Ready for Christmas? Slender Shoulders, Toned Arms and Killer Upper Back.

Posted by Lee Cooper on Nov 16, 2010 in News | 0 comments

When asking for results that allow you to look stunning in your little black dress, most people think you’d have to write a super nice letter to Santa begging him to leave them gift-wrapped under the Christmas tree.

I’m going to give you some simple tips and exercises to do over the next 6 weeks which will get you an upper body to die for this festive season, without having to wait for Father Christmas to deliver…

Give this short routine a go:

• 1. Throw a punch! Find a space at home and be ready to sweat. Stand with your shoulders relaxed, fists clenched and up by your shoulders / face ready for action! Throw 40 punches left and right, keeping your elbows soft but pulling your arm all the way back before throwing again. The retraction of the punch will sculpt you an awesome upper back!
• 2. Get great arms on your sofa! Sit on the edge of your sofa, palms facing down with your finger tips off the edge. Sit forward with your legs bent so your body weight is going through your arms. Bend your elbows to 90 degrees, and then back up. You should feel this down the back of your arms and on the front of your shoulders. Complete 20 repetitions.
• 3. Find two objects that weigh exactly the same (litre bottles of water, for example). Hold them by your shoulders, push them above your head until your arms are straight and upper arms are by your ears, then lower down and repeat. This works your shoulders and arms very nicely. Complete 20 repetitions.

Complete 2 rounds of steps 1-3 four times a week for a short 10 minute workout that can be done absolutely anywhere to help you look great this Christmas.

A little about the exercises above, simplified:

A Boxing Punch
Areas worked?: Nearly all areas, particularly chest, shoulders, arms, back, core, hips, heart and lungs
Details: This will get the heart rate up, increase your breathing rate and help shed lbs whilst toning your upper body.

A dip off the sofa, AKA Tricep Dip
Areas worked: chest, shoulders, arms.
Details: A tricep dip is a big,strong movement that works many muscles. We use it regularly to achieve these kind of goals.

Shoulder Press
Areas worked: shoulders, arms, upper back.
Details: Similar to a tricep dip, the shoulder press is a movement we use regularly. Again, this exercise uses a lot of different muscles, meaning quicker results!

By putting these simple tips and exercises into action, just 4 times per week, it won’t be long until you notice a difference and will be eager to show off your new toned upper half!

Photography by Anna Gay and Posh Living, LLC