Reveal Yourself

Fit Arms and Shoulders for Summer

By Amy Carey

Summer's coming, and your arms and shoulders will be forced out of hiding. If you're like many women, shedding sweaters and turtlenecks might reveal that your arms are not exactly your best feature. Excess flab can cause you to shy away from your favorite summer dresses and tank tops, not to mention bathing suits. But covering up problem areas won't make them disappear. Now is the best time to address arms that jiggle and reveal yourself with confidence this season.

Why are the arms and shoulders so difficult to keep lean? According to Namita Nayyar, president and fitness trainer at www.womenfitness.net, it's about neglect. "Muscles that are not regularly exercised tend to lose their muscle tone and tend to look flabby," she says.

Many women are concerned with larger or more visible areas like thighs or abs, so when they hit the gym, they may focus on everything but the arms and shoulders, she adds.

Women also are less likely than men to become involved in a sport or activity that requires strenuous pushing or punching that would increase the size of arm muscles. "For example, in many high school gym classes, girls were once allowed to perform push ups while on their knees,"says Vin Ricciardi, certified personal trainer and owner of Total Body Shoppe in Southold, N.Y. "Sociological factors may be responsible for reducing the amount of stress arm muscles receive over a woman's life."

Untoned arms may be also be age related. "One reason women store fat in the upper arms is hormones,"says Ricciardi. "The activity of lipoproteins in the upper body begins to increase slightly in women in their late 30s and early 40s. This results in excess fat beginning to rise from the hips and thighs to the stomach, shoulders and upper arms."

Want to see more?

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• Gym Bound: Is Joining a Gym Right for You?
• Talk about it!