there are some very simple arm exercises to tone up your upper arms. 

Arm Exercises to Tone Up | Bicep Curls

This exercise is one of the easiest and most common arm exercises to tone up. You will need two weights, whatever weight you’re comfortable with. Put a weight in each hand and stand with your arms at your sides. Keep your elbows in as close to your body as you can and then curl your arms upward toward your shoulders. Then, let your arms back down without swinging them, just let them down at your sides with purpose. Do this ten times and complete 3 sets for a total of 30 times. Adjust the weight as needed. 

Tree Hugging

This exercise will help you tone up your biceps and the sides of your chest. Simply hold the weights at shoulder height parallel to the floor. Hug your arms toward the front of your body as if you’re hugging a tree. Keep your arms level and do not let them drop down at all. Return your arms back to the starting position and repeat this movement 10 times for one set with a total of 3 sets. 

Bent Over Rows

This exercise might take a little longer to complete as it will require 10 reps for one set and 3 sets per arm. The kicker is that you will do each arm separately. However, this is still one of the best arm exercises to tone up. Use a bench or a chair for support. Bend over the bench with your left knee and hand on the bench to hold you up for support. Your right foot should be on the ground and right leg fully extended. Then, lift the weight straight up bending your elbow outward to make a right angle. Keep your back straight throughout the exercise. Repeat for 10 reps for 1 set and do three sets per arm. 

Plank Tap

Start out in a plank position. With your palms flat on the ground, shoulder-width apart. Lift your right hand to tap your left shoulder while still in the plank position. Do the same thing with your left hand and continue to alternate. Make sure you tap each shoulder 10 times for 1 set and aim for 3 sets. The important aspect of this exercise is the form. Your back should be straight and your feet should be together. Engage your core throughout the exercise. 

Plank Up-Down

Start in the same position as above. Almost like you’re about to do a push-up but without the push-up. Lower your left arm and place your forearm on the ground for support. Then lower your right arm so that your right forearm is also on the floor. Then lift your left arm so your hand is flat on the ground and then do the same to your right. That was one rep. Aim for 10 reps for 1 set and 3 sets total.