18 Inch Arms

Training Bodybuilding
1041

[quote]bwhitwell wrote:

[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.[/quote]

That depends. If your goal is to be really big, you will HAVE to put some serious years into getting stronger and bigger all over. if your goal is just an off season “200lbs” then maybe that won’t be necessary.

1042

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:

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…

[/quote]

I’m seeing more of this as I see people on the board cut down. Whats more likely possible as a natural that is. If you really have gained muscle then that means when you were at 255, to be as lean as you are now with the same muscle you had then you’d be maybe 205-210 at you’re current bodyfat, which from your pics looks fairly lean but I would guess not under 10%.

Not to take away anything from you (not sure if thats how that came across) but a few years ago I was becoming convinced that most doing it right (and of average height) should be able to be 240ish without being fat within 5 years or so but really a lot is seen when these people eventually do cut down to even respectably lean levels.

I could be wrong but even PX I would think would be around 230 to be as lean as you are now (not that that’s not huge or that the number takes away anything that the pictures show of someone).

As for form, I’d say mine is about the same as yours in that video. But I’ve recently changed BB curls to a 4-count negative which I believe has helped, although the concentric portion is still pretty loose form.

1043

[quote]David1991 wrote:
I could be wrong but even PX I would think would be around 230 to be as lean as you are now (not that that’s not huge or that the number takes away anything that the pictures show of someone).

[/quote]

Doubt it.

Most of the problems people see is by expecting too much too soon. Even if you did blow up in only 5 years, it would not be the same density and quality look as someone who put 8 more years into it. I am holding more muscle now than just 4 years previous with everything done exactly the same because I was able to hold that heavier weight much longer this time.

Previously, I was dropping weight almost every 3 months for military issues.

one more thing, if you are under the age of 25 and not working to put on the most size possible, don’t blame anyone ten years later when you find it more difficult.

That is all I will say about that.

Yes, it may just take carrying some extra fat for some time if your goal is on the extreme side of things.

If it isn’t, do what you want.

1044

[quote]David1991 wrote:

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:

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…

[/quote]

I’m seeing more of this as I see people on the board cut down. Whats more likely possible as a natural that is. If you really have gained muscle then that means when you were at 255, to be as lean as you are now with the same muscle you had then you’d be maybe 205-210 at you’re current bodyfat, which from your pics looks fairly lean but I would guess not under 10%.

Not to take away anything from you (not sure if thats how that came across) but a few years ago I was becoming convinced that most doing it right (and of average height) should be able to be 240ish without being fat within 5 years or so but really a lot is seen when these people eventually do cut down to even respectably lean levels.

I could be wrong but even PX I would think would be around 230 to be as lean as you are now (not that that’s not huge or that the number takes away anything that the pictures show of someone).

As for form, I’d say mine is about the same as yours in that video. But I’ve recently changed BB curls to a 4-count negative which I believe has helped, although the concentric portion is still pretty loose form. [/quote]

IDK I am one of the biggest and strongest nattys in my gym…my upper body is pretty solid…

240 lbs where did you get this number from?

Go check the contest weights of top natural competitors.

1045

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]David1991 wrote:
I could be wrong but even PX I would think would be around 230 to be as lean as you are now (not that that’s not huge or that the number takes away anything that the pictures show of someone).

[/quote]

Doubt it.

Most of the problems people see is by expecting too much too soon. Even if you did blow up in only 5 years, it would not be the same density and quality look as someone who put 8 more years into it. I am holding more muscle now than just 4 years previous with everything done exactly the same because I was able to hold that heavier weight much longer this time.

Previously, I was dropping weight almost every 3 months for military issues.

one more thing, if you are under the age of 25 and not working to put on the most size possible, don’t blame anyone ten years later when you find it more difficult.

That is all I will say about that.

Yes, it may just take carrying some extra fat for some time if your goal is on the extreme side of things.

If it isn’t, do what you want.[/quote]

Having said what I did, I do believe one needs to carry a considerably heavier weight than they’re ideal weight to get where they want. I know a lot of people later on say they wish they didn’t get so fat (and in some cases it seems justified) but as you’ve mentioned in the past the fact is they did get that heavy/fat so it’s kind of irrelevant if their opinion changed. In fact I see a lot of these same people seem to make negligible progress after trying to stay lean all the time. It seems like 90% of the size is put on with the first big bulk and then little increases here and there are made after that.

