The Best Underarm Exercises for Women's Flabby Arms

Even young, healthy women can have underarm flab, which is the bane of most women, particularly those who like to wear sleeveless tops. No one likes having underarm flab that flaps every time you move your arms. There are ways to combat this problem but it’s going to take dedication and a lot of hard work on your part.

Waging the Battle Against Underarm Flab
Battling sagging skin in the underarm area is challenging, particularly for older women, because as we age we lose collagen and elastin, which are the connective tissues that essentially hold our skin together. Dr. Anita Cela, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center in New York City, explains that our skin also tends to get stretched out over the years because we’ve gained and lost weight. Without the proper amount of elastin and collagen our skin can’t bounce back and return to its pre-stretched shape. Our skin starts to droop and the outcome is flabby, loose skin under your arms, and elsewhere.

When you lose weight, no one can predict where the fat will be lost. If it’s lost from under your arms, this can result in flabby underarms. Since older skin doesn’t snap back as it once did, weight loss may make your problem with underarm sagginess even worse, according to Dr. Cela.

Techniques and Suggestions
You need to work on toning both your biceps, which are the muscles that run along the front side of your upper arm, as well as the triceps that run along the back of your arm, according to Dr. Debra Price, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Miami School of Medicine and a dermatologist in South Miami. By doing this, you will create the appearance of firmer skin because you are filling in the saggy skin with muscle. The skin may still sag some but it won’t jiggle as much.

Exercise Is Paramount
Aside from plastic surgery, exercise is the only way to get rid of the underarm flabbiness. Sit on the floor with your knees bent and your feet or heels resting on the floor. Your palms should be placed flat on the floor beside your hips with your fingers pointing to the front, according to Peggy Norwood-Keating, director of fitness at Duke University Diet and Fitness Center in Durham, North Carolina. Leaning back, bend your elbows and support your upper body with your arms. Keep your hands in place next to your hips. Hold this position for a few seconds and then press forward. Your arms should fully straighten once you are back in your starting position. Norwood-Keating explains that this works the back of your arm or the triceps

Push-Ups
Consider doing push-ups. If you can’t do a regulation push-up, do them while balancing on your knees. Push-ups are a great way to tone your triceps and underarm flab.

Hand Weights
Use hand weights--3 lb., 5 lb. or heavier. Pick the weight that you are comfortable with. You can lift hand weights while you are watching TV or carry them while you are walking.

Sit on the floor, holding a weight in each hand, raise the weights above your head and lower them to the back, bending your arms at the elbow, and then raise them. This is a good exercise for the underarms.

Sitting on the floor, with a hand weight in each hand, put your hands together in front, just below your chin, and then lower your arms down and press your left hand and forearm out to the left while pressing your right arm and forearm out to the right simultaneously. Your forearms and the tops of your hands will now be facing the floor. Bring your hands and arms back to the starting position and repeat. Do essentially the same movement except this time press your arms to the back and then return to the starting position.

Yoga and Other Approaches
Do yoga. Many of the yoga postures involve using your arms. These postures not only strengthen and tone your underarm muscles but will make you look leaner. Do bench dips, according to Yourtotalhealth.IVillage.com. Sitting on the edge of your bed, plant the palms of your hands on each side of your hips. Let your fingers danger over the edge of the bed. Proceed to walk your feet out to the front so that your hips have been lifted up and off of the bed. Your buttock should clear the edge of the bed as you utilize your arms to lower yourself. Maintain the bent knees and lower your butt until your elbows are parallel to the floor. Using your arm strength, raise yourself up and then proceed to lower yourself and raise yourself, repeating 12 times. As you become more accomplished at doing this--sort of an upside down push-up--try doing it with your legs straight.