Instead of inches…How about when you stop fitting into clothing that fits everything BUT your arms?
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[quote]AbunaiE wrote:
Instead of inches…How about when you stop fitting into clothing that fits everything BUT your arms?
e[/quote]
Simple. I like that.
[quote]Xen Nova wrote:
how big is “big”?
16? 18 inches?
[/quote]
depends. mainly related to the height for example.
im 170cm and have ~40cm (cold&flexed) arms.
my arms are small. to be big they should be over 42cm (ie over 16inch)
but on taller guy that change…
[quote]BIGRAGOO wrote:
I’m 5’10 and both are just over 18". They stretch any shirt I wear, so you tell me.[/quote]
ok that sounds like big arms 
[quote]Xen Nova wrote:
I was discussing body types with this girl, and I was like “my arms aren’t big at all… i have a big back”. then I flexed and she was like “WOW YOUR ARMS ARE HUGE”, and she got out a tape measure.[/quote]
Unless she was a seamstress, this sounds like you forgot to mention you were asleep when it happened…
Most pro BBs would be lucky to have 20" arms. The great Arnold’s were measured at just over 19.5". His books claim 22".
Synthol is a different story.
[quote]francois1 wrote:
I don’t think most pros have arms over 20 inches.[/quote]
Then you need to get out more. Arnold weighed, what, about 225-235 in peak conditioning? Today’s pro’s weigh in no less than 250lbs for most of them aside from those like Dexter Jackson, Lee Priests, Melvin Anthony or Darrem Charles. There is no way, regardless of how it looks, that Arnold had bigger arms than the current Mr. Olympia who weighs in over 280lbs in contest condition. While they may not all have arms over that mark, of the ones I have stood next to, they were way bigger than me and mine measure about 20". I don’t think some people realize just how big some of today’s pro’s really are. Someone who is actually in “step on stage contest condition” at 250+lbs is gigantic. That is “I can’t buy regular clothes” big.
Yes, many pro’s today do have arms over 20". Also, the average gym rat who everyone thinks is pretty big is no where near the size of many of today’s pro bodybuilders. That doesn’t say much about esthetics, but that fact is still impressive.
I have to agree with most…if you want big arms you need to have big tri’s and strong upper back…I also think age has something to do with the size of muscles…in the Marine Corps my arms where aroung 16" at 185lbs 5’11" 20yrs old.
Now I have around 19" at 210lbs 31yrs old.
I fear I am a lifetime member of the sub-18 club. I am sitting at 17.5 and holding. There is something about getting 18 inch arms that is barrier shattering. It is my equivilent of a sub-4 minute mile, a sub-10 sec 100M, or shooting under par.
[quote]rainjack wrote:
I fear I am a lifetime member of the sub-18 club. I am sitting at 17.5 and holding. There is something about getting 18 inch arms that is barrier shattering. It is my equivilent of a sub-4 minute mile, a sub-10 sec 100M, or shooting under par.
[/quote]
I think it is the fact that you are a conservative. Being conservative has never gone hand in hand with “extreme change”.
[quote]Dan Fouts wrote:
ok. i’m not gay. promise. i say 18" for big arms with an obvious dependency on height / arm length. i just, for the first time ever, measured mine @ 17". i have no triceps. based on this, mine should look right @ ~ 19". i will now restate that i am not gay.
Dan[/quote]
What’s up with the name change and avatar? No more Bastard or BFG?
That’s a good pic of you (not saying it in a gay way).
I would look huge with 15-16" arms on my frame. I’m slowly approaching the 15" inch mark. Maybe I’ll get there one day! 
It’s all relative to how long your arms are. Last time I checked my arms were just under 18", but at 6’6" their pretty puny.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
francois1 wrote:
I don’t think most pros have arms over 20 inches.
Then you need to get out more. Arnold weighed, what, about 225-235 in peak conditioning? Today’s pro’s weigh in no less than 250lbs for most of them aside from those like Dexter Jackson, Lee Priests, Melvin Anthony or Darrem Charles. There is no way, regardless of how it looks, that Arnold had bigger arms than the current Mr. Olympia who weighs in over 280lbs in contest condition. While they may not all have arms over that mark, of the ones I have stood next to, they were way bigger than me and mine measure about 20". I don’t think some people realize just how big some of today’s pro’s really are. Someone who is actually in “step on stage contest condition” at 250+lbs is gigantic. That is “I can’t buy regular clothes” big.
