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HOW TO GET STRONG

EXERCISES FOR THE TRICEPS MUSCLES

One prominent part of the arm remains; or, rather, one which ought to be prominent; though in most persons, both men and women, it is not. In boys and girls it is even less so. We refer to the rest of the triceps; or the bulk of what remains of the upper arm after leaving out the biceps and the inner side of the triceps. When well developed, this is one of the handsomest parts of the arm. No arm will look slim (in evening dress, for instance) which has this muscle fully developed.

To bring that development; push with the hands against almost any heavy or solid thing you want to. If these muscles are small and weak; push the dumb-bells up over your head as much as you can daily; till a month's work has given them a start. For two or three minutes each day during that mouth; stand facing the wall; and about two feet from it. Now fall against it, or, rather, put your hands on it, about three feet apart and as high as your ears; and let your body drop slowly in towards the wall till your chest nearly touches it; your face being held up and back. Then push back till your body is again erect; and continue the movement. This exercise is as admirable as it is cheap.

If the triceps muscles are tolerably strong in the start; or in any case at the end of the month in which the last two exercises have been practised, try now a harder thing. Place the hands on the floor, hold the body out at full length and rigid, or as nearly so as you can; and push, raising the body till the elbows are straight. Now bend the elbows and lower again, till the face nearly touches the floor; keeping the body all the time as stiff and straight as possible; and then rise on stiff elbows

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