Bye bye bingo wings
Banish baggy skin on your arms by increasing
muscle tone and boosting skin elasticity.
Banish baggy skin on your arms by increasing muscle
tone and boosting skin elasticity.
Work it:
A combination of targeted tricep and bicep
exercises plus cardio, such as swimming, is the best way to bring dinner lady
arms back from the brink. ‘Muscle definition, on your arms in particular, will
increase if you push yourself harder each time you work out,’ says Thresher.
‘If you can manage an extra two press-ups, don’t wimp out, do them!’
Resistance ban triceps extension
Works: back,
bingo wings and shoulder flexibility
Place your feet hip-width apart, spine
neutral and focus forwards.
Grab your resistance band in your right
hand, place your hand behind your back then grab the other end if the band with
your left hand (a)
Extend your right arm gully without arching
your back (b).
Return to the starting position and repeat
six to eight times then swap sides.
Resistance
ban triceps extension
Cheat it:
Dry and pimply skin on the back of the arms
is easily solved. Simply exfoliating and rehydrating your skin can improve the
look and feel of your arms in a flash. Massage the tops of your arms in
circular motions to increase the circulation in the area and eliminate any
excess water retention.
Double-action Nuxe Intensive Firming Cream
($44 for 200ml; garden.co.uk) has been created to improve skin elasticity and
prevent any signs of ageing. This double-action cream will fight and prevent
skin slackening around the thighs, stomach, bust and arms.
Infused with extracts of rosemary and
borage, Dr Hauschka Rosemary Leg & Arm Toner (100ml for $32;
drhauschka.co,uk), is designed to ease heaviness, while toning the skin of your
arms and legs and maintaining the connective tissue.
Or you could try Pupa Milano Inner Arm
Reshaping Cream ($55 for 150m; urbanretreat.co.uk). This cream firms and tones
up skin tissue to make skin look smoother and supple. In just eight weeks, your
skin should feel firmer, making your arms appear slimmer and more toned.
Flat tum
Don’t be tempted to cover up, it’s time to
reveal those hidden abs!
Work it:
There’s no point having rock hard abs when
they’re hidden under a layer of fat. Mix cardio and targeted abdominal, oblique
and core exercises to get the best results. Next time you’re out on a run, stop
periodically to blast 20 crunches, curls or bicycles. ‘Walk tall,’ says
Thresher. ‘Pull in your tummy, hold your shoulders back and lengthen your
spine. This creates beautiful posture and can make you look half a stone
lighter!’
Gym ball jackknife
Works:
waist, abs, shoulders, core and hip flexors.
Kneel on all fours with your hands
shoulder-width apart and a gym ball behind you. Engage your core and place the
top of your feet on the ball one at a time. Straighten your legs so your body
is a straight line from your head to your toes (a).
Bend your knees towards your chest, trying
to keep your upper body and head stable (b). Pause and extend your legs back to
the outstretched position. Aim for eight to 15 reps.
Cheat it:
Massage can tighten loose tummy skin, be
that post-pregnancy or after significant weight loss, aim to massage your tum
with a rich cream or body oil at least twice a day and even before exercise to
encourage fat burn.
Nip + Fab Tummy Fix ($25 for 100ml;
nipandfab.com) contains fat-burning caffeine, synephrine (bitter orange
extract) and lecithin (soy protein). It will contour and moisturize the skin on
your tum, bum and hips.
Containing Arabica coffee seed extract,
Dove Spa firm Beliver Tummy Contouring Concentrate ($34 for 2 x 50ml bottle,
dovespa.co.uk) firms the skin on your abdominals while the evening primrose oil
boosts skin cell elasticity.
Packed with re algae, caffeine and seaweed,
Mama Mio get Waisted ($45 for 100ml; mamamio.com/uk) maximizes lipolysis – the
breakdown of fat cells. Studies show that, when applied to skin, laminaria
digitata, a brown seaweed, helps women drop a jeans size in 21 days.
