Tone and strengthen your arms with these five foundational dumbbell moves from a strength coach
Build your biceps and triceps with this super simple routine
It’s no secret that classic gym moves like triceps extensions and biceps curls can help you build bigger arms. Pairing them together in a back-to-back superset format is guaranteed to fire up your muscles.
That’s what strength coach Kirra Mitlo does in her recent workout video. She demonstrates five moves and suggests completing the first four exercises in superset pairings, then finishing with the fifth final move.
Mitlo recommends doing each move 10-12 times and repeating the whole routine three times, but if you’re a beginner you might want to scale this back with fewer reps or add rest times between exercises.
Watch Kirra Mitlo’s upper body workout
@kirra_mitlo ♬ Give me faith unreleased - Alex Jean
What is a superset, and what are the benefits?
A superset is a training technique where you do two exercises that work opposing muscle groups back-to-back without rest. For example doing a squat, which hits the quadriceps, followed by a deadlift, which targets the hamstrings. Or, like in Mitlo’s workout, triceps followed by biceps.
Supersets can help you build strength and increase your muscular endurance, which is the time your body can sustain doing an exercise. According to the American Council on Exercise, improving your muscular endurance can positively impact your ability to perform everyday tasks (like carrying your shopping) and improve your posture.
After this workout, you may have some sore muscles the following day. This is known as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and as much as it may hurt, it’s totally normal.
Strength training workouts like this one cause tiny tears in your muscle fibers, but your body will repair these tears, which is how we build muscle. Make sure you give your body time to rest and consume adequate amounts of protein to fuel your muscles’ recovery.
Get the Fit&Well Newsletter
Start your week with achievable workout ideas, health tips and wellbeing advice in your inbox.
Looking for some weights for your home workouts? Browse our guide to the best adjustable dumbbells
Lois Mackenzie is a Fitness Writer for Fit&Well and its sister site Coach, covering strength training workouts with weights, accessible ways to stay active at home, and training routines for runners. She joined the team from Newsquest Media Group, where she was a senior sports, trends, and lifestyle reporter. She is a dedicated runner, having just completed her first marathon, and an advocate for spending time outdoors, whether on a walk, taking a long run, or swimming in the sea.
Lois holds a Master's degree in Digital Journalism, and has written for Good Health, Wellbeing & The Great Outdoors, Metro.co.uk, and Newsquest Media Group, where her reporting was published in over 200 local newspapers.
-
I overcame burnout by practicing Tai Chi for a month—here's why I recommend it
Tai chi Try this gentle but powerful practice to improve balance, flexibility, and strength
By Sara Stover Published
-
I'm a fitness trainer with over a decade of experience but this new workout style has cut my exercise time in half
Workout Challenge your whole body with this 30-minute routine
By Jennifer Rizzuto Published