Arm Exercises For Beginning Bodybuilders

Most people new to bodybuilding pay a lot of attention to building big arms, sometimes to the point of overtraining. Don't forget, the arm muscles are brought into play during most exercises aimed at other body parts so care must be taken not to overdo things.

Having said that, the arms are complex body parts in their own right and deserve a properly focused exercise program. In basic terms the arm consists of three main muscle groups:

1. Biceps brachii - two muscles at the front upper arm that run from the elbow to the shoulders.

2. Triceps brachii - three muscles at the rear upper arm that run from the elbow to the shoulder.

3. Forearm - several smaller muscles that run from the elbow to the wrist.

There are seven classic exercises that will allow beginners to get off to a good muscle building start without overstraining their bodies. For all of the exercises that follow, use a weight that is light enough to allow between 10-15 reps.

Three biceps building exercises are recommended for beginners:

1. Standing barbell curl - 3 sets of 10-15 reps.

2. Alternative standing dumbbell curls - 3 sets of 10-15 reps.

3. Preacher bench curls - 3 sets of 10-15 reps.

Three triceps building exercises are recommended for beginners:

1. Dips - 3 sets of 10-15 reps.

2. Close grip bench press - 3 sets of 10-15 reps.

3. EZ bar lying extensions - 10-15 reps.

One forearm building exercise is recommended for beginners:

1. EZ bar reverse curls - 3 sets of 10-15 reps.

As with all exercises you need to take care in scheduling specific body parts. To begin with you should incorporate your arm exercises into a program similar to the one suggested below:

Day 1: Biceps, Back, Abs

Day 2: Hamstrings, Shoulders, Abs

Day 3: Quads, Forearms, Calves

Day 4: Triceps, Chest, Abs

For the first couple of weeks complete one set but then add one set each week to a maximum of three. At the end of three months you will be ready to move on to more intensive intermediate level exercises.

Richard Mitchell is the creator of the bodybuildingadvisor.com website that provides guidance and information to athletes at all levels of bodybuilding experience. Go to Bodybuilding Advice to learn more about the issues covered in this article.

In The News:

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2008/12/03/evowensqa.htmlcid=1277059884ei=cV83Sd_vM6qi9gSb2e2jDwusg=AFQjCNHH9khXOKN_kNexbsaG-DK2ObXtyQQamp;A / TERRELL OWENS: ‘Fitness is more than physical’/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fAtlanta Journal Constitution,nbsp; USAnbsp;-/font nobr23 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Once you start to bbuild muscle/b, you start getting tighter and feeling compact. I have a lot of bmuscle/b mass, but I have to maintain flexibility. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.mensfitness.com/nutrition/250cid=0ei=cV83Sd_vM6qi9gSb2e2jDwusg=AFQjCNHiwUc0k2KIaudWglJ2lr9YuOVrtAimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=VYWzEEsOBLkJimgurl=www.mensfitness.com/images/mf/209625/13453.jpg width=80 height=69 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Men#39;s Fitness/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.mensfitness.com/nutrition/250cid=0ei=cV83Sd_vM6qi9gSb2e2jDwusg=AFQjCNHiwUc0k2KIaudWglJ2lr9YuOVrtAbMuscle/b-Up Your Diet/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMen's Fitnessnbsp;-/font nobr11 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1These seven easy nutritional upgrades will bbuild muscle/b, trim fat, and help to keep your body in peak condition. When companies remove the fat from yogurt, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.thebraziltimes.com/story/1483017.htmlcid=1277324792ei=cV83Sd_vM6qi9gSb2e2jDwusg=AFQjCNFZ4xv9qcdvGmjThShNIAlhtJnEOwimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=fGjLwaaD0JMJimgurl=www.thebraziltimes.com/photos/11/84/66/1184667-L.jpg width=80 height=53 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Brazil Times/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.thebraziltimes.com/story/1483017.htmlcid=1277324792ei=cV83Sd_vM6qi9gSb2e2jDwusg=AFQjCNFZ4xv9qcdvGmjThShNIAlhtJnEOwYouthful Knights looking to bbuild/b on title season/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBrazil Times,nbsp;INnbsp;-/font nobr1 hour ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Both Pingleton and Mikesell have added bmuscle/b to their frames and Mikesell has another season of football behind him along with the Advanced PE program. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/fitness/workout/prweb1663624.htmcid=1274225672ei=cV83Sd_vM6qi9gSb2e2jDwusg=AFQjCNHA1trAdqvOlv1Cw060uFLg4ZHCggimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=bBYfOoLPaLUJimgurl=www.prweb.com/prfiles/2008/11/24/193912/gI_0_cover.jpg width=80 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2PR Web (press release)/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/fitness/workout/prweb1663624.htmcid=1274225672ei=cV83Sd_vM6qi9gSb2e2jDwusg=AFQjCNHA1trAdqvOlv1Cw060uFLg4ZHCggbBuild Muscle/b, Burn Fat Without Steroids, HGH (or any other illegal b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPR Web (press release),nbsp;WAnbsp;-/font nobrNov 25, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1However, it could be used by anyone looking for a better understanding of what it takes to bbuild muscle/b and burn fat naturally. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_journal/woodworking/4294348.htmlcid=1277250247ei=cV83Sd_vM6qi9gSb2e2jDwusg=AFQjCNFjaREBZTnFhVmei9w-2pRI15uoqAHow to bBuild/b a Pergola: FAQs/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPopular Mechanics,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr8 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Go for a balance of bmuscle/b and grace. • The Southern Yellow Pine Council#39;s ceiling joist chart makes some sense for pergolas. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/Plan-to-build-Muscle-Beachstyle.4742427.jpcid=1275395616ei=cV83Sd_vM6qi9gSb2e2jDwusg=AFQjCNGyFhdsV4mIr-8sJCtiw3dOMBlV6APlan to bbuild Muscle/b Beach-style gym in Seaburn/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSunderland Echo,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobrNov 28, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Ross Robertson A bMUSCLE/b Beach-style outdoor gym, a watersports paradise and an events resort are just some ideas for sweeping changes to Sunderland#39;s b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp%3FaId%3D80638cid=1274022424ei=cV83Sd_vM6qi9gSb2e2jDwusg=AFQjCNGgXjmkQ-I6oeZpFzPG1EIIDgRcbgbBuild Muscle/b Fast/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWebWire (press release),nbsp;GAnbsp;-/font nobrNov 23, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1bBuilding muscle/b fast is the focus of a new website that uses informative articles and reviews of six of the top workout routines to help fitness enthusiasts b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp%3Fymd%3D20081202%26content_id%3D3698987%26vkey%3Dnews_tex%26fext%3D.jsp%26c_id%3Dtexcid=0ei=cV83Sd_vM6qi9gSb2e2jDwusg=AFQjCNGwoQGeh-u342yQ0ZN9CzS9xkGdbQQamp;A with Josh Hamilton/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fTexasRangers.comnbsp;-/font nobr7 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1I wouldn#39;t say bbuild muscle/b, but gain strength and maintain strength. With the medicine ball, I used to stand back-to-back with my dad, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.sanfernandosun.com/sanfernsun/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dview%26id%3D3023%26Itemid%3D1cid=0ei=cV83Sd_vM6qi9gSb2e2jDwusg=AFQjCNHJSn1e0MRYY2LmFICKWp1itRkUgQENERGY EXPRESS- From Noisy Knees To Jiggly Underarms/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSan Fernando Valley Sun,nbsp;canbsp;-/font nobr1 hour ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1One of the best ways to prevent or at least postpone underarm jiggle is to exercise in ways that bbuild/b up your arm bmuscles/b, not just your triceps, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/lifestyle/stories.nsf/lifestyle/healthfitness/story/62c18b6f45b1d2c9862575120073144c%3FOpenDocumentcid=0ei=cV83Sd_vM6qi9gSb2e2jDwusg=AFQjCNEe62YI6E5v0FdLdW4baV-pJYUaxQimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=nc2cKsrIjkYJimgurl=images.stltoday.com/stltoday/resources/howididit625dec3.jpg width=80 height=54 alt= border=1brfont size=-2St. Louis Post-Dispatch/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/lifestyle/stories.nsf/lifestyle/healthfitness/story/62c18b6f45b1d2c9862575120073144c%3FOpenDocumentcid=0ei=cV83Sd_vM6qi9gSb2e2jDwusg=AFQjCNEe62YI6E5v0FdLdW4baV-pJYUaxQHow I did it: Ate more to bulk up/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSt. Louis Post-Dispatch,nbsp; United Statesnbsp;-/font nobr19 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1He believes weight machines merely tone, whereas free weights bbuild muscle/b. He worked out four days a week, two hours each day and doubled what he normally b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
build muscle - Google News

