Your Ticket to the Gun Show!
By Candace Heeney
Summer is upon us ladies! I don’t know about you, but during the summer, I cannot stand wearing shirts with sleeves. Even cap sleeves drive me crazy. No matter who you are, armpit stains are NOT cute!
At BeyondFit, we know that not everyone is ready to rock a tank top, so we created workout routines that target the biceps, triceps, shoulders, and back, all the muscles you need to target in order to get those “tank top arms.” So, say goodbye to armpit fat and tricep jiggle, here are the most common mistakes women make when trying to tone their upper bodies and our tried-and-true fitness tips to get you invited to the gun show!
Mistake #1: Doing Long, Non-Efficient Workouts
Getting toned arms is not about getting in the gym and lifting heavy for an hour. Believe me, I’ve tried that. Stop wasting your time, you’ve got better things to do. I am not knocking all long, endurance workouts, but they do little to give you metabolic bang for your buck. At BeyondFit, we demand workouts that give you more for less! Numerous studies show that people who do High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) actually achieve more fat-burning results than those who focus on endurance training. So get off the treadmill, get off the elliptical, stop wasting your time! Focus on efficient high intensity, hybrid weight training circuits (these are the exact type of workouts we use in the BeyondFit Life Club), throw in some sprints, and add some metabolic conditioning; you’ll be on the right track to amazingly toned “guns!”
Mistake #2: Ignoring Your Hormones
Hormones play a HUGE part in fat loss and muscle building. That’s right ladies, you can train and diet all day long, but you cannot out train your hormones. So many women complain about armpit fat and tricep jiggle. If these are trouble spots for you, you may need to take a closer look at your testosterone level (yes, women have testosterone), your cortisol level, and your thyroid. Once you understand your unique hormonal makeup, I guarantee you’ll start seeing the results you want in record time. And hey, Kate has already done most of the research for you, so check out her seven simple ways to balance your metabolic hormones.
Mistake #3: Undervaluing Weight Training
You have to, I repeat, you have to weight train – GO HEAVY OR GO HOME! If you are a cardio queen expecting to get leaner, tighter and more toned, you will be disappointed. You cannot cardio your way to muscle definition. Don’t freak out, ladies, lifting does not bulk you up. Women have less testosterone than men, so we get leaner and tighter. And, if you just can’t stand the thought of ditching your cardio days, know that weight training actually provides all the cardiovascular benefits you get from your aerobic classes, plus it increases muscle tone and metabolic burning capacity. Hello! Did you hear me? Weight training revs your metabolism! At BeyondFit, we are all about finding and creating hybrid weight training exercises that give you the results you want FAST!
Ladies, pull out your tank tops and be proud of your arms. Let everyone know that you deserve your ticket to the gun show!
If you are ready to get “tank top arms” and a leaner, meaner body ioin us at BeyondFit Life for monthly workout plans and nutrition guidelines designed specifically for YOU!
This month on our blog we’re posting recipes daily as a part of our Summer Sizzle series… Check it out!