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How To Lose Arm Fat In 7 Days: 6 Exercises & Tips 2023

Heather Freudenthal
by
how to lose arm fat in 7 days
Wave goodbye to arm fat in just 7 Days! Discover tried-and-true tips. Photo: Shutterstock

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Learn how to lose arm fat in 7 days by focusing on specific exercises that target the arms, while also making nuanced adjustments to your everyday eating, sleeping, and stressing habits. Fat loss can take some time–anywhere from several weeks to months–however, you can start to see results in as little as 7 days by being consistent and diligent with your workout routine.

Targeted arm exercises are one of the most effective ways to reduce arm fat, especially endurance and resistance training[1] exercises. This article covers six of the best arm workouts to try, to help tone arm muscles and reduce arm fat, and will also discuss lifestyle tips to enhance fat loss efforts.

How To Lose Arm Fat In 7 Days

When attempting to lose arm fat, you can start to see results in as little as one week if you stay focused on exercises that target the arms, such as chair dips, planks, and diamond pushups, and are diligent about your other lifestyle habits, including:

  • Staying Hydrated.
  • Sleeping Well.
  • Focusing On Weight Loss.
  • Watching Your Diet.
  • Reducing Stress.

How To Lose Arm Fat In 7 Days: 6 Exercises That Help

how to lose arm fat in 7 days
Target triceps during workouts to lose arm fat. Photo: Shutterstock

Arm workouts are essential to help tone the arms. The below exercise will give you choices for how to lose arm fat in 7 days without weights, as well as with them. Many strength and resistance training workouts for the upper body[2] utilize the body’s own weight as resistance, while others are aided by dumbbells or resistance bands. 

For those who do want to use weights, start with lighter weights (such as five or ten pounds), and gradually increase the weight as you feel more comfortable. These exercises can be used not only to reduce arm fat, but to help you achieve bigger arms.

One Arm Triceps Curls

  • Step 1: Hold a dumbbell in one hand over and behind your head, bending your elbow so that the dumbbell is level with the base of your neck.
  • Step 2: Breathe in, then breathe out. On the exhale, push the dumbbell up over your head until your arm is fully extended. Hold there for a few seconds.
  • Step 3: Inhale while lowering the dumbbell back down behind your neck slowly.
  • Step 4: Repeat 10-15 times on one arm, then switch to the other arm. Repeat each rep three times.

Lateral Plank Walk

  • Step 1: Start in a push-up position, with your arms shoulder width-distance apart and extended fully, and keep your belly held in tight.
  • Step 2: “Walk” yourself to the left by extending your left leg and arm out to the left, then bringing your right leg and arm in. 
  • Step 3: Keep going for ten “steps,” on one side then switch to the other side. Do three repetitions on each side.

Counter Push-Ups

  • Step 1: Use a counter or table to lean your hands against. The surface you use should be steady so that it does not move during your exercise. Keep your arms straight and tighten your core. 
  • Step 2: Keep your hands on the edge of the counter, shoulder width-distance apart. Keep your legs back a few feet, firmly planted on the ground.
  • Step 3: Bend your elbows to lower yourself toward the counter, then push yourself up while keeping your legs straight. Do as many push-ups as you are able.

Chair Dips

  • Step 1: Use a sturdy chair with arms as the base you will push off from.
  • Step 2: Start by sitting in the chair with your hands on the arms of the chair.
  • Step 3: Lift yourself off the chair by pushing yourself up and forward and extending your legs out in front of you. Be sure to keep your arms bent and continue to support yourself.
  • Step 4: Slowly use your arms to lower your lower body down toward the floor (but not all the way) and then push yourself back up. Repeat 10-15 times.

Single Arm Lateral Raises

  • Step 1: Stand straight and tall. 
  • Step 2: Pick up a dumbbell with one hand and lift your arm up to the side, creating a 90-degree angle with the floor. Keep your arm straight (your other arm can be placed on your hip for support).
  • Step 3: Slowly lower your arm back down to hip level, keeping the arm straight. Repeat 10-15 times then switch to the other arm. Do three repetitions on each arm.

Diamond Push-Ups

  • Step 1: Position yourself in a standard push-up position, however, instead of keeping your hands shoulder-width apart, bring your hands close together so that the tips of your forefingers touch and the tips of your thumbs touch, forming a diamond shape.
  • Step 2: Bend your elbows to lower yourself down close to the floor. Hold it for a few seconds, then push yourself back up to starting position. Repeat 20-30 times (or more if you are able).

Why Do We Accumulate Arm Fat?

For most individuals, arm fat is accumulated when more calories are consumed than burned. A poor diet combined with lack of exercise can contribute to fat build-up in the arms.

Some evidence suggests that arm fat may also be genetic.[3] This does not mean that if someone in your family has arm fat, you will also. However, you may be predisposed to it.

The antidote to arm fat is to actively take part in a healthy diet and exercise routine targeted at the arms. Other lifestyle factors, such as proper hydration and sleep, can also help you lose arm fat.

How To Lose Arm Fat In 7 Days Without Exercise

Exercise is not the only method to help reduce arm fat, nor is it everyone’s favorite thing to focus on. Consider these lifestyle habits for how to lose arm fat in 7 days without exercise.

Stay Hydrated

Drinking enough water allows for many essential functions in the body to perform optimally, including weight loss.[4] A few ways water assists in weight loss is by suppressing appetite and boosting metabolism. Drinking water is especially important when engaging in exercise to replenish hydration that is lost during workouts.

It’s important to drink enough water to help you lose weight, which is between eight and ten cups of water a day.

Sleep Well

Getting a good night’s sleep on a regular basis can have significant benefits to weight loss and fat burning efforts. Studies have demonstrated various correlations between sleep deprivation[5] and weight gain, as well as with obesity.

