Gym Arms Workout for Beginners
A gym arms workout for beginners that you can do in a commercial gym. 5 exercises, about 31 minutes, targeting biceps, forearms, triceps.
| Level | Beginner |
| Equipment | Gym |
| Time | About 31 minutes |
| Muscles | Biceps, Forearms, Triceps |
The workout
| Exercise | Sets / reps |
|---|---|
| 1. Dumbbell Bicep Curl | 3 × 10 |
| 2. Triceps Pushdown | 3 × 10 |
| 3. Barbell Curls Lying Against An Incline | 3 × 10 |
| 4. Standing Dumbbell Triceps Extension | 3 × 10 |
| 5. Wrist Rotations with Straight Bar | 3 × 15 |
See each exercise
How to do this workout
- Warm up for 5 minutes: brisk walk or easy cardio, then one light set of the first exercise.
- Do the exercises in order. Finish all sets of one before moving on.
- Use a weight you could lift for 2–3 more reps than written. Rest 60–90 seconds between sets.
- Do this workout 1–2 times a week, with at least one rest day before training the same muscles again.
How to progress
When you can do every set with good form at the top of the rep range, add one rep per set the next week, or a small amount of weight (1–2.5 kg). Progress slowly — consistent small jumps beat big ones. For fat loss, pair this with a small calorie deficit and around 1.6–2 g of protein per kg of body weight.
Exercise notes
1. Dumbbell Bicep Curl
Stand up straight with a dumbbell in each hand at arm's length. Keep your elbows close to your torso and rotate the palms of your hands until they are facing forward. This will be your starting position. Now, keeping the upper arms stationary, exhale and curl the weights while contracting your biceps. Continue to raise the weights until your biceps are fully contracted and the dumbbells are at shoulder level. Hold the contracted position for a brief pause as you squeeze your biceps.
2. Triceps Pushdown
Attach a straight or angled bar to a high pulley and grab with an overhand grip (palms facing down) at shoulder width. Standing upright with the torso straight and a very small inclination forward, bring the upper arms close to your body and perpendicular to the floor. The forearms should be pointing up towards the pulley as they hold the bar. This is your starting position.
3. Barbell Curls Lying Against An Incline
Lie against an incline bench, with your arms holding a barbell and hanging down in a horizontal line. This will be your starting position. While keeping the upper arms stationary, curl the weight up as high as you can while squeezing the biceps. Breathe out as you perform this portion of the movement. Tip: Only the forearms should move. Do not swing the arms.
4. Standing Dumbbell Triceps Extension
To begin, stand up with a dumbbell held by both hands. Your feet should be about shoulder width apart from each other. Slowly use both hands to grab the dumbbell and lift it over your head until both arms are fully extended. The resistance should be resting in the palms of your hands with your thumbs around it. The palm of the hands should be facing up towards the ceiling. This will be your starting position.
5. Wrist Rotations with Straight Bar
Hold a barbell with both hands and your palms facing down; hands spaced about shoulder width. This will be your starting position. Alternating between each of your hands, perform the movement by extending the wrist as though you were rolling up a newspaper. Continue alternating back and forth until failure.
Weekly plans that use this workout
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Gear for this workout
Gym duffel bagShoe compartment and space for everything.See it on Amazon →
Gym glovesBetter grip and fewer calluses.See it on Amazon →Stop if anything hurts (sharp pain is different from muscle burn). If you have an injury or health condition, check with your GP or a physio first.