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To get big biceps you need ... to work the triceps and back? Post #1 (permalink)
Jun. 30/09, 04:52 PM
peel
In Orientation
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 13
To get big biceps you need ... to work the triceps and back?
I read online: "to have big arms one must work the triceps twice as hard as the biceps. " and "compound back exercises build biceps mass best. Sure, you can perform isolated curls until the cows come home, but chances are if you are just curling, your biceps aren’t growing"
So I dont even do bicep curls??
To get big biceps you need ... to work the triceps and back? Post #2 (permalink)
Jun. 30/09, 05:13 PM
Elan
Warming Up
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 107
The artical was right, but it kind of went the wrong way about saying it.
If you want big arms, then you do have to work both the biceps and the triceps. the triceps are much bigger then the biceps anyway.
Any pulling exercise is going to work the biceps, lat pulldowns, chinups, and any kind of row.
You should only be doing bicep curls at the end of your workout to make sure your biceps are nicely worked.
To get big biceps you need ... to work the triceps and back? Post #3 (permalink)
Jun. 30/09, 07:47 PM
g8r80
Keepin' on keepin' on
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 3,012
After reading the New Rules of Lifting, I stopped doing bicep curls and now only do chinups, pullups, and lat pulldowns for biceps.
To get big biceps you need ... to work the triceps and back? Post #4 (permalink)
Jun. 30/09, 09:34 PM
tic
Fourth Set
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: San Diego, Ca
Posts: 1,170
Quote:
Originally Posted by peel
I read online: "to have big arms one must work the triceps twice as hard as the biceps. " and "compound back exercises build biceps mass best. Sure, you can perform isolated curls until the cows come home, but chances are if you are just curling, your biceps aren’t growing"
So I dont even do bicep curls??
Big arms vs big bicep is different. It's easier to develope the arms bigger when you train tricep instead of bicep. Workout both bi and tri's to get bigger arms. I think that is the point of the article because most folks just workout curls and think that will make their arms bigger.
To get big biceps you need ... to work the triceps and back? Post #5 (permalink)
Jul. 01/09, 04:43 AM
Chillen
Banned
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 1,856
Its my opinion, that if one wants bigger arms, "overall" body weight needs to "appropriately" improve, such as the "major muscle groups" (for example the upper and lower back, chest, etc, etc).
Personally, I believe that if one builds the larger muscles of the body, the arms (which are the facilitators of moving "some" of these larger muscles), will have no choice to get stronger/larger to balance out the needs of the larger and stronger muscle being worked or used.
Without the arms, a lot of major muscles do not move, just think about it some.The bicep and triceps are assistants in the major muscle movements.
Bench Press (pecs, shoulders,etc) you are involving muscle of the arms. Variant of rows (back, etc), you are involving muscle of the arms. Military Press (shoulders), you are involving muscle of the arms. Chin-ups/Pull-ups, you grab the bar with the hands/arms, and during the execution a whole mass of major muscle parts come into play to execute the entire movement.
The arms open the door to the larger muscle groups. Improve strength/hypertrophy of the major muscle groups and the arms will naturally follow in strength and/or hypertrophy.
IMO: Give your body "a reason" to have stronger and bigger arms, by gaining appropriate weight and building/improving the major muscle groups.
And, since they play such a critical role in the execution of the major muscle movement (s), build overall mass, and the arms will follow to compensate for its weakness comparison to the major muscle group its helping/executing.
Focusing/homing in on just the arms for size, is a mistake, IMO.
Instead, (IMO), focus on entire body improvement, and of course (if you wish, and appropriate for individual), one can include specific exercises for the triceps and biceps (but, I wouldn't have this the focus,--but rather just have specific exercises as part of a balanced program). If specific weaknesses, show up or develop, you can work on these.
I have good triceps development, but its not due to, for example, only performing decline triceps extensions and other triceps specific exercises, but rather the package parts of the other components of my routine that involve the major muscle groups. The same for the biceps.
If you want assistance with your program, open up a bit on your personal stats, and what you are currently doing, and we will be able to home in on more spefically-natured help.
Keep training, and be consistent, and good things eventually happen, trust me.
Best wishes
Chillen
Last edited by Chillen; Jul. 01/09 at 04:45 AM.
To get big biceps you need ... to work the triceps and back? Post #6 (permalink)
Jul. 01/09, 04:46 AM
tenpercent
Third Set
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 508
Quote:
Originally Posted by g8r80
After reading the New Rules of Lifting, I stopped doing bicep curls and now only do chinups, pullups, and lat pulldowns for biceps.
Exactly This.
To get big biceps you need ... to work the triceps and back? Post #7 (permalink)
Jul. 01/09, 09:18 AM
peel
In Orientation
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chillen
If you want assistance with your program, open up a bit on your personal stats, and what you are currently doing, and we will be able to home in on more spefically-natured help.
