To avoid any confusion: it’s impossible to completely tone one specific body part in complete isolation without involving other muscles. All your body parts are interconnected in one way or another.
Having said that, you can focus the majority of the exercise stimulus on specific muscles. And this is the next best thing to complete muscle isolation.
So, without further ado, here is a review of body part specific toning:
1. Chest: Most gym rats would recommend the standard bench press here. This is the last exercise you should be doing, however. Especially if you have a desk job. You see, not only does it place a lot of stress on your shoulders, but it also does a worse job at working your chest when compared to dumbbell bench presses.
2. Narrow backs: Your back is one of the biggest muscles on your body. And having a wider back creates the illusion of having a smaller waist. Now the best way to get a wider back is by doing pull ups to the front of your chin. If pull ups are too hard for you, do pull downs on a machine.
3. Quadriceps: Having fully developed quadriceps can also create the illusion of having a smaller waist. And the best exercise for the front part of your quadriceps are front squats. Just make sure you learn the exercise to perfection with light weights before moving up in intensity.
4. Abs: Standard crunches are still the best way to develop your abs. Just make sure to incorporate a lot of variety here with stability balls and other intensity-increasing gadgets. And if you have any lower back pain, make sure you stretch and foam roll your posterior chain.
5. Biceps: Barbell curls and dumbbell curls are ok here. But for maximum development, do bicep curls with an incline bench. The bench will prevent momentum from coming into play and the incline with maximally stretch your biceps.
Although you can’t completely isolate a specific muscle, you can definitely focus stress on specific muscles. So if any of the above body parts are problem areas for you, take action on this advice sooner rather than later!
Writer Katherine Crawford, an exercise physiologist and former flabby arms sufferer, instructs women on how to get skinny arms. Figure out how to get sexy arms by exploring her blog about how to shake weight swiftly now!