Summer is fast approaching in DC. Sunsets are later, temperatures are on the rise and DC women are busting out their summer wardrobes. While the men of the District appreciatively notice hemlines, your Gaggler has been struck by one thing: Girls with guns. Everywhere I turn I see girls in tank tops with biceps worthy of Michelle Obama. So have the First Lady's muscular bare arms prompted American women to rethink their workouts? Jaime Andrews, a personal trainer and General Manager of sleek new DC fitness club Vida @ Metropole, says yes.

DC women don't want the scarily thin arms of Hollywood starlets, or Madonna's fiercely over-sculpted "even when my arms are limp it looks like I'm benching 200 pounds" limbs. Women are flocking to Vida asking for help in getting lean, toned arms, and many cite Michelle Obama in their requests. Andrews says that women have long been concerned about excess skin around their triceps as they age (what my people down under call bingo wings) but these days she's seeing a new trend. "Michelle Obama is showing up to formal events and business events in sleeveless tops. The type of clothing is changing and it’s putting a little more pressure on. People want to show their arms more," Andrews says.

While Michelle Obama has a gym in her house, a personal trainer and ten years of working on those guns in her column, most women rely on general fitness clubs. To satisfy the uptick in members seeking the Obama look, Vida has added a new group exercise class focused on toning and sculpting using barbells. Over 40 minutes of the class focuses on the upper body - chest, back, triceps, biceps and shoulders.  Andrew tells clients that focusing on the entire upper body is better than just doing bicep curls, after all, Michelle Obama has the complete package - scultped shoulders, defined triceps, lean arms as well as the famous biceps.

Cardio workouts like running and cycling remain essential for overall tone, fitness and weight control, but a lot of women jump on the elliptical machine and skip the strength training. Andrews says this is a no no - carving out time in a workout routine for push ups, pull ups and weights is the quickest route to the Obama look. Women often worry that weight training will make their arms too big and they'll look less feminine. But Andrews tries to tell her clients that fear is unwarranted - it's much more difficult for women to load bulky muscle than men.

Andrews says that most DC women have to juggle demanding professional and social schedules, but if they make time to work out for one hour, three times a week, after a month her clients start to see results. And judging by the guns in Dupont Circle last weekend, many DC women are doing just that.