When I first embarked on my journey to get a more toned upper body [1], I had the same fears many people — and especially women — do. Would I suddenly look like a bodybuilder [2] after a week of bicep curls? (Spoiler: no.) Would I flail helplessly with a barbell and fall in an embarrassed heap at the gym? (Almost, my first time, but that's why you should work out with a friend to spot you on weight-bearing exercises.) To soothe my irrational fears, I spent a lot of time researching good form and finding workouts on YouTube, often from women who started out just like me and came out the other side unscathed, with a more shredded physique. I still do many of those workouts to this day.

So if you find yourself in the same place, check out these upper-body workouts that will light up your arms and core.