Having strong, toned arms can significantly boost your appearance and body confidence. With summer in full swing and shorter sleeves becoming the norm, you might be wondering how to tone your arms quickly and effectively. Achieving those sculpted arms doesn't have to be a daunting task, and with the right exercises, you can see progress in no time.

Don't worry, we've got you covered! Here are some highly effective exercises to include in your at-home arm workouts. For the best results, repeat each exercise for three sets of 12 reps, and don't forget to rest between sets to allow your muscles to recover and grow stronger.

1. Bicep curl

This classic exercise targets your biceps on the front of your upper arm. It's a simple yet powerful movement that can help build strength and definition in your biceps.

How to do it:

• Stand with your feet hip-width apart to maintain balance and stability.
• Hold a dumbbell in each hand at your sides, with your palms facing forward to engage your biceps fully.
• Keep your arms tucked into your sides and bend your elbows to bring the weights up to your shoulders, ensuring you feel the tension in your biceps.
• Lower back down slowly and repeat the movement, focusing on controlled, smooth motions.

2. Triceps kickback

This exercise targets your triceps, located at the back of your upper arm. Triceps kickbacks are essential for stabilizing your shoulders and supporting movements involving arm extension.

How to do it:

• Stand with your feet hip-width apart and a dumbbell in each hand at your sides, palms facing each other for a neutral grip.
• Bend your knees slightly and hinge forward at the waist to create a stable base.
• Keep your arms close to your sides, straighten your arms, and push the dumbbells backward, squeezing your triceps at the top of the movement.
• Hold the position briefly, then slowly bring your arms back to the starting position.
• Repeat, ensuring you maintain good form throughout.

3. Chest press

Chest presses target multiple upper body muscles, including your triceps, pectorals (chest muscles), and deltoids (shoulder muscles). This exercise is great for building overall upper body strength.

How to do it:

• Lie on an exercise mat with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground to support your lower back.
• Hold a dumbbell in each hand with your palms facing the floor, ensuring you have a firm grip.
• Bend your elbows to a 90-degree angle and hold the dumbbells wider than your chest.

This is your starting position.

Keep your elbows bent and push the dumbbells up until your arms are straight, but don't lock your elbows to avoid strain.

Slowly lower back to the starting position and repeat, focusing on controlled movements.

4. Front and lateral raises

Lateral raises work your shoulder muscles and triceps, while front raises target shoulder and chest muscles, as well as your biceps. These exercises are excellent for building shoulder definition and strength.

How to do a lateral raise:

• Stand with your feet hip-width apart and a dumbbell in each hand at your sides, palms facing your body.
• With your elbows slightly bent, raise your arms parallel to the floor, feeling the tension in your shoulder muscles.
• Slowly lower to the starting position and repeat, ensuring you maintain good form.

How to do a front raise:

• Start in the same position as a lateral raise, but hold your dumbbells in front of your legs with palms facing your thighs.

Keep your arms straight and raise them in front of you until they are parallel to the ground, engaging your shoulder and chest muscles.

Return to the starting position and repeat, focusing on smooth, controlled movements.

The perfect arm workout accessories

Ready to get started with your arm toning journey but don't have the right equipment? Our 4kg and 5kg pair (2kg and 2.5kg per bar) dumbbell strength bars are perfect for the exercises listed above. They are easy to hold and add just the right amount of resistance to help tone, sculpt, and strengthen your arms effectively.

If you're just starting out and looking for something lighter, try our 3kg pair (1.5kg per bar) Pilates and fitness bars. These are also easy to hold and can help you achieve toned, lean arms without overwhelming your muscles.

Let us know how you get on with these exercises and accessories; we'd love to hear what you think and see your progress!

What are your favourite arm exercises? Tell us in the comments below and share your tips and experiences with our community.

With your big day approaching, you’re probably experiencing a few jitters and worries as the wedding preparation ramps up. For many of us, part of the anxiety is around wanting to look and feel our absolute best, but with all the stress and busyness surrounding the event, how do we even begin to focus on ourselves?

To make your life a little easier, we’ve put together the ultimate wedding wellness guide. Following these top tips will ensure you are physically, mentally, and emotionally on top form for the big day.

Get stuck in to exercise

Having gone to all the effort of choosing the perfect dress, you don’t want to be feeling uncomfortable wearing it because your body confidence is low. Exercise is the best way to lose those few extra pounds, tone up, and can also help ease any pre-wedding stress, ensuring you feel amazing and look killer.

