Is it normal to be stronger in some areas..
- Thread starter jillybean
- Start date
getnfit@38
Cathlete
Hi Jilly,
Good question, and I don't know if it's "normal" or not, but I know it's common to be stronger in some areas over others.
My shoulders and biceps use to be my weakest areas until I began working them 3x/week in the "tank top arms" rotation. I consciously made the effort to increase the weights used in 3 week increments, it was hardest for shoulders because going from 5# to 8# is no joke on exercises like front delt raises, but now over the course of several months, I do front delt raises with 12#dbs, and my shoulders are (IMO)my most defined body part. Same with increasing my biceps strength/size. I use to feel like "the only one" who couldn't do "crazy 8's" or hang with Cathe on her biceps sections, but using the same approach, working them 3x/week and forcing myself to increase the weight no matter how small an increase every 3 weeks, and I can now do "crazy 8's" with a 30#bb, which is good for me when you consider that initially I couldn't get through them with a 15#bb.
So I don't know if it was increasing the frequency (3x/week) or consistently increasing the weight (every 3 weeks), or a combination of both that did it, but this is how I increased my strength and gained definition in my weakest areas.
Donna
Good question, and I don't know if it's "normal" or not, but I know it's common to be stronger in some areas over others.
My shoulders and biceps use to be my weakest areas until I began working them 3x/week in the "tank top arms" rotation. I consciously made the effort to increase the weights used in 3 week increments, it was hardest for shoulders because going from 5# to 8# is no joke on exercises like front delt raises, but now over the course of several months, I do front delt raises with 12#dbs, and my shoulders are (IMO)my most defined body part. Same with increasing my biceps strength/size. I use to feel like "the only one" who couldn't do "crazy 8's" or hang with Cathe on her biceps sections, but using the same approach, working them 3x/week and forcing myself to increase the weight no matter how small an increase every 3 weeks, and I can now do "crazy 8's" with a 30#bb, which is good for me when you consider that initially I couldn't get through them with a 15#bb.
So I don't know if it was increasing the frequency (3x/week) or consistently increasing the weight (every 3 weeks), or a combination of both that did it, but this is how I increased my strength and gained definition in my weakest areas.
Donna
getnfit@38
Cathlete
Thanks!!!!
Thanks for the encouragement, and yes, I have nothing but praise for the TTR, and I'm going to whisper this so the fates don't foul me up, but along with the TTR, I've taken 1 of the 3(shoulder/tri/bi) days, and turned it into a workout Cathe gave me for getting that "v" shape cut in my upper arm, and it is working well. I can see the faint outline of the "v" in both arms WITHOUT having to flex or move my arm. WOOO-HOOOOO!!!!! And it's only been 3 weeks, so I know by next spring, I will be arm ready for the fashions!
Donna
Thanks for the encouragement, and yes, I have nothing but praise for the TTR, and I'm going to whisper this so the fates don't foul me up, but along with the TTR, I've taken 1 of the 3(shoulder/tri/bi) days, and turned it into a workout Cathe gave me for getting that "v" shape cut in my upper arm, and it is working well. I can see the faint outline of the "v" in both arms WITHOUT having to flex or move my arm. WOOO-HOOOOO!!!!! And it's only been 3 weeks, so I know by next spring, I will be arm ready for the fashions!
Donna
jillybean
Cathlete
RE: Donna, you knew this was next!!!
What is the rotation for the 'v'? I have the tricep lump (horseshoe, is it?) on the back of my arem, and the split on the top of my shoulder, but I would love the 'v' in the front! Also, thanks for your encouraging words and the great advice. You achieved super strength gains - you go girl!
What is the rotation for the 'v'? I have the tricep lump (horseshoe, is it?) on the back of my arem, and the split on the top of my shoulder, but I would love the 'v' in the front! Also, thanks for your encouraging words and the great advice. You achieved super strength gains - you go girl!
RE: Donna, you knew this was next!!!
You guys are all getting me so excited and motivated...I just ordered all the tapes for the TTR four days ago and I got my notice from UPS that they are arriving Sept. 3. So....keep talking about that VVVVVVVVV.
Those were motivating strength gains too, I'm gonna try to increase every three weeks like you said!!! Those delts are a mental battle for me and my shoulder are such a tough area, but you are inspiring!!Thanks,
Briee
You guys are all getting me so excited and motivated...I just ordered all the tapes for the TTR four days ago and I got my notice from UPS that they are arriving Sept. 3. So....keep talking about that VVVVVVVVV.
Those were motivating strength gains too, I'm gonna try to increase every three weeks like you said!!! Those delts are a mental battle for me and my shoulder are such a tough area, but you are inspiring!!Thanks,
Briee
getnfit@38
Cathlete
Cathe's "V" cut workout....
Here's the workout given to me from Cathe:
Cathe’s : “V” shape cut workout :
attainable through a combination of shoulder/bicep/tricep exercises
SHOULDERS:
long lever side lateral raises: 3 sets/12 reps
front delt raises: 3 sets/12 reps
rear delt flys: 3 sets/12 reps
BICEPS:
bicep curls (heavy weight): 3 sets/12 reps
TRICEPS:
kickbacks: 3 sets/12 reps
lying overhead extentions: 3 sets/12 reps
-----------------------------------------------------------------
*The only alteration I made to this was to add 3 sets of dips to the triceps section.
And this is exactly how it was given to me, so for the biceps section, "heavy weight" varies for all of us, it may be 10# for some, or 50# for others, I personally have been using a 30#bb and by the 3rd set I am straining out the last few reps.
So basically, just go as heavy as you physically can with weights, using a weight heavy enough to completely fatigue the muscle by the end of your 3rd set. The timing on this is about 20 min. including short stretches. I'm not methodical about the exact timing between sets, so for me going into this just after cardio while I'm warmed up, I've timed this at 20 min.~ could be more or less depending on how much time you put between sets.
So, let me know how it works for you, it's doing well for me, and considering I still have body fat to shed, I'm pretty impressed with my results so far.
Donna
Here's the workout given to me from Cathe:
Cathe’s : “V” shape cut workout :
attainable through a combination of shoulder/bicep/tricep exercises
SHOULDERS:
long lever side lateral raises: 3 sets/12 reps
front delt raises: 3 sets/12 reps
rear delt flys: 3 sets/12 reps
BICEPS:
bicep curls (heavy weight): 3 sets/12 reps
TRICEPS:
kickbacks: 3 sets/12 reps
lying overhead extentions: 3 sets/12 reps
-----------------------------------------------------------------
*The only alteration I made to this was to add 3 sets of dips to the triceps section.
And this is exactly how it was given to me, so for the biceps section, "heavy weight" varies for all of us, it may be 10# for some, or 50# for others, I personally have been using a 30#bb and by the 3rd set I am straining out the last few reps.
So basically, just go as heavy as you physically can with weights, using a weight heavy enough to completely fatigue the muscle by the end of your 3rd set. The timing on this is about 20 min. including short stretches. I'm not methodical about the exact timing between sets, so for me going into this just after cardio while I'm warmed up, I've timed this at 20 min.~ could be more or less depending on how much time you put between sets.
So, let me know how it works for you, it's doing well for me, and considering I still have body fat to shed, I'm pretty impressed with my results so far.
Donna