Here's What Actually Reduces Fat in Your Arms (Hint: It's Not Just Push-Ups)

Biceps curls are one of the most effective toning exercises you can do with some simple dumbbells, Russell told POPSUGAR. "Make sure to keep your elbows tight to your sides and your arms curling in front of you, not to the sides," she said.

How to do biceps curls:

• Hold a dumbbell in each hand, with your arms either at your side or resting in front of your thighs, palms facing up.
• Slowly raise the dumbbells toward your chest, keeping your elbows close to your sides and your shoulders down.
• Squeeze your arms at the top of the move, then slowly lower the dumbbells to complete one rep. Repeat for 12-15 reps.

The push-up is a classic move that will never lose its reputation for toning your arms. "For a modification, you can start with arms shoulder-width apart and knees on the floor, and then proceed through the movement the same way," Russell said.

How to do push-ups:

• Start in a high plank position with arms shoulder-width apart, shoulders directly over your wrists, and feet slightly spread apart.
• Bend your elbows, lowering your chest toward the ground until your shoulders are about even with your elbows and your nose nearly touches the floor. Engage your core and squeeze your butt to keep your body flat throughout this movement.
• Push back up to complete one rep. Repeat for 12-15 reps.

Tricep kickbacks are another exercise Russell recommends to tone that area on the back of your arms. "Keep your elbows at your sides through the whole movement," she said.

How to do triceps kickbacks:

• Holding a dumbbell in each hand, hinge forward at the hips, with your knees slightly bent.
• Bend your arms, raising the dumbbells so they sit close to your chest, with your palms facing inwards.
• Kick your arms back until they're fully extended and parallel with the floor; squeeze your triceps.
• Bring your arms back to starting position. Repeat for 12-15 reps.

"To efficiently tone your arms, your workout should include multi-joint movements recruiting large muscles and maximizing your caloric burn," Audrey Handelsman, an ACSM- and ACE-certified personal trainer in Austin, TX, told POPSUGAR. This includes overhead shoulder presses with dumbbells.

How to do overhead shoulder presses:

• Hold a dumbbell in each hand just above the shoulders, with your palms facing in.
• Straighten your arms above your head.
• Bend your elbows as you return to starting position. Repeat for 6-8 reps.