I’m only 20 now so I’ve got a good amount of time ahead of me, having said that I was fat in the past and I don’t want to get fat in college lol. ~18% is about my limit before I get to the point that my face is looking fat and I start getting man boobs. I don’t think trying to stay under 18% is unreasonable though. Maybe I’ll let myself go a little more when I’m in dental school :\ but I just feel like crap when I see myself getting fatter than that.

1046

[quote]David1991 wrote:

Having said what I did, I do believe one needs to carry a considerably heavier weight than they’re ideal weight to get where they want. I know a lot of people later on say they wish they didn’t get so fat (and in some cases it seems justified) but as you’ve mentioned in the past the fact is they did get that heavy/fat so it’s kind of irrelevant if their opinion changed. In fact I see a lot of these same people seem to make negligible progress after trying to stay lean all the time. It seems like 90% of the size is put on with the first big bulk and then little increases here and there are made after that. [/quote]

Agreed. I have been fat before…and it helped. I won’t lie about that just because I dropped some of it now. It helped with leverage and it helped set a new body weight set point.

No, you don’t have to “let yourself go” at all. I wouldn’t recommend someone get as fat as I have. I know my limits now because of the mistakes before. It was all part of a learning process.

I also know that just like you said, there are tons of guys who built their base of size that way who then stay leaner, but many times, unless they are advanced by that stage, their progress usually drastically suffers from that point on.

In your early 20’s, it should be pretty fucking easy to get swole. People worrying about what specific weight someone else is who competes are focused on the wrong shit.

In conclusion, no one here is saying “get fat”. I just know I’m where I’m at because of EVERYTHING done before…including that.

I also know for a fact I overdid it many times.

I like pizza…and seeing my abs was a last focus for me until recently.

1047

[quote]David1991 wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]David1991 wrote:
I could be wrong but even PX I would think would be around 230 to be as lean as you are now (not that that’s not huge or that the number takes away anything that the pictures show of someone).

[/quote]

Doubt it.

Most of the problems people see is by expecting too much too soon. Even if you did blow up in only 5 years, it would not be the same density and quality look as someone who put 8 more years into it. I am holding more muscle now than just 4 years previous with everything done exactly the same because I was able to hold that heavier weight much longer this time.

Previously, I was dropping weight almost every 3 months for military issues.

one more thing, if you are under the age of 25 and not working to put on the most size possible, don’t blame anyone ten years later when you find it more difficult.

That is all I will say about that.

Yes, it may just take carrying some extra fat for some time if your goal is on the extreme side of things.

If it isn’t, do what you want.[/quote]

Having said what I did, I do believe one needs to carry a considerably heavier weight than they’re ideal weight to get where they want. I know a lot of people later on say they wish they didn’t get so fat (and in some cases it seems justified) but as you’ve mentioned in the past the fact is they did get that heavy/fat so it’s kind of irrelevant if their opinion changed. In fact I see a lot of these same people seem to make negligible progress after trying to stay lean all the time. It seems like 90% of the size is put on with the first big bulk and then little increases here and there are made after that.

I’m only 20 now so I’ve got a good amount of time ahead of me, having said that I was fat in the past and I don’t want to get fat in college lol. ~18% is about my limit before I get to the point that my face is looking fat and I start getting man boobs. I don’t think trying to stay under 18% is unreasonable though. Maybe I’ll let myself go a little more when I’m in dental school :\ but I just feel like crap when I see myself getting fatter than that.
[/quote]

What are your goals…

Is bodybuilding your life?

Do you plan on using drugs (don’t have to answer)?

Is this a hobby?

Are you doing this just to look good/help pull girls/confidence?

Personally, I am doing this to get strong, look good (which mean remain lean all the time), and because it makes me feel good about myself.

I have no aspirations of becoming a pro, which would never happen anyways, and see no reason to not stay lean all the time.

Obviously if your goals are different let them be different, but my point is, you’re in college have fucking fun man. I had some serious OCD with the weight lifting for a while…soon as I let it go, I began enjoying the gym more and my life more.

Point is, be realistic, and make sure you get to as place where you feel comfortable with yourself.

I feel like I am reading my thoughts from 2 years ago, when some people post…don’t want anyone else making my mistakes.

