Ask Alfonso: How Do I Tone My Flabby Triceps?
Do you have a recommended move to target triceps that will really get them firm?
My arms are kind of wiggly back there and it drives me nuts. I have mom arms and I’m not even a mom!
It’s my main upper body issue. Thanks so much. My husband and I love your videos and site!
Alison
Hey Alison how are you?
I’m so glad you like the website and videos. I love hearing that people enjoy what I share.
As for your triceps, I totally understand and hear this very same complaint quite often. But to be brutally honest, this trouble spot may never be what you want it to. That’s not to say you can’t improve its appearance, but I just want to be totally truthful.
Genetics and gender play a huge role in where your body stores fat, and you also have different types of fat receptors. The back of the arms, hip, glutes and thighs are general trouble spots for women, while the gut or belly is usually where you’ll see men store fat. The issue is that exercising the specific area, triceps in your case, doesn’t lead to spot reduction or localized fat burn. Sure specific triceps work will build the muscle a bit and perhaps make the skin seem more taut, but it won’t reduce fat in that area. And in some cases, your arm may end up looking flabbier because there’s a bigger muscle beneath the same amount of fat! Frustrating isn’t it!
Many trainees fail to recognize that lifting weights exercises the muscle and makes it stronger, but does nothing for the fat in that specific area. I know it stinks, but it’s the truth. I’ve seen people lose 10, 20, even 50 pounds and still have excess fat on their arms or belly – it’s just Mother Nature’s way of doing things. Conversely I’ve seen people who were very successful at slimming down their trouble areas. It’s really individual to each person.
So I suggest this – keep plugging along, reading Angry Trainer Fitness and watching my FREE workout videos (shameless plug) and see what happens. I understand that you feel like your triceps are a trouble spot, but I like to suggest for people to focus on their strengths rather than their alleged weaknesses. Trust me, I have many areas of my body I wish were different, but no matter how I train or eat they are what they are. I’ve learned to accept my body is great as is and I’m happy with myself. It’s really hard to get in this mindset, but I firmly believe that you’ll always find something you wish were different. Focus on heath and fitness first, the look second and everything else will fall into place.
At the same time check out my Back To Basics: Triceps post for my advice of the best – and worst – triceps exercises you might want to try.
Good luck – and let me know how it goes!
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about 11 months ago
I have the very same problem! Yeah genetic stinks! Few years ago I had tone thighs, flat abs but flabby wobbly arms. I eat clean, lift weight and cardio but what went down were my boobs!
about 11 months ago
I’m a person who lost 70 lbs and still has fat/loose skin on the backs of my arms & belly…and it will never go away w/out surgery. My tris pop out nicely when I’m working them and in a certain position which I won’t discuss publicly, my boyfriend says he can see a six-pack hiding under my layer of blubber, but this is what my body is going to be…good muscles on the inside, battle scars from my former fat life on the outside.
about 11 months ago
The best way to fight those kind of arms is hard training in my opinion. First I wanted to suggest heavy benching until I realized you’re woman (not saying that women cant bench heavy). And second thing I realized is that I don’t know nothing about your training. Have you even tried your hand at skull crushers, dips and closegrip bench?
Same will biceps: Barbell curls, chinups, hammercurls, reverse barbell curls. I can’t imagine that you’ll have flabby arms if you do that training for 6 months, bicep and tricep each once a week.