problem with biceps and triceps...

[ebabbitt69]

My problem is that I used to be a very avid bowler for about 5 years. I quit about two years ago, but because of this, my right arm is MUCH stronger, bigger, and cut that my left arm. I've tried about everything I can to make up for this and/or try and correct it with no success. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on what I should do because this has become VERY frustrating for me.

[Darkhorse]

I've tried about everything I can to make up for this and/or try and correct it with no success.

Like what? Have you tried to use a measuring tape because your eyes are usually way off. That's the same as trying to guesstimate bodyfat levels by looking in the mirror.

Over time it should correct itself as long as you continue lifting. If you're curling 40 lb dumbbells with both hands for sets of whatever, your arm will catch back up to the other. I recommend doing barbell curls or ez bar curls..Anything that uses both hands at once. Reason being because if you load up the bar with 'X' amount of weight..Your weaker/smaller arm will have no choice but to keep up with the bigger one. It should iron itself out.

[Kane]

I agree with 0311. When I worked in a shop my right arm got bigger than my left by half an inch, because I turned wrenches all day with my right arm. I did exactly what he suggested, use a barbell or ez bar, and they are both the same size. It took a couple months to even them out if I remember correctly.

[Dr X]

Originally Posted by 0311

Like what? Have you tried to use a measuring tape because your eyes are usually way off. That's the same as trying to guesstimate bodyfat levels by looking in the mirror.

Over time it should correct itself as long as you continue lifting. If you're curling 40 lb dumbbells with both hands for sets of whatever, your arm will catch back up to the other. I recommend doing barbell curls or ez bar curls..Anything that uses both hands at once. Reason being because if you load up the bar with 'X' amount of weight..Your weaker/smaller arm will have no choice but to keep up with the bigger one. It should iron itself out.

Yep and I have lived it. Your body has no choice but to even its self out. I once broke my arm in a major accident and lost use of it for a year. It rebounded once I started lifting again even tho it was much smaller and weaker after alll that time. It really dosen't matter what excercise you do. Even dumbells are fine if you are using the same weight. It still has to work. I bet if you measured your arms they would only vary by 1/4"

[BG5150]

Do more chinups and pullups. No way you're gonna overcompensate doing those.

[_Wolf_]

actually brad is right...

doing bigger compound lifts WILL increase your arm size and force them to "even out"...

just because they're small/big doesnt necessarily mean that you have to specialize in arms...!

however, i must say... that by doing compound lifts your arms might not become "strong"... BUT: they will definitely become "bigger"...

[Kane]

Originally Posted by anuj247

doing bigger compound lifts WILL increase your arm size and force them to "even out"...

BB curls is a compound and not everyone can do sets and sets of chin-ups (I can..but I don't weigh anything )

Originally Posted by anuj247

however, i must say... that by doing compound lifts your arms might not become "strong"... BUT: they will definitely become "bigger"...

it all depends on how you train. You can do a 5x5 with compounds and get crazy strength...but by the same token, you can do a hypertophy program with compounds and get lots of size....compounds and isolations don't dictate gains...intensity, frequency, rep range, etc. dictate gains

[EricT]

Originally Posted by Kane

BB curls is a compound

By definition, a compound is a multi-joint movement. Count the joints involved in BB curls.

Originally Posted by Kane

You can do a 5x5 with compounds and get crazy strength...but by the same token, you can do a hypertophy program with compounds

You can get strength and hypertrophy from a 5x5.

Originally Posted by Kane

compounds and isolations don't dictate gains...intensity, frequency, rep range, etc. dictate gains

Second part right...first part wrong. Take squats and leg extensions...or, hell, better yet, take squats and compare them to leg extensions and leg curls done together (both isolation movements). Using the same intensity (% of 1 RM), the same frequency and rep range, etc., which is going to give you bigger legs (and a bigger body)? Squats, of course.

Also when we talk about compounds that involve the arms, everybody seems to forget about triceps. Why do people prefer shoulder presses overall instead of, say, lateral raises? And benching over db flyes? A compound, or multi-joint movement stimulates more muscle overall in a given session, resulting in greater gains, without doing set after set after set after....

Compounds allow your body to function as a unit. They realease more growth hormone. And of course they make you strong depending on how you train. Form follows function. You want to be strong, you have to be strong all over. And, frankly, having a super strong bicep curl doesn't do jack shit for you if you're weak every where else.

I really think, however, that the need to do or not do additional isolations depends on the program and the individual. They are COMPLEMENTARY. But I don't think that compounds should ever be replaced with isolations, unless your going for a John Basedow look.

[_Wolf_]

Originally Posted by Eric3237

Take squats and leg extensions...or, hell, better yet, take squats and compare them to leg extensions and leg curls done together (both isolation movements). Using the same intensity (% of 1 RM), the same frequency and rep range, etc., which is going to give you bigger legs (and a bigger body)? Squats, of course.

Also when we talk about compounds that involve the arms, everybody seems to forget about triceps. Why do people prefer shoulder presses overall instead of, say, lateral raises? And benching over db flyes? A compound, or multi-joint movement stimulates more muscle overall in a given session, resulting in greater gains, without doing set after set after set after....

Compounds allow your body to function as a unit.

thats what i was trying to say but dint really know how to...

Originally Posted by Eric3237

They realease more growth hormone.

i dint know that... wait is t a growth hormone...?

Originally Posted by Eric3237

I really think, however, that the need to do or not do additional isolations depends on the program and the individual. They are COMPLEMENTARY. But I don't think that compounds should ever be replaced with isolations, unless your going for a John Basedow look.

i agree 100% with this bit....

Originally Posted by Eric3237

By definition, a compound is a multi-joint movement. Count the joints involved in BB curls.

1

therefore, its NOT a compound lift...

[Kane]

Originally Posted by Eric3237

By definition, a compound is a multi-joint movement. Count the joints involved in BB curls.

ok my bad

Originally Posted by Eric3237

You can get strength and hypertrophy from a 5x5.

I'm aware...the original post said:

Originally Posted by anuj247
however, i must say... that by doing compound lifts your arms might not become "strong"... BUT: they will definitely become "bigger"...

I was trying to say that you can do compounds and gain mostly strength and you can also do compounds and gain mostly size and yes, there is a middle ground where you can gain both, but I was illustrating the two extremes.

Originally Posted by Eric3237

Second part right...first part wrong.

Again poorly worded...what I was trying to get across was; you can do any exercise in the world, but if you dont have the correct intensity, frequency, rep range, etc. then you won't see gains.