Getting Stuffed from the Start

[LdnJJoK]

I have been playing soccer competitively since I was 10 and have never lifted. I am 18 now and have decided to start lifting with my friends who are all jacked. I want to build muscle mass and all that and know that I should not start out expecting to be able to lift anywhere near as much as my friends.

Problem is, I am a right handed guy so my right arm is stronger than my left, by a lot. Looking at my arms, it isn't noticeable, but my left arm can't lift nearly as much as my right.

I have been working out for a week with the same routine. We switch off between one day working on arms and one day working on our chests.

When I go to do a curl, I can't do one with my left while the dumbell feels like a feather in my right.

I don't want to lift less with my left than my right because that would make the strength difference even greater!

What should I do?

[Titanium_Jim]

Drop the weight lower and use your left arm first, then do the same number of reps with your right that you did with your left. Your arms should get an equal workout so you can even out the imbalance.
What exercises are you doing besides curls?

[Off Road]

One day arms? One day chest? And they are "jacked?"

That just goes back to what I always say, once you start working out for real, your definition of "jacked" usually changes A LOT. My advice would be to get on a tried and proven routine that has you working your whole body with big compound movements with nothing but a barbell. You won't notice the imbalance in your arms because they will both be used equally. And you will show your "jacked" friends what it means to get truly BIG!

[mchicia1]

They aren't jacked..

Read stickies, pick real routine. Everything will even out after a while as long as you are consistent. Also, I wouldn't be taking any advice from them if they have 1 chest day and 1 arm day and thats it.

[LdnJJoK]

Drop the weight lower and use your left arm first, then do the same number of reps with your right that you did with your left. Your arms should get an equal workout so you can even out the imbalance.
What exercises are you doing besides curls?

I am not sure what they are known as universally, but these are what we call our routine.

For arms,

• Curls
• Hammer Curls
• Preacher Bar (contoured barbell)
• Crazy Eights
• Pull Ups
• Shrugs

For Chest (which as also affected by my weak left)

• Warm-up Bench Press
• Regular Bench Press
• Inclined Bench Press
• Declined Bench Press
• Flys
• and I usually use the Tricep Pull Down Machine

[mchicia1]

I am not sure what they are known as universally, but these are what we call our routine.

For arms,

• Curls
• Hammer Curls
• Preacher Bar (contoured barbell)
• Crazy Eights
• Pull Ups
• Shrugs

For Chest (which as also affected by my weak left)

• Warm-up Bench Press
• Regular Bench Press
• Inclined Bench Press
• Declined Bench Press
• Flys
• and I usually use the Tricep Pull Down Machine

Horrible routine for an athlete (do you still play soccer?). If you are really serious about making changes, then get on a proven routine like starting strength. All those different bench presses are a huge waste of time. Not to mention theres only one movement for your upper back, pullups. Shrugs don't really count. This will create a huge imbalance.

[LdnJJoK]

One day arms? One day chest? And they are "jacked?"

That just goes back to what I always say, once you start working out for real, your definition of "jacked" usually changes A LOT. My advice would be to get on a tried and proven routine that has you working your whole body with big compound movements with nothing but a barbell. You won't notice the imbalance in your arms because they will both be used equally. And you will show your "jacked" friends what it means to get truly BIG!

Haha, when I say 'jacked' I am using it relative to my arms.

[LdnJJoK]

Horrible routine for an athlete (do you still play soccer?). If you are really serious about making changes, then get on a proven routine like starting strength. All those different bench presses are a huge waste of time.

I am not working out to be an athlete if that's what you were implying. I am just trying to build muscle so I don't have twig arms.

[LdnJJoK]

Horrible routine for an athlete (do you still play soccer?). If you are really serious about making changes, then get on a proven routine like starting strength. All those different bench presses are a huge waste of time. Not to mention theres only one movement for your upper back, pullups. Shrugs don't really count. This will create a huge imbalance.

I am not done playing soccer, but I have been playing for a long time so my legs are muscular enough to get me through my last season.

[mchicia1]

I am not working out to be an athlete if that's what you were implying. I am just trying to build muscles so I don't have twig arms.

