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35-Minute Upper Body HIIT Workout

By: Lindsey Bomgren, CPT | March 10, 2024

Shoulders, biceps, back, chest, triceps and core — this Upper Body HIIT Workout with weights is a complete arm workout at home. Strength exercises to tone your arms are paired with upper body HIIT exercises to raise your heart rate and burn calories.

Jump To Workout

I love an efficient workout routine, which is why I love the combination of strength training and HIIT exercises, like you’ll find in today’s upper body HIIT workout.

Pairing upper body strength exercises with high intensity interval training (HIIT) makes shorter workouts more efficient. 

This combination also increases the intensity of a workout. Performing “strictly strength” exercises, like an overhead shoulder press, becomes more difficult when your heart rate is elevated.

If you want to build toned arms and break a sweat at home, this is the workout for you!

two women standing performing lateral raises as part of upper body hIIT workout

35-Minute Upper Body HIIT Workout

Build upper body strength and raise your heart rate in around 35 minutes with this upper body HIIT workout.

Add upper body workouts like this one to your home training program 1-2 times a week to build muscle mass and increase endurance.

Workout Equipment:

Medium to Heavy Set of Dumbbells. I suggest anywhere from 8-25 lbs. I used 15-20 lb dumbbells for this arm workout.

Workout Instructions:

Follow along with the guided HIIT Arm Workout video on YouTube, led by certified personal trainer, Lindsey Bomgren. 

Your Workout Looks Like This:

  • 3 Circuits (2-3 exercises per circuit)
  • Timed Intervals (perform each exercise for 30 seconds, then rest 10 seconds)
  • Repeat Each Circuit x3 Sets
  • Between Each Circuit is a Push Up and Cardio Push (30 seconds work, 10 seconds rest, repeat x2 sets)

Note: we re-filmed this workout to improve video and sound quality (and changed up some of the moves). You can find the original best upper body HIIT exercises here if you’d like to compare them.

woman performing a plank and row as part of upper body hiit workout

Prefer to Watch On YouTube?

youtube icon HIIT Arms Workout

Workout Outline

CIRCUIT ONE: 

  1. Single, Single, Double Lateral Raise
  2. Overhead Tricep Extension
  3. Burpee and Push Press

Push Ups and Cardio:

  1. Push Up and Dumbbell Drag
  2. Lateral Shuffle

CIRCUIT TWO: 

  1. Single Arm Row
  2. W-Curls (Standard Curl and Wide Curl)
  3. Dumbbell Row, Clean and Overhead Press

Push Ups and Cardio:

  1. Push Up and Dumbbell Row
  2. Ladder Drill

CIRCUIT THREE:

  1. Woman Maker
  2. Halo and Vertical Press Out

Push Ups and Cardio:

  1. Push Ups
  2. Mountain Climbers

8 Best Upper Body HIIT Exercises

Single, Single, Double Lateral Raise

Targets: All three heads of the shoulder muscles — primarily the lateral head of the deltoid, but also engages the anterior and posterior heads (or rear delts).

two women performing lateral raises as part of upper body hiit workout

How To Do Single, Single, Double Lateral Raises

  1. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, slight bend in your knees, holding a dumbbell in each hand at hip level, palms slightly out.
  2. With a slight bend in each arm at the elbow, squeeze to lift the dumbbell in your right hand out towards the right in an arc shape, lifting to shoulder height. With control, lower the dumbbell to your hips.
  3. Repeat, this time lifting the dumbbell in your left hand out towards the left in an arc shape, before returning to starting position.
  4. Then, perform a “double” lateral raise by lifting both arms at the same time, raising the dumbbells out away from your body at approximately a 45-degree angle. Lift dumbbells just to shoulder height, then lower with control.

