To ask if post 50, you really can tighten up the bingo wing upper arm with exercise?

[GenXsurvivor]

Suddenly, over the past few years, everything seems to be heading south, including my upper arms!

I have a serious ‘flap’ going on, something of which has been secured by long sleeved tops!

Now the warm weather is here I realise just how floppy my upper arms have become!

Is there REALLY an exercise that will make a difference? Or post 50 is this really difficult to achieve?

I came across Wall Pilates on FB, not been to a class and only do a couple of exercises but finding them very effective -a quick Google will show you a few basic moves on YouTube.

There are some paid Apps but I’ve not bothered as yet with these.

@Back21970 is there one specifically for arms?

@Outofthemoonlight or @FrostyFifi

what size weight would you recommend I start with? Something not too easy but something I can build up on?

I think when I started my heaviest weight was only a 5kg @GenXsurvivor
And you might find that you want to use lighter ones than that for some of the particularly upper body workouts while you build your fitness up.

I've bought heavier weights a bit at a time as I've progressed so it was never one large outlay.

TRX Pilates worked for me - only do an hour a week but my back & arm muscles have tightened up impressively. You use straps & your body weight to do resistence exercises.

I counteract ageing with lifting and have pretty good triceps which help enormously. However, I lift between 5kg and 20kg when working arms. 5kg are only used for the smallest of muscles at my longest lever. Mostly, I use 10+.

The larger muscles provide definition and burn more calories obviously. Serious lifting has improved my shape far more than decades of cardio and light weights.

Get a range of 3kg-8kg to start out. You'll soon want more!

I have horses. Age 50. Don’t go to the gymn at all. Totally toned and no bingo wings. It’s all that riding, wheelbarrows and humping stuff about. However, I’ve never got any money as it all goes on them. Definitely cheaper and easier to stick to weights. I wonder if swimming would be good. Other posters will know.

I'd start with 3-4 kg, but be prepared to move up fairly quickly. With hindsight, I'd have invested in a set of high quality adjustable dumbbells. It's a faff to change mid-workout, but you could just modify, i.e. do fewer reps with heavier weights or vice-versa.

I started out with a set of 3 kg dumbbells I got via Freecycle, progressed to 5 kg that I now use as light-weights, along with a somewhat cumbersome set of adjustables left behind by one of my son's when he (finally...) moved out.

I know this is an old thread. I'm 55 with awful bingo wings. I have looked at Caroline Girvan but there seem to be a lot to choose from. I'm a beginner and v unfit. Can anyone recommend via a link please.

This is probably it. Yoga and swimming won't do it. Get a proper trainer to teach you some safe and effective techniques to build proper muscle.

Many women use weights that are far too light, for fear of becoming 'too muscular', without having any concept of just how much effort and persistence that would actually take; bodybuilders wouldn't have to inject themselves with God-knows-what if it was really that easy!

First look at Caroline’s EPIC Beginners programme. Use dumbbells that feel comfortable but a bit challenging, say 3 or 4 kg. Listen carefully to her demonstrations and make sure you really know how to do the various moves.

I would suggest EPIC 3 or EPIC Heat as good programmers to start with. Check out a full body session from these or a couple of other programmers and decide which one seems most relatable. And then just do it. Do as much as you can of which workout, and if you cannot do it all, finish it the next day.

HOWEVER, if you are really unfit and a total beginner, you may want to start with something slightly less challenging, such as Lucy Wyndham Read, Rebecca Louise or Popsugar Fitness. Growingannanas is excellent too, as is Heather Robertson.

always remember, challenging yourself is great, but you can modify or substitute - don’t risk injuring yourself. A few sessions with a qualified PT can be a very worthwhile investment!

NB: don’t forget to do the Bowflex 3-minute plank each day. Whatever you do, do that. It’ll make everything else so much easier. Your posture will improve and you will quite simply feel soooo much stronger.

Billy Blanks (Tae Bo) on Youtube from the early 2000's does an 8 minute work out that really tightened mine, I've done Yoga & Pilates over the years but the boxing moves really made a difference

Honestly Lucy Wyndham Read has made a great difference for me - short exercises, just body weight, every day, get on it!

Thanks I will have a look at all your suggestions. I haven't bought weights yet so might get started with Lucy Wyndham Read.