18 Inch Arms

Training Bodybuilding
1021

^I don’t have 18’s quite yet, so I don’t really belong in this thread. But I’ve added an inch to my arms in the past seven months doing exactly what you guys are talking about. One day dedicated and then extra work on back and chest days. I focus on one area of the muscle on the back and chest days (must admit, it’s kinda awesome seeing the medial triceps head finally peaking out from under the long head), and then just blast the hell out of ‘em on arm day. Been using ‘Crazy Eights’ from one of John Meadows’ recent spills, and getting pumps so hard I can barely bend my arms past 90deg.

Which reminds me; are you guys measuring while pumped or cold, and how exactly are you measuring?

Reason I ask is that on a fully carbed-up arm day, pushing for the biggest pump possible, and then measuring from the biceps peak to the triceps peak and back around, I’ve measured 18". Peak to peak cold measurement is barely 17". If I just lay the tape over the biceps peak and wrap it back around keeping it vertical, it’s a little over 16.5.

I’m sure it’s been discussed somewhere in the arm threads, but damn that’s a lot of reading for a simple question.

1022

[quote]JayPierce wrote:
^I don’t have 18’s quite yet, so I don’t really belong in this thread. But I’ve added an inch to my arms in the past seven months doing exactly what you guys are talking about. One day dedicated and then extra work on back and chest days. I focus on one area of the muscle on the back and chest days (must admit, it’s kinda awesome seeing the medial triceps head finally peaking out from under the long head), and then just blast the hell out of ‘em on arm day. Been using ‘Crazy Eights’ from one of John Meadows’ recent spills, and getting pumps so hard I can barely bend my arms past 90deg.

Which reminds me; are you guys measuring while pumped or cold, and how exactly are you measuring?

Reason I ask is that on a fully carbed-up arm day, pushing for the biggest pump possible, and then measuring from the biceps peak to the triceps peak and back around, I’ve measured 18". Peak to peak cold measurement is barely 17". If I just lay the tape over the biceps peak and wrap it back around keeping it vertical, it’s a little over 16.5.

I’m sure it’s been discussed somewhere in the arm threads, but damn that’s a lot of reading for a simple question.[/quote]

I think the assumed standard is cold and fully flexed unless stated otherwise. Not sure if peak to peak is the norm but I’d assume it was just wherevers biggest. Highest I’ve got with pump is 15.75". I best leave this thread for awhile…

1023

[quote]jake_j_m wrote:

[quote]JayPierce wrote:
^I don’t have 18’s quite yet, so I don’t really belong in this thread. But I’ve added an inch to my arms in the past seven months doing exactly what you guys are talking about. One day dedicated and then extra work on back and chest days. I focus on one area of the muscle on the back and chest days (must admit, it’s kinda awesome seeing the medial triceps head finally peaking out from under the long head), and then just blast the hell out of ‘em on arm day. Been using ‘Crazy Eights’ from one of John Meadows’ recent spills, and getting pumps so hard I can barely bend my arms past 90deg.

Which reminds me; are you guys measuring while pumped or cold, and how exactly are you measuring?

Reason I ask is that on a fully carbed-up arm day, pushing for the biggest pump possible, and then measuring from the biceps peak to the triceps peak and back around, I’ve measured 18". Peak to peak cold measurement is barely 17". If I just lay the tape over the biceps peak and wrap it back around keeping it vertical, it’s a little over 16.5.

I’m sure it’s been discussed somewhere in the arm threads, but damn that’s a lot of reading for a simple question.[/quote]

I think the assumed standard is cold and fully flexed unless stated otherwise. Not sure if peak to peak is the norm but I’d assume it was just wherevers biggest. Highest I’ve got with pump is 15.75". I best leave this thread for awhile… [/quote]

Correct…Cold, around the biggest point, fully flexed…

I dont think my arms measure 18 anymore either but o well…They look better and I can curl a lot more than I used to…More muscular/less fat…I won’t be measuring for a while.

1024

[quote]JayPierce wrote:
^I don’t have 18’s quite yet, so I don’t really belong in this thread. But I’ve added an inch to my arms in the past seven months doing exactly what you guys are talking about. One day dedicated and then extra work on back and chest days. I focus on one area of the muscle on the back and chest days (must admit, it’s kinda awesome seeing the medial triceps head finally peaking out from under the long head), and then just blast the hell out of ‘em on arm day. Been using ‘Crazy Eights’ from one of John Meadows’ recent spills, and getting pumps so hard I can barely bend my arms past 90deg.

Which reminds me; are you guys measuring while pumped or cold, and how exactly are you measuring?

Reason I ask is that on a fully carbed-up arm day, pushing for the biggest pump possible, and then measuring from the biceps peak to the triceps peak and back around, I’ve measured 18". Peak to peak cold measurement is barely 17". If I just lay the tape over the biceps peak and wrap it back around keeping it vertical, it’s a little over 16.5.

I’m sure it’s been discussed somewhere in the arm threads, but damn that’s a lot of reading for a simple question.[/quote]

Most of the measurements you read about in mags are off season pumped up measurements…thus why people like some NPC bodybuilders can claim a 23" arm even though they may only be around 20 actually on stage.