Right...which is usually why most people go to the gym to start. I will tell you that the body grows as a whole. How many people in the gym on a routine like this do you see that have tiny arms? I will tell you that I have done less than 20 sets of bicep curls during the entire last year and my arms are over 17 inches now. Then I look over at all these poor fools doing nothing but bicep curls and still have less than 15 inch arms.

-Military Press
-Bench Press (not incline, not decline just regular flat bench)
-Squats (parrallel)
-Deadlifts
-Heavy Barbell Rows
-Weighted Pull or Chinups
-Something heavy for abs

That is all you should be doing as a beginner. You shouldn't even be thinking about bicep curls or 9 different chest exercises. You want to grow your body as a unit, because thats the natural way it grows. If I was 18 and got this advice, I would probably be benching over 400 pounds by now. You can take it or leave it, but I am telling you, you will see minimal progress with a routine that you listed.

On the other hand, sometimes it takes spinning your wheels with a horrible program just to open your eyes to how horrible it is. When I started, I saw minimal progress for over 2 years because my program and diet sucked. When I got on a good program and started eating like a person 30 pounds heavier, I had very solid gains.

[LdnJJoK]

Right...which is usually why most people go to the gym to start. I will tell you that the body grows as a whole. How many people in the gym on a routine like this do you see that have tiny arms? I will tell you that I have done less than 20 sets of bicep curls during the entire last year and my arms are over 17 inches now. Then I look over at all these poor fools doing nothing but bicep curls and still have less than 15 inch arms.

-Military Press
-Bench Press (not incline, not decline just regular flat bench)
-Squats (parrallel)
-Deadlifts
-Heavy Barbell Rows
-Weighted Pull or Chinups
-Something heavy for abs

That is all you should be doing as a beginner. You shouldn't even be thinking about bicep curls or 9 different chest exercises. You want to grow your body as a unit, because thats the natural way it grows. If I was 18 and got this advice, I would probably be benching over 400 pounds by now. You can take it or leave it, but I am telling you, you will see minimal progress with a routine that you listed.

On the other hand, sometimes it takes spinning your wheels with a horrible program just to open your eyes to how horrible it is. When I started, I saw minimal progress for over 2 years because my program and diet sucked. When I got on a good program and started eating like a person 30 pounds heavier, I had very solid gains.

Thanks alot man. I have to do a bit of research on what the hell half of those lifts are, but I'll certainly give it a go.

[KoSh]

No squats or deadlifts, no growth thus no getting jacked. Fix that.

[Songsangnim]

H Not to mention theres only one movement for your upper back, pullups. Shrugs don't really count. This will create a huge imbalance.

There are several. Pulldowns, deadlifts and rows. Upper back is comprised of more muscles than just traps.

[danki]

http://www.wannabebig.com/cat/hypert...aining-hct-12/


Read all that, and then do it.... Repeat.

[mchicia1]

There are several. Pulldowns, deadlifts and rows. Upper back is comprised of more muscles than just traps.

What? You misunderstood me. I was talking about his routine, not in general. Obviously there are tons of movements for your back dude .

[mchicia1]

Thanks alot man. I have to do a bit of research on what the hell half of those lifts are, but I'll certainly give it a go.

You will need to be patient and learn all the movements correctly. I think this may be the reason most people stick to bi curls and chest exercises...the movements I listed are harder to perform, but will give you more bang for the buck in the long run. If you stick to a proven routine for a year and perform the movements correctly, you will be well ahead of your "jacked" friends.

[jdaw2552]

I have to be honest. I honestly laughed out loud when I read this, and I'm sitting in the quiet computer lab in my college.

Your program may be one of the worst programs I've seen in recent time.

Even if you couldn't squat or deadlift your way out of a cardboard box, your program is filled with some terrible exercises for growth even for aesthetic purposes.

A two workouts a week split with those as your two days..... And Decline Bench for a beginner.....

Go read starting strength or anything. There is no back in your workout (besides pullups), no shoulders, NO LEGS (WHERE ARE THE LEGS!?!?!?!) and way too much arm work and WAYYYYY TOO MUCH CHEST WORK.