Yes, many pro’s today do have arms over 20". Also, the average gym rat who everyone thinks is pretty big is no where near the size of many of today’s pro bodybuilders. That doesn’t say much about esthetics, but that fact is still impressive.[/quote]
Couldn’t agree more. I have worked out at Gold’s in Venice, CA for 4 years and the size of some of these men (and women) is unreal. I have been in the Iron Game for 22 years and have trained all over the world and many of these pro bodybuilders sport 21-22 inch arms…easy.
I sat next to Aaron Baker and he dwarfed me when I had 19 inch arms. Tom Prince dwarfed Aaron! etc etc.
Ronnie Coleman walked in three years ago and the place just got quiet! 300lbs and no more than 10% bodyfat at the time and his arms are unreal, at least 22 inches. Jay Cutler has at least 21 inch arms as well. Monstrous chest too…
You cannot compare with those great men from the past like Arnold or Zane. Even Oliva, who is one of my favorites cannot match what is currently out there in the heavyweight divisions.
Marq.
I would rather be 6’6 instead of have arms that look big…either way you will stand out from the norm…
Its amusing how everyone on the internet has 18 inch arms, 400 lbs bench and lots of bitches.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
francois1 wrote:
I don’t think most pros have arms over 20 inches.
Then you need to get out more. Arnold weighed, what, about 225-235 in peak conditioning? Today’s pro’s weigh in no less than 250lbs for most of them aside from those like Dexter Jackson, Lee Priests, Melvin Anthony or Darrem Charles. There is no way, regardless of how it looks, that Arnold had bigger arms than the current Mr. Olympia who weighs in over 280lbs in contest condition. While they may not all have arms over that mark, of the ones I have stood next to, they were way bigger than me and mine measure about 20". I don’t think some people realize just how big some of today’s pro’s really are. Someone who is actually in “step on stage contest condition” at 250+lbs is gigantic. That is “I can’t buy regular clothes” big.
Yes, many pro’s today do have arms over 20". Also, the average gym rat who everyone thinks is pretty big is no where near the size of many of today’s pro bodybuilders. That doesn’t say much about esthetics, but that fact is still impressive.[/quote]
I get your point, then again if you look at the size of Oliva’s arms compared to his head, you may think differently.
There is a site called Ironage which you might wanna check out. There is a section where they compare photos of oldtimers with modern day champions. They cut-and past pictures of old champions and put them next to the current champions. One of the photos features Sergio Oliva and Ronnie Coleman. In that picture Oliva’s arms are about as big as Ronnie Coleman’s. And Oliva’s arms were only 20.5 inches!
Today’s bodybuilders generally have bigger legs and backs than those of yesteryear, which would explain the weight difference. (Apart from that they also have bigger guts, but that’s a different issue).
Personally I think Arnold’s arms would stand the test of time…
[quote]fahd wrote:
Its amusing how everyone on the internet has 18 inch arms, 400 lbs bench and lots of bitches.[/quote]
It is, and it was much worse before posting pictures became more the norm. Considering how bad it used to be, complaining about the way it is now seems like a waste of energy.
To prove my point
[quote]francois1 wrote:
I get your point, then again if you look at the size of Oliva’s arms compared to his head, you may think differently.
There is a site called Ironage which you might wanna check out. There is a section where they compare photos of oldtimers with modern day champions. They cut-and past pictures of old champions and put them next to the current champions. One of the photos features Sergio Oliva and Ronnie Coleman. In that picture Oliva’s arms are about as big as Ronnie Coleman’s. And Oliva’s arms were only 20.5 inches!
Today’s bodybuilders generally have bigger legs and backs than those of yesteryear, which would explain the weight difference. (Apart from that they also have bigger guts, but that’s a different issue).
Personally I think Arnold’s arms would stand the test of time…[/quote]
I would never go by “arm to head” ratios based on old pictures. Is that even scientific? What if Sergio had a small head? I think Sergio is one of the greatest of all time, but I have seen Ronnie up close, and I’m sorry, but I have never seen anything like that before. His arms are like muscular beach balls. That is why he is always wearing those same custom made sweatshirts with the arms cut off. Ronnie may not be the most esthetic bodybuilder in the world, but you really can’t take the insanity of his sheer size away from him.
[quote]Dan Fouts wrote:
ok. i’m not gay. promise. i say 18" for big arms with an obvious dependency on height / arm length. i just, for the first time ever, measured mine @ 17". i have no triceps. based on this, mine should look right @ ~ 19". i will now restate that i am not gay.
Dan[/quote]
I like your previous handle better, “Bastard”, along with the attitude that came along with it. I saw you post on the “how big is T-Nation” thread expressing what sounded like guilt about being a “bastard” when T-Nation has given us so much.
I think we need some “bastards” to keep some of us in line sometimes on this forum. We want Bastard back…