Biceps - Can you lift as heavy as Cathe?

[Jody]

Hi all,

I have to ask this question because even though I can pretty much match or come close to what Cathe lifts on her DVDs, I am amazed at the amount of weight she uses for biceps.

I've been working out with Cathe for several years and in time my strength has increased greatly but I feel like such a weakling next to her and the crew when it comes to bicep work. For example, on Muscle Endurance I think they used a 35 lb. weighted bar. I used two 10 lb. weights and soon had to switch to 8, and then eventually 7 lbs. I don't know if it is the repetitions or if it just too much weight for me? Or maybe my arms are just exhausted from the exercises that came before the triceps section?

I just think that I'm never going to be able to match her weight. Anyone else?

[Beth-B-Fit]

Hi! No way can I lift as heavy as Cathe for biceps. They must be my weakest body part because like you I'm always going down in weight during the workouts. About the only dvd I can match is Push/Pull when you use 12 lb. dumbbells and have one foot on the ball. Of course, I still have take a much longer break between the two exercises to keep using the 12's. I think it's in the Pyramid bicep section where I use 5/8/10 (with extra breaks) that Cathe states something like "If you use weights that are challenging for you, you will get results". So don't worry too much-just challenge yourself and have fun!

Beth

[Nanbo]

This is such a timely post for me! I've been doing a Gym Styles rotation for 4 weeks and was wondering what was wrong with my biceps! I have VERY ectomorph-type arms (long and thin). For the slow barbell curls I use a 30 pound barbell and end up having to download it to 25 to finish up the last set (barely). On the concentration curls I'm up to using 12 pounds and dropping down to 10 pounds for the bonus set. Sometimes I have to use my other arm to assist on the positive portion of the curl. But, I AM getting ever so slowly stronger. I try to use the heaviest weight I can and many times cannot finish the last 2 reps for many bicep exercises. And let's not EVEN get to the triceps!!!! WIMPY!!!!
I've been doing GS Legs twice a week, GSBSB once a week, and GSCT once a week. I'm getting GREAT results on my legs but it's slower going with the arm. So this past week I added GS shoulders to a leg day, GS biceps to the GSCT day, and GS triceps to the GSBSB day. This way I'm hitting biceps, triceps, and shoulders twice a week too. I'm going to stick with this for a few weeks and see what happens.....

[mrsprincess07]

Originally Posted by Jody

Hi all,

I have to ask this question because even though I can pretty much match or come close to what Cathe lifts on her DVDs, I am amazed at the amount of weight she uses for biceps.

I've been working out with Cathe for several years and in time my strength has increased greatly but I feel like such a weakling next to her and the crew when it comes to bicep work. For example, on Muscle Endurance I think they used a 35 lb. weighted bar. I used two 10 lb. weights and soon had to switch to 8, and then eventually 7 lbs. I don't know if it is the repetitions or if it just too much weight for me? Or maybe my arms are just exhausted from the exercises that came before the triceps section?

I just think that I'm never going to be able to match her weight. Anyone else?

In the GS Series & 4DS I used to be able to. I have since developed ligament other soft tissue issues, possibly a degenerative disease throught the joints in my body, and I can no longer do that without risk and intense pain. But once upon a time or as Toby Keith once sang "...There was a time, back in my prime...."

[mmis29]

In the workouts I have, I can match or exceed (e.g. PUB) what Cathe & crew lift. BUT - I can only do a few big girl push ups till I have to drop to my knees, talk about WIMPY lol! And I've been exercising with Cathe for 8 years! I have often wondered if I will ever be able to pump out the push ups like so many of you can, and have accepted that I probably won't.

PS mrsprincess - love that song! So many good uses for Toby's lines as we get older!!

[mrsprincess07]

Me too!

[geomom]

With a lot of the bicep work, particularly the endurance sets, I think your problem may be in your forearm in addition to biceps. If you want to lift heavy with your biceps, definitely work those forearm assisting muscles.

Also, in ME, I believe Cathe and crew are lifting 25 lb bb's. That is a tough endurance sequence and requires a lighter weight to complete. It's always my forearms that are burning at the end of that section.