3 of the best exercises for super toned arms

No matter what your fitness level, you can get strong, lean arms ready to show off in your sleeveless tops when spring finally arrives. As well as visual appeal, toned arms give extra wow to your workouts, helping you pump, swim, throw, hit backhand and ellipticize with more power.

Here are the three best exercises to help you get strong, sculpted, simply incredible arms:

1. BENT OVER REVERSE FLY

This one targets the rear deltoids so you’ll feel it in your shoulders and upper back. To prepare, grasp dumbbells with feet shoulder-width apart, knees and hips flexed as you lean forward with a straight back. Hold the dumbbells beneath your chest with your arms flexed.

• Exhale and lift arms to the side until they’re perpendicular to your body, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
• With control, return arms towards the ground.
• Repeat for three sets of 10 reps.

2. TRICEP DIP

This very effective exercise focuses on the triceps which is particularly helpful for those of us carrying around ‘batwings’. You can perform it at home on a chair, and also in a gym on a dip machine.

To start, stand with feet hip-width apart and back straight, hands grasping the bench, chair or step behind you. Stretch legs out in front of you with a slight bend in the knees.

• Slowly lower your body until your arms are bent at 90 degrees.
• Push back up until your elbows are nearly straight, but not locked.
• Repeat for three sets of 12 reps every other day.

3. BARBELL CURLS

The dumbbell curl is a go-to exercise for people looking to add bulk to their arms and for good reason: it’s one of the best bicep-builders you can do. The movement demands control and excellent technique throughout, forcing your biceps to add muscle fibres. You can vary the grip to change the muscles worked and substitute the barbell for dumbbells.

To start, hold a barbell with shoulder-width underhand grip and letting it hang with arms fully extended.

• Keeping your upper arms still, bend your elbows and curl the barbell up as close to your shoulders as possible.
• Hold for a second, squeeze the biceps, then lower steadily back down.
•  Repeat for 2-4 sets and 6 – 10 repetitions, depending on the weight of the barbell.