Usually, I will make the distinction of whether a pic or a measurement is posted pumped or not.

My current avatar is what my biceps looks like after a workout. I have another cold and there is a noticeable difference.

1025

looking solid X
you too austin

1026

I guess I’m weird because my arms don’t measure or really look any bigger after a pump than they do cold.

1027

[quote]Professor X wrote:
Most of the measurements you read about in mags are off season pumped up measurements…thus why people like some NPC bodybuilders can claim a 23" arm even though they may only be around 20 actually on stage.

Usually, I will make the distinction of whether a pic or a measurement is posted pumped or not.

My current avatar is what my biceps looks like after a workout. I have another cold and there is a noticeable difference.[/quote]
I’ve always wondered about some of those measurements. I doubt some of them even reach their claims in the offseason.

Then there’s the matter of shape. I’ve seen quite a few competitors with smaller arms that look better than some of the ‘bigger’ arms. Triceps that are fuller toward the elbow look more powerful to me, but they don’t seem to help the arm measurement much. A sharp biceps peak makes an arm look smaller to me, but has a bigger measurement.

1028

[quote]spar4tee wrote:
looking solid X
you too austin[/quote]

Thanks man.

1029

[quote]spar4tee wrote:
I guess I’m weird because my arms don’t measure or really look any bigger after a pump than they do cold.[/quote]

I remember reading that many bodybuilders believed that your most gifted body parts are the ones that pump up more after training. For me, my biceps and shoulders get noticeably larger during training. I get a pump in all muscle groups but those stand out the most.

1030

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]spar4tee wrote:
I guess I’m weird because my arms don’t measure or really look any bigger after a pump than they do cold.[/quote]

I remember reading that many bodybuilders believed that your most gifted body parts are the ones that pump up more after training. For me, my biceps and shoulders get noticeably larger during training. I get a pump in all muscle groups but those stand out the most.[/quote]
interesting

1031

[quote]spar4tee wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]spar4tee wrote:
I guess I’m weird because my arms don’t measure or really look any bigger after a pump than they do cold.[/quote]

I remember reading that many bodybuilders believed that your most gifted body parts are the ones that pump up more after training. For me, my biceps and shoulders get noticeably larger during training. I get a pump in all muscle groups but those stand out the most.[/quote]
interesting[/quote]

I’ve heard this too (probably on this site lol) but I would agree. I get the best pumps in my chest and in my tri’s. I struggle to get a pump in my lats and delts and thats why they are lagging behind. It would make sense.

1032

[quote]gregron wrote:

[quote]spar4tee wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]spar4tee wrote:
I guess I’m weird because my arms don’t measure or really look any bigger after a pump than they do cold.[/quote]

I remember reading that many bodybuilders believed that your most gifted body parts are the ones that pump up more after training. For me, my biceps and shoulders get noticeably larger during training. I get a pump in all muscle groups but those stand out the most.[/quote]
interesting[/quote]

I’ve heard this too (probably on this site lol) but I would agree. I get the best pumps in my chest and in my tri’s. I struggle to get a pump in my lats and delts and thats why they are lagging behind. It would make sense.[/quote]
I’m the same on pecs and tris. Upper back, erectors, and thighs some too. I mostly do powerlifting oriented training, so that surely lends itself to the quality of pumps I get but I can get a pump in my chest and tris from triples on the bench sometimes.

1033

might as well make this a sticky

1034
1035

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:

I dont think my arms measure 18 anymore either but o well…They look better and I can curl a lot more than I used to…More muscular/less fat…I won’t be measuring for a while.[/quote]

What were you curling when they first hit 18in? Just wondering because you mention you can curl a lot more now and I can curl 55x6 or so but my arms are only around 14.5in.

1036

[quote]David1991 wrote:

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:

I dont think my arms measure 18 anymore either but o well…They look better and I can curl a lot more than I used to…More muscular/less fat…I won’t be measuring for a while.[/quote]

What were you curling when they first hit 18in? Just wondering because you mention you can curl a lot more now and I can curl 55x6 or so but my arms are only around 14.5in.[/quote]

I can’t remember to be honest man…

A few things have changed though…I do one heavy ass cheat/compound movmenet as my first movement for both biceps and triceps…Then the rest of the workout is fast paced, high rep, lighter weight pump contraction work with really slow reps, controlled negatives etc…Seeing good growth and having pumps that hurt like fuck. The burn gets insane.

1037

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:

[quote]David1991 wrote:

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:

I dont think my arms measure 18 anymore either but o well…They look better and I can curl a lot more than I used to…More muscular/less fat…I won’t be measuring for a while.[/quote]

What were you curling when they first hit 18in? Just wondering because you mention you can curl a lot more now and I can curl 55x6 or so but my arms are only around 14.5in.[/quote]

I can’t remember to be honest man…

A few things have changed though…I do one heavy ass cheat/compound movmenet as my first movement for both biceps and triceps…Then the rest of the workout is fast paced, high rep, lighter weight pump contraction work with really slow reps, controlled negatives etc…Seeing good growth and having pumps that hurt like fuck. The burn gets insane.[/quote]

Nice, I will be doing some more sled stuff soon and would add in arm volume with eccentric-less stuff as recommended by Christian Thibs but I’m cutting until school starts back up so I doubt it would add much growth. I’m sure my arms could use more volume when I get back to bulking up again though.

