Kettlebells Vs. Dumbbells: Which Works Best for Toned Arms?

What’s The Best Way To Get Toned Arms?

For toned arms do you go with the tried-and-true dumbbells or the new kid on the block – kettlebells? Actually, each have their own specific uses and each excel at their specific use.

Training with a kettlebell engages all different parts of the body for a complete workout and can sculpt and tone your entire body. Lifting and controlling it forces the entire body to contract as a group. This is a great option for anyone who wants a whole body workout in a very short period of time.

But for toned arms, dumbbells are better and here’s why.

Kettlebells Vs. Dumbbells: Which Works Best for Toned Arms?

Because of the shape of the dumbbell, it’s  easier to perform isolation exercises that focus the effort on just one group of muscles. In the case of arms, dumbbells are easier to grasp and control through various movements aimed at toning and defining the two major muscles of the arms: triceps and biceps.

Take the simple bicep curl for example.

Bicep Curl

With a dumbbell, it’s easy to grab it in its middle part and run through the exercise bringing your forearm up to the vertical position. However due to the shape of the kettlebell with the handle directly over the ball of the weight instead of between the two weights, coming to full vertical position isn’t possible without bending your wrist to an unnatural position. It also increases the risk of a wrist injury.

Also with a dumbbell, you can twist your wrist so the dumbbell comes up in a vertical position instead of horizontal. This is something you can’t do with a kettlebell. Doing it this way works the bicep differently.

Free Download: 10 Muscle Toning Mistakes Women Make
 
Tricep Kickback

Performing a tricep kickback exercise would be much more difficult (alright impossible) using a kettlebell than a dumbbell. The dumbbell is more balanced with the weight at each end of the bar, rather than the all of the weight centered directly under the handle.

Kettlebells excel when the desired movement involves swinging the weight as with kettlebell swings, which combines cardio and strength training. And they are also the better choice if developing more grip strength is your goal.

Developing  Shoulder Muscles

However, kettlebells excel at developing muscles in the shoulders. Most the kettlebell exercises are compound moves that employ multiple muscles, not isolation moves targeting just one muscle as do dumbbells. For example, shoulder presses with lateral flexion. This not only targets the shoulders, but also helps develop the core, hips, with its rotation of the torso to the right and left while holding the kettlebell at shoulder height.

So kettlebells do have their place in a workout routine aimed at developing toned arms, but their place is to develop toned and defined shoulder muscles that support and complement toned arms. And they also help develop the lower body muscle groups in the process.

Free Report:  10  Muscle Toning Mistakes Women Make

The benefits of toning your arms are many.  Apart from the fact that you can rock a tank top, a sun dress, or a short-sleeved shirt with confidence,  any arm toning exercise you perform will strengthen your back, shoulder, and core muscles as well. You’ll have better posture and you’ll feel more confident.

When women try to tone muscle they often end up making a variety of mistakes that make the job of muscle toning much harder than it needs to be.  Download my free report, 10 Muscle Toning Mistakes Women Make  to help you get the tones arms you want.