Bodybuilding.net - Bodybuilding Forum - View Single Post

EricT · 05-21-2008, 01:34 PM

Everybody's different. And not matter how many curls they recommend you don't need to assume that there aren't many other factors that contribute to their arm growth. They just aren't really aware of them. It's really important to realize that people can and do get results despite not really understanding what they are doing and what may be more efficient. Just because a guy has big arms are is really big in general does not mean that they can really give you good info...even if they DID do it naturally.

Also I think it is important to think about the difference between immediate gratification and long term results. I don't think it is really true that most people will bring their arms in particular up to their true size limit by JUST using compound movements. Although you can grow them quite a lot. But those iso's early on have much less impact than the big movements. And those iso's later on will be able to be done with much more weight and they simply will do more than they would when you are a beginner and using tiny little weights for curls and such.

There is a big difference between starting out and doing some curls with, say 10 pounds in each hand for high reps rather than paying your dues with the big movements, building up your strength (including core strength) and then when you decide to specialize with biceps (or whatever) you are rocking 70 pounds or even more barbell curls for reps.

It really depends on the person how big their arms get without a lot of isolations. For some it may be the difference between 16 inches and 18 inches and for others it could be 18 inches and above.

It's not like most people do NO isolations. There are actual reasons to do an isolation other than size, for instance. If you do a lot of tricep isolation for bench assistance, for instance it can help do do some curls to balance things at the elbow.