Exercises for Toning Your Arms
As you lose weight after weight loss surgery, conserving muscle mass is important for staying healthy and maintaining or improving your mobility. Building muscle will also help you lose weight as working out increases your metabolism so you use more calories throughout the day.
If you find it difficult to move around, you can start a workout program that targets your arms. Simple arm exercises don’t require expensive workout equipment. The following exercises can be done while seated and you can substitute a book or can of soup for dumbbells if necessary.
Simple Push ups: Everyone is familiar with push ups, though most of us can’t actually do them. However, the principal of using your body weight to tone your arms works just as well if you simply push against a wall at an angle. You can do this in a standing or seated position facing a wall. Place your hands on the wall at shoulder height and lean your body toward the wall. Now use your arm strength to push yourself back to the starting position. Over time, you can do the same thing against the edge of a table until finally working your way down to a kneeling position and using the floor to push against.
Bicep curls: Bicep curls consist of holding a weight by your side and lifting it toward the sky by bending your elbow. Bicep curls work your biceps which are the long muscles in the front of your upper arm.
Ponytail extensions: Triceps are a major concern among most people. The triceps are the long muscles on the back of your arm that is most often under-developed. Ponytail extensions work your triceps. In order to do them, hold a weight in your hand with your palm facing your face and lift your arm straight up. Bend your arm back behind you and then go through a series of lifting motions, going from a bent arm to an arm that is straight and lifted over your head.