Overhead Tricep Extension

Targets: The triceps (back of the arm). This move also engages all the stabilizing muscles in the shoulders, core, glutes and lower back muscles.

two women performing overhead tricep extensions to target back of arm

How To Do Overhead Tricep Extensions

  1. Start standing with feet hip-width apart, core engaged and knees slightly bent. Hold one dumbbell vertically between your palms overhead.
  2. Slowly bend your elbows to a 90-degree angle, bringing the dumbbell behind your head. Think ‘hide the dumbbell, show the dumbbell’, if you were watching yourself in a mirror. Keep your elbows close to your ears throughout the entire movement (don’t let your elbows flare out as you fatigue).
  3. Squeeze through the back of your arm as you exhale, pressing the dumbbell overhead, arms fully extended.

Burpee and Push Press

Targets: Shoulders, back, glutes, hamstrings, lower back, abs and core.

This complex full body move adds explosive power to strength movements.

two women performing burpee and push press upper body hiit exercise

How To Do Burpees and Push Presses

  1. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, holding a set of dumbbells in your hands with palms facing in towards each other at your hips.
  2. With a soft bend in the knees, hinge at your hips to lower your torso as you slide the dumbbells down in front of your legs to set the dumbbells on the ground on either side of your feet.
  3. Perform a burpee by jumping your feet back to high plank position. Hands remain on the dumbbells.
  4. Then jump your feet back in and immediately stand tall, driving through the heels as you pull the weights up towards your hips.
  5. Then, curl the dumbbells to shoulder height and perform two shoulder presses, dipping at the knees before pressing the dumbbells straight overhead.
  6. Reverse the curl, lowering the dumbbells to hip level and returning to starting position.

Modification: Perform walking burpees by stepping in and out of plank. Alternatively, you could perform burpees from an incline by placing your hands on a chair or bench.

Single Arm Row

Targets: The latissimus dorsi (or lats); largest back muscle. This unilateral exercise also engages the bicep and core.

two women performing single arm back rows with dumbbells

How To Do Single Arm Rows

  1. Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Option to keep feet parallel or take a slightly staggered stance to better support your low back (stepping your right leg slightly behind your left leg).
  2. Hold a dumbbell in your right hand, palm facing in towards your opposite hand (neutral or narrow grip).
  3. Hinge forward at the hips maintaining a flat back, belly button pulled back towards your spine.
  4. Pull the dumbbell back towards your right hip (think of pulling from your elbow joint versus your wrist), as if you were starting a pull-start lawnmower. Stop once your elbow is in line with your rib cage, making a straight line from shoulder to elbow. Hold the row at the top for a moment squeezing your shoulder blade in.
  5. With control, lower the dumbbell back to the starting position and repeat. This is a slow deceleration of the weight through the full range of motion.

W-Curls (Standard Bicep Curl and Wide Bicep Curl)

Targets: The muscles of the forearms, the biceps muscles and rotator cuff.

The external rotation through the shoulder joint also strengthens the rotator cuff muscles and increases shoulder stability.

two women performing bicep curls as part of upper body hiit workout

How To Do Standard and Wide Bicep Curls

  1. Start with feet under hips, core engaged. Hold a dumbbell in each hand in front of you at hip height, elbows by your waist, and palms facing up towards the ceiling.
  2. Curl the dumbbells up to shoulder height, keeping your elbows in place.
  3. With control, lower the dumbbells to your hips.
  4. Then, open through the chest as you rotate the dumbbells out towards the corners of the room, each palm about 45 degrees away from your body.
  5. Hold this external rotation as you curl the dumbbells up towards your shoulders, before lowering to to your thighs (performing a wide bicep curl).
  6. Rotate through the shoulders to pull the dumbbells back in front of your body, returning to starting position.