1048

[quote]jake_j_m wrote:

[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?[/quote]

I think train the muscle, not the movement is what applies best here.

1049

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]David1991 wrote:

Having said what I did, I do believe one needs to carry a considerably heavier weight than they’re ideal weight to get where they want. I know a lot of people later on say they wish they didn’t get so fat (and in some cases it seems justified) but as you’ve mentioned in the past the fact is they did get that heavy/fat so it’s kind of irrelevant if their opinion changed. In fact I see a lot of these same people seem to make negligible progress after trying to stay lean all the time. It seems like 90% of the size is put on with the first big bulk and then little increases here and there are made after that. [/quote]

Agreed. I have been fat before…and it helped. I won’t lie about that just because I dropped some of it now. It helped with leverage and it helped set a new body weight set point.

No, you don’t have to “let yourself go” at all. I wouldn’t recommend someone get as fat as I have. I know my limits now because of the mistakes before. It was all part of a learning process.

I also know that just like you said, there are tons of guys who built their base of size that way who then stay leaner, but many times, unless they are advanced by that stage, their progress usually drastically suffers from that point on.

In your early 20’s, it should be pretty fucking easy to get swole. People worrying about what specific weight someone else is who competes are focused on the wrong shit.

In conclusion, no one here is saying “get fat”. I just know I’m where I’m at because of EVERYTHING done before…including that.

I also know for a fact I overdid it many times.

I like pizza…and seeing my abs was a last focus for me until recently.[/quote]

If that is directed at me which I am assuming it is…Plain and simple, my point, expecting every natural trainer to be a lean 240 after 5 years of training just sounds absurd., and is not realistic…

1050

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:

If that is directed at me which I am assuming it is…Plain and simple, my point, expecting every natural trainer to be a lean 240 after 5 years of training just sounds absurd., and is not realistic…

[/quote]

It wasn’t directed at you. I was speaking generally. I don’t have any opinion in what you do at all, actually.

I am directing that at ANYONE who thinks like I wrote previously. I didn’t say anything about someone reaching a specific body weight and specifically wrote that those focused on a weight are focused on the wrong things.

1051

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:

IDK I am one of the biggest and strongest nattys in my gym…my upper body is pretty solid…

240 lbs where did you get this number from?

Go check the contest weights of top natural competitors.[/quote]

Well yea thats what I mean, I used to see a lot of people saying 5’10-6’0 one should be 200+ within a couple years but really it depends on the leanness. You’ve been training for 5+ years right and you’re now a lean 215. which is big. I saw a thread recently where this fat 220lb guy is mocking another lifter who’s around 180 but looks considerably better.

http://tnation.T-Nation.com/hub/kaisermetal#photos/26977/Comments lol at “finally reached 220lb”

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:

[quote]David1991 wrote:

Having said what I did, I do believe one needs to carry a considerably heavier weight than they’re ideal weight to get where they want. I know a lot of people later on say they wish they didn’t get so fat (and in some cases it seems justified) but as you’ve mentioned in the past the fact is they did get that heavy/fat so it’s kind of irrelevant if their opinion changed. In fact I see a lot of these same people seem to make negligible progress after trying to stay lean all the time. It seems like 90% of the size is put on with the first big bulk and then little increases here and there are made after that.

I’m only 20 now so I’ve got a good amount of time ahead of me, having said that I was fat in the past and I don’t want to get fat in college lol. ~18% is about my limit before I get to the point that my face is looking fat and I start getting man boobs. I don’t think trying to stay under 18% is unreasonable though. Maybe I’ll let myself go a little more when I’m in dental school :\ but I just feel like crap when I see myself getting fatter than that.
[/quote]

What are your goals…

Is bodybuilding your life?

Do you plan on using drugs (don’t have to answer)?

Is this a hobby?

Are you doing this just to look good/help pull girls/confidence?

Personally, I am doing this to get strong, look good (which mean remain lean all the time), and because it makes me feel good about myself.

I have no aspirations of becoming a pro, which would never happen anyways, and see no reason to not stay lean all the time.

Obviously if your goals are different let them be different, but my point is, you’re in college have fucking fun man. I had some serious OCD with the weight lifting for a while…soon as I let it go, I began enjoying the gym more and my life more.

Point is, be realistic, and make sure you get to as place where you feel comfortable with yourself.

