The number one body part that 100% is not as skinny as it was in college/highschool? Your arms. Don’t deny it; you used to show off your skinny arms in pics by striking a hand-on-hip pose or popping your collarbone while stretttcchiiing your arm out. But with each passing year, the skinny arm gets less skinny. It’s a tragedy, really. Nowadays, you check every photo to make sure your one sausage arm (how is it possible to have one fat arm?) is hidden behind your enormous bag, linked with your bestie so no one can tell whose arm is whose, or obscured by a giant cocktail. In fact, 90% of your untagged photos these days are because of the appearance of #giantarm, despite the fact that your outfit is fly and you’re standing in natural light.
Here are five quick and easy exercises you can do to get that skinny arm back so you’ll never have to sacrifice a photo with good lighting again:
1. Shoulder Press
This one is easy, so no excuses. Women’s Health mag describes this slimming exercise: “Holding a pair of dumbbells just above your shoulders, palms facing each other, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Press the weights until your arms are straight overhead. Hold for one second, then take three seconds to lower the dumbbells back to your shoulders. Do six to eight reps.”
2. Pilates Boxing
This one is great if you have a lot of pent-up aggression, which, of course you do. According to Health.com: “Standing with feet a hips-width apart, bend your knees and hinge forward from your waist, maintaining a neutral spine. Raise fists to your shoulders and, keeping elbows up, box your right hand forward, clenching your abs. Bring hands to center and switch. Box on each side 20 times.” We fail to see how this is any different from regular boxing, but okay sure.
3. Arm Circles
You think they’re easy, but these are kind of a bitch and you’ll def get tired of them—but such is life and exercise in general. Fitness magazine says: “Grab a pair of three-pound dumbbells, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, arms extended straight out to your sides at shoulder length. Keeping your shoulders down, do 20 small backward circles, then switch directions.”
4. Plate Planks
Everyone knows that these are LITERALLY the worst, but Shape magazine would have us believe that there is a benefit to being in this much pain. Get into plank position, but keep one hand on a paper plate (oh ya surprise you’re gonna need one of those—don’t pretend like you have actual dishware in your apartment). Keep your arms straight and both feet planted shoulder-width apart, then circle the plate ten times clockwise and ten times counter clockwise. Feel the burn, switch arms, question your life and your choices, etc.
5. Cardio
We know we literally always say to NOT put us down for cardio, but, honestly, it’ll help in the long run. Get on the treadmill, hit that 10% incline, and feel your fat burn away.