6 Exercises To Beat Bra Bulge And Target Your Awkward Armpit Area

6 Exercises To Beat Bra Bulge And Target Your Awkward Armpit Area

Even the fittest women get sensitive about the annoying bulge that peeks out of the sides of a bra, through the sleeve of a tank top, or over the neckline of a strapless dress. But if you want to feel more confident in any armpit-bearing outfit, perform the exercises below, to tighten up your chest and shoulders.

To see results, work up to four sets of 12 reps of each exercise, and tack a few of them onto your regular strength-training routine. Or, complete the entire routine in the order below a few times a week.

1. Push-Ups

How to:

• Get into plank position with your palms on the floor, your wrists directly beneath your shoulders, and your fingers facing forward.
• Your feet should be hips-width apart, and your body should form a straight line between the top of your head and your heels.
• Keeping your shoulders away from your ears, bend your elbows to lower your body in a straight line toward the ground until your forehead nearly touches the floor.
• Then press into your palms to extend your elbows and bring your body back to starting position. (If you can’t do a proper push-up, learn how to build the strength to do one here.)

2. Upright Rows

How to: 

• Grab a 6- to 15-pound weighted bar (or dumbbells of equivalent weight) with an overhand grip, hands shoulder-width apart.
• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
• Exhale as you bend your elbows out to the sides to lift the weighted bar to shoulder-height.
• Next, inhale as you slowly lower the bar back to starting position to complete one rep.

3. Bar Front Raises

How to: 

• Grab a 6- to 15-pound weighted bar with an overhand grip, hands shoulder-width apart.
• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
• Keeping your arms as straight as possible (without locking the elbows), exhale as you lift the weighted bar until it’s higher than your shoulders.
• Next, inhale as you slowly lower the bar back to starting position to complete one rep.

4. Chest Flys

How to:

• Grab a 5- to 10-pound dumbbell in each hand, and lie on your back on a mat or bench.
• Hold the weights together above your chest with your palms facing each other and your arms nearly straight (elbows should be slightly bent).
• From this position, inhale as you slowly open the weights out to the sides with control.
• Exhale as you engage your chest to bring the weights back to starting position.
• That’s one rep.

5. Single-Arm Dumbbell Raises

How to:

• Grab a 5- to 10-pound dumbbell in each hand, and stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart.
• Keeping your knees slightly bent, hold the dumbbells in front of your thighs with the palms of your hand facing your thighs.
• Keeping your arms straight with a slight bend in the elbow, exhale as you raise the left dumbbell straight out the front of you until it’s just above shoulder-height.
• Inhale and slowly lower the left arm back to starting position, then repeat on the opposite side to complete one rep.
• Continue alternating.

6. Overhead Pullovers

How to: 

• Grab a 5- to 10-pound dumbbell in each hand and lie on your back on a mat or bench.
• Extend both arms and hold the weights directly over your chest with your palms facing your feet.
• From this position, raise both weights overhead and lower them toward the floor without touching.
• Next, engage your chest and raise the dumbbells to return to starting position.
• That’s one rep.