I feel like I am reading my thoughts from 2 years ago, when some people post…don’t want anyone else making my mistakes.[/quote]

I try to make it a hobby but it is a huge part of my life, too much so in high school. I definitely lost out on some good social opportunities because I couldn’t miss a meal or a workout (literally never). Fortunately for me I came across “Intermittent Fasting” a year ago (between freshman and sophomore year of college) and have since realized my results were no different eating 3 meals a day when I could fit them in. This allowed MUCH more social freedom. I also enjoy my workouts so the only time that was ever a problem was the first year or so when I was doing ones I dreaded.

So I try to keep my time spent on this in check, which happens by necessity during the school year with pre-med courses and social life (no forum time). It does consume a lot of my time and thoughts though. I don’t plan on taking drugs, in the past the reasons were more moral (I didn’t want to “cheat”), now I think that reasoning is stupid but I still wouldn’t take them due to the side effects and legality of it (bad for anyone’s career but even more so as someone in a medical field [probably equally bad if not worse for someone like you becoming a police officer]).

I don’t do this for girls, but I’ve always said if it wasn’t for girls I would probably just bulk up to 250+ over the next 2 years then cut down lol, so in a way girls influence it a lot in that I don’t want to get too fat around them (i.e. I’d like to not be embarrassed taking my shirt off). Main goal is as much size as possible but adding a lot of strength is always fun (and of course conducive to the size goal). I had about 2 years of no progress mainly I think due to accutane I took (very strong acne medication, fucked my joints up) and surgery. Things have been better since getting to college though.

1052

I haven’t been training for 5+ years. When I first hit the weights I just liked benching and did nothing else…That was about 5 years ago…Was never consistent, trained other muscle groups on and off…I first started seriously training going on 3 years in the fall.

Anyways that’s irrelevant though.

Idk this might come off wrong, in the sense that I don’t want to misdirect people.

I’ll put it this way…at this point in my life, I care much less about the weights than I did back 2 years ago or even 6 months ago.

It’s not that I don’t want to lift, quite the opposite, and not that I don’t have big goals for myself, most which I am well on my way of achieving or have achieved.

But instead, I guess I know what I am doing, I am comfortable with how I look and that has taken away the obsession. I don’t need to think about the gym, because I already have done enough thinking about it, that if I at this point did not know what it takes to grow then I probably shouldn’t be lifting weights anymore.

I also am pretty leinant with my diet…I kinda IF as well…not hard, produces results…

Basically things have just fell into place.

So point is, I am excited to lift, to hit PRs, fulfil goals etc., but it really occupies little of my time, not much thought goes into my training or diet anymore…I guess when I stop making progress this might change, but it’s much more relaxing to not get stressed out about meals and if I can lift 5 more pounds today…idk where I am trying to go with this.

1053

hmm I can never understand how some of you can go out drinking and chilling and still hit PR or get a pump the next day. I had TWO beers a couple of nights ago, next day was deadlift. I could not even hold the bar. I felt so dehydrated almost hangover even tho I drank like a gallon before lifting. I even feel bad when I am just hanging out with friends, they can go for hours with no food or water. I actually carry a protein shake with me and big bottle of water when I go out…then proceed to count the second until I am back home. When I am at work I am actually planning my next workout.

I dont know if this psychological or whatever but this is just what worked so far nd what I enjoy. It almost pisses me off that you can get away with this chaos training coupled with a jersey shore lifestyle. I guess you paid your dues before that.

1054

^^you had two beers and then couldnt even hold the bar the next day while deadlifting? Thats hard for me to believe.

if your nutrition/training is right then having 1 or 2 beers on the weekend isnt going to kill you IMO. (probably wont even effect you much)

If you’re closing down the bars 4-5 nights a week and getting hammered… well then thats a different story lol

1055

[quote]ronald1919 wrote:
hmm I can never understand how some of you can go out drinking and chilling and still hit PR or get a pump the next day. I had TWO beers a couple of nights ago, next day was deadlift. I could not even hold the bar. I felt so dehydrated almost hangover even tho I drank like a gallon before lifting. I even feel bad when I am just hanging out with friends, they can go for hours with no food or water. I actually carry a protein shake with me and big bottle of water when I go out…then proceed to count the second until I am back home. When I am at work I am actually planning my next workout.

