Matt Andrews is a tutor at Lifetime Training and has over ten years of experience in personal training and GP referral instructing. Below she answers your fitness questions to help you get and stay in shape.
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Jenny Asks:
I have bingo wings – flabby fat on the underneath of my upper arms that jiggles when I wave! What exercises do I need to do to tone this area?
Matts’s Answer:
This is a common area for many of us to be concerned about. Firstly, we’ll all feel a bit of ‘flapping’ going on the under arms when we wave because the muscle here, the triceps, aren’t contracting. However, there are some really simple exercises you can do.
• Tricep kickbacks – Kneel on the floor or a bench with one knee in front of the other. Use one arm to support on the front leg or the bench and hold a small handweight (or bottle filled with sand or water, tin of beans) in the other. Position the arm holding the weight so that the upper arm is level with the back and the elbow is tucked in to your waist. Maintain this position and extend the elbow until the arm is straight, but avoid locking the elbow joint. Return to the start position. Try around 15 of these. By the end aim to reach fatigue so you cannot do any more. Repeat on both arms
•Tricep extension – Stand tall with the spine nice and long, the tummy tight and the knees soft. With a weight in one hand, take the arm up to the side of the head and hold it in position with the other arm. Allow your arm to bend under control so that you lower the weight down behind the head and in between the shoulder blades. Extend back up to the start position. The upper part of the arm next to your head should be vertical throughout. Again try around 15 repetitions to fatigue on both arms
In order to help make your arms balanced, do some exercises for the biceps as well.
Mel Andrews, pictured. When taking up any new activities or exercise always consult with your GP first and ensure that you get advice from an appropriately qualified instructor.
For more information on fitness courses & more contact Lifetime Training on 0870 702 7273 or visit www.lifetimehf.co.uk
