stronger and weaker side

[Ela]

I am currently on Mesocylce 2 and I have noticed a tremendous difference in strength of my left and right arm. I have challenges in both biceps and triceps exercises. While I can lift suggested weight amount on right arm the left arm is so much weaker. What do I do? Do I keep the weight amount for right arm and lower amount of left side? Or do I train both arms with the lower weight amount to even out both sides? Please help!!!!

[gratefuldog]

I guess it depends on how much of a difference in strength you are talking about. My right arm is stronger than my left for sure. I train them with the same weight, but I sometimes can't complete the set on the left. LIke say I complete 12 reps on the right, sometimes I get to 10 on the left. If that is the difference, then I would still lift the heavy amount and just work the left arm to failure. That is what STS is all about. Pushing yourself to failure. (meaning, that you lift until you can't possibly finish another rep without losing good form.) However, if you can only lift that heavy weight 3 times on the left vs the 12 on the right side, then obviously you need to lower the weight for both arms. Definitely keep the wieight you use the same on both arms. I would not increase the weights until you can complete each set totally on both sides.
Hope this made sense!

[ro'connell]

Ela

How has balancing your arms been working out for you? When I did STS I found the same, that my right arm was the stronger. I used the same weight for both, but I would always start with my left arm and go to failure, then repeat that number of reps on my right arm. By the time I finished the program, my arms had mostly evened out!

Best wishes
~R