If I had a dollar for every arm exercise you’re able to do at the gym , I ’d probably have enough money to make up my food market bill this month . FYI , that ’s a deal of money . I buy mess of organic kale .

honestly , there aretoo manyoptions . Not that they do n’t all have their berth , but the sheer number can be confusing and overwhelming . The upright news program is that all you really need for a orca set of arms is a pair of dumbbells and these four move .

Arnold press

Before Arnold Schwarzenegger was a governor or a semi - passable actor ( do n’t pretend likeKindergarten Copwas Oscar - worthy , folks ) , he was a professional muscleman who quite literally inventedthe Arnold press . Modest ! This move , which is similar to a traditional shoulder press , is actually design to better mime a innate movement pattern as you urge on your branch over your head , and it has the boast - worthy welfare of hitting all three heads of your shoulder ’s deltoid muscle ( prior , lateral , and posterior ) .

To do an Arnold insistency , posture tall on a chair or work bench , your feet planted shoulder - width apart , your core engaged . Holding a dumbbell in each hand , bend your elbow joint and position your hand in front of your shoulders , your palms facing your organic structure , as if you just perform a dummy curl . This is the starting stead .

In a fluid , controlled motion , press the dumbbell up over your capitulum , and as you do , splay your palms inwards , then forward as you fill out the imperativeness , so that at the top of the movement , your blazon are poke out and your laurel wreath are present outwards , off from your trunk . Reverse the movement as you bring the dumbbell back to your shoulders , rotating your palms in , then toward your body as you lour the weight unit .

dumbbell exercises

Daniel Fishel/Thrillist

Biceps 21s

Biceps 21stake a standard biceps curl to the next story by work the muscle through three separate orbit of motion that finally require more overall muscle engagement , control , and coordination . Biceps twenty-one ask you to complete a total of 21 reps of biceps Robert Floyd Curl Jr. , but every seven reps , you transfer the range of move , maximizing burn .

Stand tall , contain a pinhead in each manus , your feet pelvic girdle - distance apart , your knees slightly bent . Position the dumbbell in front of your thighs , your palms face away from your physical structure , your elbows extended . commence the workout by curling the dumbbells halfway up , stopping when your elbows form 90 - degree angles . overturn the movement and lower the booby . do six more reps .

After the 6th rep , forthwith curve the dumbbells through a full range of motion , bringing them all the agency to your shoulder . From this place , lower the boob halfway , blockade when your elbows are crumpled to 90 degree . Reverse the movement and wave the dummy back to your articulatio humeri . do six more repp – you could probably imagine that you ’re conk to do seven reps for each range of movement .

I

For the last seven repp in this set , you ’ll take the dumbbells through a full range of mountains of question . Start by lowering the dumbbells all the way to your thigh , then perform seven total reps , curl the dumbbells all the style to your shoulders , then back again .

recall , you ’re not pause or resting between each of the seven reps . You ’re do the total 21 rep in a serial publication without rest .

Triceps skull crushers

Triceps skull crusherssound scary , but if you select an appropriate weightiness and utilize right sort , they ’re an excellent way to point your triceps muscles while also engaging the stabilise muscles of your shoulder .

Trygve Halvden Lie on a mat or bench with your knees bent , invertebrate foot savorless on the floor , holding a dumbbell in each hired man at your chest , your palm facing toward each other . Press the dummy directly up over your thorax , as if your arms are forming the figure 11 . You ’ll keep your upper arm ready in this position throughout the drill , only allowing your elbows to turn away to switch the position of your forearms and hands .

Tighten your essence and engage your shoulders and triceps before bend your elbows , lowering the dumbbells toward your read/write head . When your articulatio cubiti bend at roughly 90 degrees , turn back the action and campaign your arms up , extending your cubitus and returning to start .

Arnold press

Daniel Fishel/Thrillist

Rear-delt dumbbell flys

It ’s easy to neglect the back of the berm , and while the Arnold press engages the rearward delt ( or later delt ) to some degree , its chief focal point is the anterior and sidelong delts . supplement your shoulder work with the back - delt fly can help balance your shoulder work while improving your carriage … especially if you pass a lot of time hunched forward in front of a computing equipment .

There are variations of therear - delt fly , but if you ’re trying it for the first time , it ’s a good idea to commence with a seated reading to keep down possible strain on your down in the mouth back . Sit on a bench or a chair with your knees bent , feet establish hip - width aside on the floor . check a dumbbell in each hand , perch them on your stifle . Engage your core and hint forward from the rose hip , and as you do so , free the dumbbell from your genu , allowing your arms to hang directly down from your shoulder , with your palms confront inward . You ’ll entertain this forward - leaning position throughout the exercise , so ensure your back is uncoiled , form a straight line from your hips to your head .

From this position , roll your berm back to keep them from slouching forward , then with a slight bend in your elbows , lift the dumbbell up and out to the side , squeezing your shoulder blades together as you raise your arms . At the top of the drift you ’ll form a " T " form with your arms and consistence , as if you had wings . Hold for a count , then carefully lower the dumbbells back to their start position .

biceps 21s

Daniel Fishel/Thrillist

Sign up herefor our day-to-day Thrillist email , and get your reparation of the best in food / drink / sport .

triceps skull crushers

Daniel Fishel/Thrillist

rear delt fly

Daniel Fishel/Thrillist