How to Gain Weight and Build More Muscle!

For many thin guys around the world, gaining weight without... Read More

Bodybuilding Sins That Cause Back Pain and Missed Workouts: Part 3

Welcome to article number 2 in our series "Bodybuilding Sins... Read More

How Do I Gain Weight?

Try asking people how to gain weight and you'll likely... Read More

What Is Strength Training?

Traditional strength training consists of performing one to three (or... Read More

Exercise The Right Way - The Biceps Curl

Other articles in this series looked at a number of... Read More

Machine Exercises That Suit Beginners

The aim for beginners to weight training must be to... Read More

5 Familiar Bodybuilding Troubles...Which Do You Want To Overcome?

In my 3 decades of training experience I have identified... Read More

Real Muscle Real Fast!

Adding muscle seems to be a mystery to most, yet... Read More

The Default Rep Range

I had an hour long conversation with Pavel Tsatsouline on... Read More

Bodybuilding Benefits - The Price for Confidence!

Success came to me at an early age. However, it... Read More

Six Minute Abs

Six minutes out of your day. All you need is... Read More

Muscle On The Brain

"A six-week cycle's gonna cost ya $170, lady -- you... Read More

Know Your Muscle Building Exercises - The Back

Every bodybuilder and weight trainer will have his or her... Read More

Body Building Mind Games: Dont Let Your Weight Determine Your Mood!

Is the 'I Feel Fat Day' (IFFD) syndrome affecting your... Read More

Outer Triceps Workout

The outer triceps is an awesome muscle. It sticks out... Read More

Dumbbell Workouts - A Smart Way To Exercise

Dumbbell workouts have been around for many years, especially as... Read More

Debunking the Top Ab Myths

Ab training has been done to death but it's time... Read More

Resistance Training With Your Dog

You may be wondering, "How can I possibly do resistance... Read More

Building a Better Home Gym

If you're looking to get fit and into shape, home... Read More

Abdominal Exercises For Beginning Bodybuilders.

The abdomen contains the muscles that most beginners struggle with... Read More

Back Exercises For Beginning Bodybuilders

From a bodybuilder's perspective one of the most important body... Read More

Who Else Wants To Build Muscle Fast?

I see it all the time. Guys in the gym... Read More

Protein or Carbohydrates?

This has got to be the biggest controversy in modern... Read More

Personal Training: 6 Secrets of Award Winning Customer Service

Would you believe that your ability to provide quality customer... Read More

Bodybuilding Protein

What helps make comedy also builds muscle?This is key to... Read More