One reason for this is that sleep helps regulate hormones responsible for appetite.[6] Poor sleep can alter the production and activity of these hormones, leading to increased hunger and snacking, which can increase body fat.

Focus On Weight Loss

Instead of concentrating on arms alone, you can help reduce arm fat by widening your approach to weight loss. When overall weight loss is achieved, arm fat can be reduced as a result.

Taking an overall weight loss approach means adjusting your calorie intake, focusing on whole foods, and exercising regularly. The amount of calories to eat in order to lose weight will vary depending on things like genetics, sex, age, and personal medical history.

Watch Your Diet

What you consume plays an important role in whether you will hold onto or shed arm fat. Studies have shown that a diet high in fiber[7] can help with fat loss.

Fiber has many health benefits, one being increased satiety–the more fiber you consume, the fuller you’ll feel and the less prone you’ll be to snacking. Eating enough protein and healthy fat can also enhance satiety.

Removing processed[8] and packaged foods that are high in saturated fat, excess salt, and sugar is also an important change to one’s diet if overall body fat loss is a goal.

Reduce Stress

Stress levels can contribute to physical health in numerous ways. Namely, excess stress can hurt our weight loss efforts, even leading to obesity. Stress hormones, particularly cortisol,[9] can negatively impact body weight, and create a stress-weight gain cycle that can be difficult to break.

Get Surgery

Individuals can reduce arm fat quickly with surgery. To do this, a surgeon removes excess fat in the arms via liposuction or a brachioplasty (arm lift). This allows for arm fat to be removed in as little as one day. However, all surgery comes with potential risks, so discuss this with your doctor before choosing this option.

Conclusion

Losing arm fat doesn’t have to be a lengthy process–results can start to emerge in seven days when individuals are diligent about their lifestyle habits. This includes engaging in specific arm-targeted resistance training exercises, staying properly hydrated, sleeping well, managing stress and watching their diet.

Specific exercises that help reduce arm fat are exercises that target the arm muscles, particularly the triceps. These exercises include chair dips, single arm lateral raises, diamond push-ups, lateral plank walks, counter push-ups, and one arm tricep curls.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I slim my arm fat fast?

The more you exercise, hydrate, eat healthily, sleep better, and manage your stress, the sooner you will see results.

How to lose arm fat in 2 days?

Making changes in a short amount of time can come at a cost. One of the quickest ways to reduce arm fat is to have it removed surgically. This could potentially happen in 2 days but would take time to schedule.

Is it easy to lose arm fat?

It may be easier for some people to lose arm fat than others. Those who engage in healthy eating, sleeping, and exercise will have an easier time losing arm fat, as well as those who are not genetically predisposed to excess body fat.

Why is arm fat so hard to lose?

Muscles in the upper arm tend to be smaller than other muscles in the body, making them more difficult to tone than other areas. Additionally, there are fewer blood vessels in the arms than other areas of the body, making them more difficult to target.

What causes arm fat?

Poor diet and lack of exercise are the most common causes of arm fat.

Is arm fat genetic?

Genetics can certainly play a role in causing arm fat, however, it is just one of many factors that can contribute to arm fat. Lifestyle habits such as diet and lack of exercise can increase the risk of developing arm fat.

+ 7 Sources

EHproject has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We work mostly with peer-reviewed studies to ensure accurate information. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

  1. Ramirez-Campillo, R., Andrade, D.C., Campos, C.T., Henríquez-Olguín, C., Alvarez, C. and Izquierdo, M. (2013). Regional Fat Changes Induced by Localized Muscle Endurance Resistance Training. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, [online] 27(8), pp.2219–2224. doi:https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0b013e31827e8681.
  2. Kostek, M.C., Pescatello, L.S., Seip, R.L., Angelopoulos, T.J., Clarkson, P.M., Gordon, P.M., Moyna, N.M., Visich, P.S., Zoeller, R.F., Thompson, P.D., Hoffman, E.P. and Price, T.B. (2007). Subcutaneous Fat Alterations Resulting from an Upper-Body Resistance Training Program. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, [online] 39(7), pp.1177–1185. doi:https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0b0138058a5cb.
  3. Miljkovic, I., Wang, X., Kammerer, C.M., Bunker, C.H., Patrick, A.L., Wheeler, V.W., Kuller, L.H., Evans, R.W. and Zmuda, J.M. (2008). Sex and genetic effects on upper and lower body fat and associations with diabetes in multigenerational families of African heritage. Metabolism-clinical and Experimental, [online] 57(6), pp.819–823. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metabol.2008.01.022.
  4. Thornton, S.N. (2016). Increased Hydration Can Be Associated with Weight Loss. Frontiers in Nutrition, [online] 3. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2016.00018.
  5. Evangelia Papatriantafyllou, Dimitris Efthymiou, Evangelos Zoumbaneas, Codruta Alina Popescu and Vassilopoulou, E. (2022). Sleep Deprivation: Effects on Weight Loss and Weight Loss Maintenance. Nutrients, [online] 14(8), pp.1549–1549. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14081549.
  6. Greer, S., Goldstein, A.N. and Walker, M.P. (2013). The impact of sleep deprivation on food desire in the human brain. Nature Communications, [online] 4(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms3259.
  7. Tucker, L.A. and Thomas, K. (2009). Increasing Total Fiber Intake Reduces Risk of Weight and Fat Gains in Women ,. Journal of Nutrition, [online] 139(3), pp.576–581. doi:https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.108.096685.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A Health Coach specializing in Integrative Nutrition, I approach wellness with a holistic and functional medicine perspective. As a writer, I simplify intricate topics such as nutrition, gut and hormone health, mental well-being, and spiritual health,… See More

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