Dumbbell Row, Clean and Overhead Press

Targets: The lower back and upper back (specifically the lats and rhomboids), hamstrings, hips, glutes, core and shoulders.

two women performing dumbbell row, clean and press as part of upper body workout

How To Do Dumbbell Rows, Cleans and Overhead Presses

  1. Stand with feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent. Hold one dumbbell in each hand at your hips, palms facing in towards each other.
  2. Hinge forward at the hips, then “row” the dumbbells towards your torso, pulling your elbows towards your ribcage then lowering with control. Repeat twice, performing two narrow rows.
  3. Then, drive through your heels to return to standing, “cleaning” the dumbbells up towards your shoulders. Your heels may pop off the ground. Think about “getting under” the dumbbell to catch it — this is a dumbbell clean. Catch the dumbbells at your shoulders.
  4. Bend your knees, lowering 2-3 inches and then straightening the knees as you push the dumbbells overhead, arms extended straight over shoulders. With control, lower dumbbells back to shoulders.
  5. Repeat this sequence, alternating two back rows with a dumbbell clean and an overhead press.

Woman Maker (Push Up, Row, Squat, Curl and Press)

Targets: Quads, glutes, hamstrings, back, chest, biceps, triceps, shoulders and core.

A big, full-body movement to build strength while also getting your heart rate up.

two women performing complex upper body hiiit exercise: the woman maker

How To Do Woman Makers

  1. Start in a high plank position, both hands on your dumbbells, shoulders stacked over wrists, core engaged.
  2. Perform a push up by lowering your chest to the ground, letting your elbows fall back towards your hips, then exhale, pushing back up to starting position.
  3. Then, perform a single arm plank row (or renegade row) on each side, pulling first your right elbow to right hip, then planting it on the ground and pulling left elbow to left hip before returning it to the ground.
  4. Then, step or jump your feet up to meet your hands, landing in a low squat position.
  5. Press through your heels to stand tall, pulling the dumbbells up your body as your hips drive forward.
  6. As you stand, curl the dumbbells up to shoulder height, then press overhead, stacking dumbbells over shoulders and keeping your core tight.
  7. Reverse the movement, bringing the dumbbells back to shoulder height, lowering the dumbbells to your hips, and bending your knees to lower into a squat.
  8. Plant the dumbbells on the mat between your feet at the bottom of your squat, and step or hop your feet back, landing in high plank position.

Modification: Step your feet in and out of plank position rather than jumping. And take push ups and rows from your knees.

Halo and Vertical Press Out

Targets: Shoulders, low back, and abdominal muscles.

This is also a great exercise to increase shoulder mobility.

two women performing dumbbell halos to target shoulder muscles

How To Do Dumbbell Halos and Vertical Press Outs

  1. Stand with your feet under hips, holding a dumbbell vertically at your chest, right hand at the top head of the dumbbell and left hand at the bottom head of the dumbbell.
  2. Brace your core and perform a dumbbell “halo,” pulling the dumbbell in a smooth motion towards your left shoulder and then behind and around your head, ending with the dumbbell centered and vertical at your chest. Left hand is now at the top head of the dumbbell.
  3. Then, press the dumbbell away from your body, keeping it in line with your shoulders. With control, return the dumbbell to your chest.
  4. Repeat, this time changing halo directions. Pull the dumbbell towards your right shouler then behind and around your head, ending with the dumbbell centered and vertical at your chest, right hand on top.

Upper Body HIIT Workout FAQs

Can You Build Upper Body Strength With HIIT Workouts?

Yes – the combination of upper body strength exercises and HIIT is an efficient way to both build muscle and burn calories. High intensity interval training (HIIT) can increase endurance and increase muscle definition.

What Workout Is Best For The Upper Body?

The most effective upper body workouts focus on compound exercises that engage multiple muscles in the upper body at once. This increases muscle engagement and saves time. You can also add isolation exercises to address muscle imbalances or weaknesses. Isolation exercises focus on a specific muscle group and may include bicep exercises, shoulder exercises, back exercises, tricep exercises and chest exercises.

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Pin this: Upper Body HIIT Workout for Women

Decorative pin for pinterest - a woman performing a dumbbell halo with text overlay describing hiit arm workout for women

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