Does 55x6 for 14.5in arms seem weird or about right to you (or anyone reading this)? Its more than my friend who has lean 16in arms (but then again he’s taken prohormones). I also pinwheel curl 75x8…“shitty” form but basically the way I see pinwheels usually done.

1038

[quote]David1991 wrote:

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:

[quote]David1991 wrote:

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:

I dont think my arms measure 18 anymore either but o well…They look better and I can curl a lot more than I used to…More muscular/less fat…I won’t be measuring for a while.[/quote]

What were you curling when they first hit 18in? Just wondering because you mention you can curl a lot more now and I can curl 55x6 or so but my arms are only around 14.5in.[/quote]

I can’t remember to be honest man…

A few things have changed though…I do one heavy ass cheat/compound movmenet as my first movement for both biceps and triceps…Then the rest of the workout is fast paced, high rep, lighter weight pump contraction work with really slow reps, controlled negatives etc…Seeing good growth and having pumps that hurt like fuck. The burn gets insane.[/quote]

Nice, I will be doing some more sled stuff soon and would add in arm volume with eccentric-less stuff as recommended by Christian Thibs but I’m cutting until school starts back up so I doubt it would add much growth. I’m sure my arms could use more volume when I get back to bulking up again though.

Does 55x6 for 14.5in arms seem weird or about right to you (or anyone reading this)? Its more than my friend who has lean 16in arms (but then again he’s taken prohormones). I also pinwheel curl 75x8…“shitty” form but basically the way I see pinwheels usually done. [/quote]

Hmmm well let’s put it this way…My arms have stayed the same size for the past year…My bodyweight has decreased from 255 to 217 this afternoon (215 morning weight)…I have added muscle while losing fat…I am considerabley more muscular and stronger at 215 than I was at 255-260…

Anyways…Idk, form plays a factor in curl numbers, those 85s I did on the previous page were solid, but definitely not text book form, I was leaning into them, but I think heavy movements with some cheat do help…

And look at a guy like kingbeef, I can outlift him on everything, but he’s at the moment more developed than me muscularly…Weight on the bar is a small part to a big equation…

Like I said I am notcing more growth from pump work, really strict form, slow negative etc., type training as opposed to my let me see how much I can lift type shit.

1039

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:
Like I said I am notcing more growth from pump work, really strict form, slow negative etc., type training as opposed to my let me see how much I can lift type shit.[/quote]

Even though I have much lower strength levels then a lot of you guys coming to this conclusion, I’m starting to view it as important especially when it comes to getting a good contraction on back (and maybe traps). Pressing and leg work seems to lend itself more to constant tension and trying not to shift pressure too much towards what your not training. Arm training seems like full ROM but done with both some cheat form AND some controlled form and definitely seeking a pump is the way to go. You finding these sort of things reigning true austin?

1040

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:

[quote]David1991 wrote:

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:

[quote]David1991 wrote:

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:

I dont think my arms measure 18 anymore either but o well…They look better and I can curl a lot more than I used to…More muscular/less fat…I won’t be measuring for a while.[/quote]

What were you curling when they first hit 18in? Just wondering because you mention you can curl a lot more now and I can curl 55x6 or so but my arms are only around 14.5in.[/quote]

I can’t remember to be honest man…

A few things have changed though…I do one heavy ass cheat/compound movmenet as my first movement for both biceps and triceps…Then the rest of the workout is fast paced, high rep, lighter weight pump contraction work with really slow reps, controlled negatives etc…Seeing good growth and having pumps that hurt like fuck. The burn gets insane.[/quote]

Nice, I will be doing some more sled stuff soon and would add in arm volume with eccentric-less stuff as recommended by Christian Thibs but I’m cutting until school starts back up so I doubt it would add much growth. I’m sure my arms could use more volume when I get back to bulking up again though.

Does 55x6 for 14.5in arms seem weird or about right to you (or anyone reading this)? Its more than my friend who has lean 16in arms (but then again he’s taken prohormones). I also pinwheel curl 75x8…“shitty” form but basically the way I see pinwheels usually done. [/quote]

Hmmm well let’s put it this way…My arms have stayed the same size for the past year…My bodyweight has decreased from 255 to 217 this afternoon (215 morning weight)…I have added muscle while losing fat…I am considerabley more muscular and stronger at 215 than I was at 255-260…

Anyways…Idk, form plays a factor in curl numbers, those 85s I did on the previous page were solid, but definitely not text book form, I was leaning into them, but I think heavy movements with some cheat do help…

And look at a guy like kingbeef, I can outlift him on everything, but he’s at the moment more developed than me muscularly…Weight on the bar is a small part to a big equation…

Like I said I am notcing more growth from pump work, really strict form, slow negative etc., type training as opposed to my let me see how much I can lift type shit.[/quote]
You will find as you grow older, this is the BEST WAY to train, in my opinion that is.