Bicep curl plateau

[Gun Show]

Ive been working out for approx 8 weeks and since almost the start Ive been able to curl a 20 pound dumbbell with ease, but when I move up to a 25 pounder I can only go about 5 or 6 reps in a set until I am completely exhausted. I usually go for 10 reps in a set, 8 as a bare minimum so it is really ticking me off that I can't progress past 20 pounds. I can pump out 3 sets of 10 with a 20 pound dumbbell and not even feel it.

Any advice?

[snowster900]

Hey i have the same problem as you im at 30's and its pretty easy with them.. than 35 man there hard ... well this is what i did before when i was at 25's i just kept doin the 25's for a while and than they got a little easier than i moved up two 30's and did them for a while and shocked my body and than went back to 25's and it was all good.. i dont really know if this works but it worked for me .. good luck

[RickTheDestroyer]

Any advice?

Stop curling. 6 reps are enough for a set.

[Hockey66]

keep doing the 25's for 5 or 6 reps, thats a good range. Before you know it you'll be able to do 10.

[Gun Show]

Stop curling. 6 reps are enough for a set.

Hmmm...like I said, I just started 8 weeks ago. All the advice I got from the guys at the gym led me to believe that 8-10 reps per set was desireable.

Should I be aiming for 6? And in my other exercises too?

[RickTheDestroyer]

I shoot for 6-8 for most stuff, 1-5 or so for squats, deads and most bench work.
I don't really believe in curls. If you do chins/pullups and rows, then you don't really need curls.

[Fatguy23]

stick wtih all types of rows and pull ups for the biceps. If you must, put curls at the end of your back routine, your biceps will get hit pretty hard

[Da_Man]

Gun_Show, if you must curl and you want to maintain a 8-10 rep range you can always buy some 2.5 weights that strap on to your wrist, which would make you @ 27.5 a side for a while, hammer those out then move up.

Although 8-10 is not my rep range (5-7) for curls and issolation work, if it has been working for you in the past keep with it untill it gets stagnet.

But I know that if you starting chinning/rowing before you hit bi's you will get a better bi workout, although your reps/weigh of curling will decrease.

BTW your rep range will be determined by your goals, there is no magic number.

[Adam]

I shoot for 6-8 for most stuff, 1-5 or so for squats, deads and most bench work.
I don't really believe in curls. If you do chins/pullups and rows, then you don't really need curls.

:withstupi
Go by those rules and you will get bigger and stronger.

[ElPietro]

If I were you, I'd use the 25s or 30s even for the first set, and then use the 20s for the 2nd and 3rd sets. When you can do more than six reps with the first heavy set, up the weight again.

[Jezmason]

I was in a plateau till i started pausing at the top of the rep. I lift the weight at a moderate speed, hold it for 3 seconds (tensing the muscle a hard as possible while i do) and lower really slowly (3-4 seconds).