Triceps Training with Kathie
I am often asked, “How do I get rid of the fat on the back of my arms?” And while this is a great question. The answer is a little complicated. And in all honesty, you can’t spot train any part of the body. It is better to do an overall program in balance.
Let’s discuss the triceps muscle today!
Working out your triceps helps to build upper body strength and is an essential part of any strength training routine. Strong triceps stabilize your shoulder joint and are important for daily activities and sports such as golf, baseball, tennis, volleyball, and basketball.
In short, the triceps’ main function is to “push away” from the body.
It is impossible to discuss the triceps without also mentioning the biceps. The biceps are the opposing muscle group of the triceps. And the biceps “pull towards” the body.
We use our biceps more than the triceps and this is one of the main reasons body fat remains on top of the muscle - what little or a lot of muscle we may have there. 😉
To develop muscle mass in the triceps we must strength train this muscle group. But often times this is done incorrectly. Why? Because we tend to move our elbows when performing an exercise and this causes other muscle groups to kick in to help, like the biceps and back.
Pro tip: Pay close attention to where your elbows are positioned when performing a tricep exercise. Keep them in place and try your best to keep from moving them until you have completed your reps.
Pro tip: Notice in all the pictures above that the elbows are in place, move the muscle not the elbow. Also, feel the tricep working. If you move your elbows during the exercise you will feel your back or biceps starting to kick in to help.
Remember to warm up the muscle group before working by doing a dynamic stretch or quick movement. And when finished to do a static, slow stretch. Stretching after a workout helps prevent some soreness.
Here are several different types of ways you can train your triceps. Consider adding a few of these exercises to your next workout. And keep your body guessing by adding different exercises every week.