Keep training, and be consistent, and good things eventually happen, trust me.
Best wishes
Chillen
So I do military press for shoulders, bench press, some tricep exercises (i think its called the Skull Crusher), this chest exercise where u lay flat on floor put dumbbells to your side as far as part as possible and then pull both up to the center and above you. and bicep curls standing or sitting.
What else should/shouldnt I do? From what youve said No more curls? Just work more on everything else. And I should do triceps double the amount I did on bicep curls now?
What are some back exercises? All I have at home are some dumbbells so I dont know how I can really do it.
To get big biceps you need ... to work the triceps and back? Post #8 (permalink)
Jul. 01/09, 10:21 AM
tenpercent
Third Set
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 508
Quit trying to make your own routine and find a good solid pre-made full body routine.
To get big biceps you need ... to work the triceps and back? Post #9 (permalink)
Jul. 01/09, 10:26 AM
groupfitpower
In Orientation
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 19
Don't forget that for balance, you need to work both agonists (in this case, biceps) and its antagonist (the triceps). If you never ever work your triceps, eventually their weakness will prevent the biceps from getting any stronger. Your body is very, very smart and always works in sympatico. That's why total body regimes, like New Rules of Lifting are so much more effective. They are also easier to follow than complicated muscle isolation programs.
Good luck!
To get big biceps you need ... to work the triceps and back? Post #10 (permalink)
Jul. 01/09, 03:55 PM
CobaltSSGuy
Warming Up
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: WI
Posts: 64
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chillen
Its my opinion, that if one wants bigger arms, "overall" body weight needs to "appropriately" improve, such as the "major muscle groups" (for example the upper and lower back, chest, etc, etc).
Personally, I believe that if one builds the larger muscles of the body, the arms (which are the facilitators of moving "some" of these larger muscles), will have no choice to get stronger/larger to balance out the needs of the larger and stronger muscle being worked or used.
Without the arms, a lot of major muscles do not move, just think about it some.The bicep and triceps are assistants in the major muscle movements.
Bench Press (pecs, shoulders,etc) you are involving muscle of the arms. Variant of rows (back, etc), you are involving muscle of the arms. Military Press (shoulders), you are involving muscle of the arms. Chin-ups/Pull-ups, you grab the bar with the hands/arms, and during the execution a whole mass of major muscle parts come into play to execute the entire movement.
The arms open the door to the larger muscle groups. Improve strength/hypertrophy of the major muscle groups and the arms will naturally follow in strength and/or hypertrophy.
IMO: Give your body "a reason" to have stronger and bigger arms, by gaining appropriate weight and building/improving the major muscle groups.
And, since they play such a critical role in the execution of the major muscle movement (s), build overall mass, and the arms will follow to compensate for its weakness comparison to the major muscle group its helping/executing.
Focusing/homing in on just the arms for size, is a mistake, IMO.
Instead, (IMO), focus on entire body improvement, and of course (if you wish, and appropriate for individual), one can include specific exercises for the triceps and biceps (but, I wouldn't have this the focus,--but rather just have specific exercises as part of a balanced program). If specific weaknesses, show up or develop, you can work on these.
I have good triceps development, but its not due to, for example, only performing decline triceps extensions and other triceps specific exercises, but rather the package parts of the other components of my routine that involve the major muscle groups. The same for the biceps.
If you want assistance with your program, open up a bit on your personal stats, and what you are currently doing, and we will be able to home in on more spefically-natured help.
Keep training, and be consistent, and good things eventually happen, trust me.
Best wishes
Chillen
QFT! Great Post!!
To get big biceps you need ... to work the triceps and back? Post #11 (permalink)
Jul. 01/09, 04:04 PM
peel
In Orientation
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by tenpercent
Quit trying to make your own routine and find a good solid pre-made full body routine.
where can i find one of these total body regimes
To get big biceps you need ... to work the triceps and back? Post #12 (permalink)
Jul. 01/09, 06:43 PM
tenpercent
Third Set
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 508
New Rules of lIfting
Starting Strength
Huge in A hurry
Men's Health Powere Training
Homegrown muscle series
Chad Waterburys 10 x 3
TBT
Wednlers 5/3/1
.
.
.
.
.
To get big biceps you need ... to work the triceps and back? Post #13 (permalink)
Jul. 02/09, 09:06 AM
peel
In Orientation
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 13
are these books that cost money?
To get big biceps you need ... to work the triceps and back? Post #14 (permalink)
Jul. 03/09, 01:24 PM
blackbeard
Third Set
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 562
Quote:
Originally Posted by peel
where can i find one of these total body regimes
Pick a routine here. As a noob a FBW will do wonders for you mate.
To get big biceps you need ... to work the triceps and back? Post #15 (permalink)