How can I improve my upper body strength (i'm a girl)?

I want to start teaching myself how to breakdance. I can do a handstand but i can%26#039;t hold myself up for freezes. How can I improve my upper body strength? I%26#039;m quite strong compared to most people, and how long do you think it%26#039;ll be til I%26#039;m strong enough to do it?





%26#039;Something I tried to was to start on a headstand, but my knees on my elbows then lift my head off but my arms couldn%26#039;t take the weight.


I need tips desperately and say how long it should take it if I do it every day!
How can I improve my upper body strength (i%26#039;m a girl)?
Swimming - use a leg float and make your arms do the work!
How can I improve my upper body strength (i%26#039;m a girl)?
Have you thought of joining a gym maybe? fitness instructor?
Reply:I got this months (i think its monthly) Tesco mag free, I know wot ur thinkin, old people mag, but it had some really good tips on 1 of the double pages about toning and stuff, my arms feel stronger already, plus its free.
Reply:Start with doing pushups and tricep dips; well - basically any exercise where you use your body to hold your own weight. You can do pushups with your arms narrow to your chest, which will work your triceps more, or wide. Experiment with different hand positions. You may have to start with %26quot;girl pushups%26quot; on your knees, but in time you%26#039;ll work up to a full on your toe pushup.





Consider some yoga poses like cobra, and a low plank.. they use a lot of strength and improve your core. You can also start in a tripod head/handstand and gradually lift yourself a tiny bit. Try a yoga class if you can afford it or find a free class.. some of the poses, done properly, are awesome for increasing strength without too much muscle.





You can also buy chin up bars cheaply that fit into a door frame. Lifting your own weight is awesome for upper body strength.





Try some easy weightlifting exercises using full cans of soup or water, and go on low speed, fewer reps. You%26#039;ll be amazed at how this can increase strength and indurance. I challenged a guy I knew one, a real %26quot;lifter type%26quot;. He didn%26#039; last long.





A weightlifting routine would be beneficial. Don%26#039;t worry - you won%26#039;t %26quot;bulk up%26quot;.. girls don%26#039;t have the testosterone for that. You WILL gain muscle and strength!





Most strength training you want to do every other day vs. every day. This allows time for the muscles to heal themselves after the workout and allows them to come back stronger.





Good luck!
Reply:maybe a gym or dancing... sweets
Reply:Sal*UK is right; swimming is good. I would suggest breast stroke, concentrating on the arms. Also, do you have anyone you can arm wrestle? (a brother would do) left and right arms.





A simple exercise you can do while watching TV is to press the heels of your hands together. Do it a few times with your hands in front, to the left and to the right. Then hook your fingers together in the same positions and pull.
Reply:You need to work your upper body strength with push ups. There%26#039;s lots of types you can do.





Regular: works out your chest muscles





Knuckles: has the regular motion but your holding yourself up on your knuckles while yur hands are in a fist. This helps out your forearms





Diamond: put your handstogether in the middle and form a triangular or diamond shape and go down. This is more difficult since you mostly rely on your arm strength.





Bicep: Instead of your arms bending outwards, have them bend like your doing a bicep curl





These are very helpful because they are all cardio. You can do weightlifting if you want but that mostly increases your size, pushups help you with strength and detail. You have to do these everyday. You will see some results in about 2 to 3 weeks. Make some time, like before you go to sleep, to do them. Also, remember:





Diet: you have to eat a bit more meat, don%26#039;t go for pork. Go for the leaner meats like eggs, chicken, turkey and seafood. eat some meat after you work out so your body has protiens to build muscle.





Run or any other energy burning sports: No offense but if you have more than a bit of fat then burn it with stuff like that so you less weight to hold up when your doing handstands. It usually takes about 30 mins before it takes effect. Don%26#039;t eat right before you go to sleep or else you won%26#039;t burn any calories.





Swimming is good but pushups are better since your holding your body weight like you would in a handstand. In swimming your just swing your arms to pull yourself in the water.