I dont know if this psychological or whatever but this is just what worked so far nd what I enjoy. It almost pisses me off that you can get away with this chaos training coupled with a jersey shore lifestyle. I guess you paid your dues before that.[/quote]

Lightweight.

1056

[quote]David1991 wrote:
I saw a thread recently where this fat 220lb guy is mocking another lifter who’s around 180 but looks considerably better.

[/quote]

Would you mind posting a link to that thread? I’d love to see it.

1057

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:

Personally, I am doing this to get strong, look good (which mean remain lean all the time), and because it makes me feel good about myself.

I have no aspirations of becoming a pro, which would never happen anyways, and see no reason to not stay lean all the time.

[/quote]

For someone like you that enjoys being lean and looking good, no intentions of going pro, has built appreciable size, I agree it really doesn’t make much sense to put on a bunch of wieght and look out of shape just for an extra half-inch on the guns. Especially when your strength has continued to improve the way it has. I think looking good goes a long way in staying motivated to hit the gym consistently also.

Now someone with 14 inch arms better be more concerned with gaining muscle than seeing abs for sure.

@Ronaldo, you must weigh 90 lbs for two beers to affect you that much in the next days workout. haha that is pretty sad, and funny.

1058

[quote]gregron wrote:
^^you had two beers and then couldnt even hold the bar the next day while deadlifting? Thats hard for me to believe.

if your nutrition/training is right then having 1 or 2 beers on the weekend isnt going to kill you IMO. (probably wont even effect you much)

If you’re closing down the bars 4-5 nights a week and getting hammered… well then thats a different story lol[/quote]

This, it had nothing to do with the beers. If you had some negative feelings and dwelling on how you did something you perceive as “wrong” or destructive towards your training, than that can definitely fuck you up. However bodybuilding usually harbors extreme behavior which isn’t necessarily to your benefit (I.e having beer is bad, you need to eat every 2 hours or you’ll go catabolic, you need a pwo dextrose shake or you won’t make gains) and these are things which if you look into are usually baseless and completely false.

1059

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:
I haven’t been training for 5+ years. When I first hit the weights I just liked benching and did nothing else…That was about 5 years ago…Was never consistent, trained other muscle groups on and off…I first started seriously training going on 3 years in the fall.

Anyways that’s irrelevant though.

Idk this might come off wrong, in the sense that I don’t want to misdirect people.

I’ll put it this way…at this point in my life, I care much less about the weights than I did back 2 years ago or even 6 months ago.

It’s not that I don’t want to lift, quite the opposite, and not that I don’t have big goals for myself, most which I am well on my way of achieving or have achieved.

But instead, I guess I know what I am doing, I am comfortable with how I look and that has taken away the obsession. I don’t need to think about the gym, because I already have done enough thinking about it, that if I at this point did not know what it takes to grow then I probably shouldn’t be lifting weights anymore.

I also am pretty leinant with my diet…I kinda IF as well…not hard, produces results…

Basically things have just fell into place.

So point is, I am excited to lift, to hit PRs, fulfil goals etc., but it really occupies little of my time, not much thought goes into my training or diet anymore…I guess when I stop making progress this might change, but it’s much more relaxing to not get stressed out about meals and if I can lift 5 more pounds today…idk where I am trying to go with this.[/quote]

Serious question…if 18" arms and bodybuilding is really no longer your thing, why continue to post so much in an “18” arm thread"?

For the record, I knew tons of guys who got comfortable with how they looked in college.

They aren’t so comfortable now.

You are setting the stage for the rest of your life to played out based on the decisions made now.

That isn’t a push in any direction, by the way. It is simply opening the discussion to a bunch of college students that some of us have been there…and life experience is one hell of a teacher.

1060

IMO, if you are a competitive natural bodybuilder (emphasize natural and competitive), you won’t truly know how much you have improved unless you diet down to a low enough BF to identify weak points and reveal pretty much everything. Hopefully that makes sense. Im all for bulking, and I plan on getting pretty heavy myself after my contest, but to truly judge how much progress you’ve made over the years, I think it’s tough to see without getting very, very lean.

Why is it that top natural pro’s gain 2-5 lb of stage weight/1-3 years after they’ve been established? It’s hard. If it were as simple as getting heavy and strong, pushing through bodyweight barriers, many more guys would be top nattys.