To get the best results, include a combination of both cardio and strength training in your workout routine. Some great cardio exercises to blast away the calories, helping you slim down and shift weight, are running, cycling, swimming, or even brisk walking. Research has found that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a more effective way to lose weight than moderate-intensity exercise and results are noticeable quicker - perfect if you’ve not got long left until the wedding! 

For strength training, you might want to focus on exercises that target your arms, as they are often on display in sleeveless or strapless gowns. Exercises like bicep curls, tricep dips, and push-ups are great for sculpting and defining your arms, while exercises like the plank and shoulder presses can help strengthen your upper body and improve posture, giving you an elegant and poised presence as you walk down the aisle. 

To accompany your arm toning workouts, include AMPs 2kg strength bars which add just the right amount of weight to give you the physique you need. These come in a variety of colours and are super easy and comfortable to hold. If you’re looking for something heavier to take your workouts to the next level, try the 3kg or 4.6 weighted triangle.

Establish a Self-Care Routine

Self-care is essential during wedding planning as it helps you maintain balance and rejuvenates your mind and body so that you feel fresh and radiant on the day. Here are some of the best self-care practices to incorporate into your daily routine.

Meditation

With all the stress surrounding the wedding, setting aside some time to practice meditation or mindfulness is essential for calming your mind. If you spend your days fretting, your physical appearance can also suffer - you don’t want to have bad skin or bags under your eyes at your wedding. Meditation is a great way to bring you back into the present moment and has been proven to have many bountiful benefits for our mental health.

Pamper yourself

Treat yourself to regular home spa treatments such as facials, hair masks, or body scrubs. Not only will these pampering sessions relax your body, but they will also give you that radiant bridal glow.

Practice Gratitude

Keep a gratitude journal and write down things you're grateful for each day. Focusing on the positive aspects of your life will help you maintain a positive mindset throughout the wedding planning process.

Nourish Your Body with Nutritious Foods

A well-balanced and nourishing diet not only fuels your body with everything it needs to function properly, but it also enhances your skin, hair and nail health. By eating the foods with the right vitamins and minerals, you can ensure you look and feel a million dollars. Here are three of the best foods to eat for your hair, skin and nails.

 Fish high in Omega-3

Fish like tuna, salmon and mackerel are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which are powerful antioxidants that help fight cell damage, helping reduce inflammation and redness in the skin. 

They are also a great source of protein, the building block of hair, and biotin, a nutrient that supports the production of one of the most important hair proteins, keratin. Both of these nutrients give your hair strength, bounce and sheen. 

Avocados

Avocados are rich in healthy fats including vitamins A, E and C which are important for healthy skin, hair and nails. These nutrients help moisturise and strengthen hair, support collagen and keratin production to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and increase nail toughness, and protect against oxidative cell damage to combat hair loss.

Dark leafy greens

Dark leafy greens like spinach and kale are packed full of amazing nutrients that help strengthen brittle hair, including vitamin A, iron, beta carotene, folate and vitamin C. These all work together to keep the hair and scalp hydrated and support hair growth.

Destress and look after your emotional well-being

Let’s face it, wedding planning can be stressful. But it's important to take care of your emotional well-being and limit stress during this time because stress can have several negative impacts on your physical and mental health. Try some of our tried and tested strategies to manage stress and cultivate emotional balance.

Connect with Loved Ones

Spend quality time with family and friends who provide support and positivity. Share your concerns, seek their advice, or simply enjoy their company. Social connections are essential for emotional well-being and can offer a sense of comfort during stressful times.

Connect with Nature

Spending time in nature is the perfect calming tonic and helps ground you in the moment so your worries can melt away. Take a walk in a park, go for a hike, or simply sit in a garden and soak in the beauty around you. 

 Practice Mind-Body Techniques

Explore relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises, gentle yoga, or aromatherapy. These practices will help you find moments of tranquillity, reduce anxiety and ensure you approach your wedding day with a calm and rejuvenated mind.

Summary

Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so of course you want to look and feel fabulous! By following our top tips in this guide, you'll radiate beauty, confidence, and bliss on your special day. 

Most importantly, don’t forget to exercise as this is key to feeling confident and comfortable in your wedding attire. Incorporate a combination of cardio and strength training exercises into your routine to tone up and achieve your desired physique. Alongside exercise, nourish your body with nutritious foods like fatty fish, avocado and leafy greens as these provide essential nutrients that allow you to shine both inside and out. 

It's completely normal to feel a bit anxious and overwhelmed with all the wedding preparations. By connecting with loved ones, nature and practising mind-body relaxation techniques you can manage stress levels and boost your emotional wellbeing. Establishing a self-care routine that includes meditation, indulgent pamper sessions and gratitude practice can also help you maintain emotional balance and rejuvenates your mind and body.