Military press

[lulu68]

Hi,

When doing military presses I have alway's lean towards doing them with a barbell, very rarely do I use the dumbels except for when I'm doing a video and they use dumbells. What is the differnce between the barbell and the dumbells and wish one will give you the best results? If you wan't your arms to be more sculpted do you do light weights with high reps or heavier weight wigh lower reps. The reason I'm asking is because I've notice ever since I have been doing somewhat heavier weights I'm not as sculpted and lean as i use to be when I was doing the lighter weight / high rep. I don't know if the reason is because i'm older now? (almost 45). Any tips on getting a more leaner,sculpted arms? Thanks!

Lulu

 

[melimcn]

Personally, as someone that struggled with "big flabby arms" my entire life...I found that it didn't matter at all what kind of work I was doing.
Genetics for me = big flabby arms that were disproportionately larger than other body parts.

High reps/light weight
high reps/heavy weight
low reps/heavy weight
pyramid style
body weight
bands
all of it...nothing mattered.

Sorry to bear the bad news.
If you've seen better results with high reps and light weight, I'd suggest you keep doing that. Barbell vs. dumbbell doesn't really matter. For me, the barbell has always made it "easier", using my strong side to get the weight up.

I've since lost 20lbs and gotten liposuction done on my upper arms. Now I finally have the beautiful arms that I've always wanted. LOL...just took unconventional methods when nothing else worked.
I'm not suggesting you go that route. Merely pointing out that genetics plays a bigger role than anything else you try here.

 

[psusoccer17]

I am 50 and have the best arms and upper body definition now, than any other time in my life. I saw a huge improvement from doing STS, the combo of endurance, hypertrophy, and strength together was great for me. I recently tarted doing horizontal conditioning twice a week, that has really given me an overall sculpted look to my entire body. Great stuff between the two programs.

 

[maddiesmum]

Military presses will work the shoulders wonderfully well. I always use dumbbells, never the barbell. The angle --where you hold the barbell in front of you and have to push it up and keep it slightly in front of you-- is torturous for me. I need to be able to hold that weight to the sides of my head. My preferred shoulder move is actually the Arnold's press, where the sweep of the weights begins in front of the chest.

You might also try different instructors. Kelly Coffey Meyer works the shoulders completely differently to Cathe, with different exercises. Kelly's shoulders are incredibly shapely, more so than Cathe's. Cathe's are strong, Kelly's are defined. Kelly's shoulder routines slay me every time. Go to coffeyfit.com for a looksie. In fact Kelly works the whole upper body differently to Cathe, and I recommend using other techniques, from other instructors. I very much like Kelly's Your Best Body and Muscle Definition, both of which are in her 30 Minutes to Fitness series.

One of Cathe's best upper body routines for the upper body is a higher rep, lighter weights workout, endurance in style, from CTX series: the Upper Body Split. This should help with definition.

But yes, the truth is, we can only get as far as genetics wants us to go, and yes also, at the age we are, our bodies are changing. Not as defined as they were. To retain a very defined look as you age requires a humoungous amount of exercise and constant vigil
over, what seems to me to be, a very restrictive diet. Personally, I can't face plates of the kind of bland food that constitutes "clean eating."

Clare

 

[lulu68]

Personally, as someone that struggled with "big flabby arms" my entire life...I found that it didn't matter at all what kind of work I was doing.
Genetics for me = big flabby arms that were disproportionately larger than other body parts.

High reps/light weight
high reps/heavy weight
low reps/heavy weight
pyramid style
body weight
bands
all of it...nothing mattered.

Sorry to bear the bad news.
If you've seen better results with high reps and light weight, I'd suggest you keep doing that. Barbell vs. dumbbell doesn't really matter. For me, the barbell has always made it "easier", using my strong side to get the weight up.

I've since lost 20lbs and gotten liposuction done on my upper arms. Now I finally have the beautiful arms that I've always wanted. LOL...just took unconventional methods when nothing else worked.
I'm not suggesting you go that route. Merely pointing out that genetics plays a bigger role than anything else you try here.

Melisa,

I'm happy you found something that work for you! My arms are not flabby or fat I'm just looking for more defination. Thanks!

 

[lulu68]

I am 50 and have the best arms and upper body definition now, than any other time in my life. I saw a huge improvement from doing STS, the combo of endurance, hypertrophy, and strength together was great for me. I recently tarted doing horizontal conditioning twice a week, that has really given me an overall sculpted look to my entire body. Great stuff between the two programs.

Psusoccer17 everyone has been raving about horizontal conditioning I need to give those a try! I will admit that my mid section is one of the weakest parts. Ever since doing insanity I have ignore doing more tradional ab work. I remember back in the days when doing more tradional abs work and incorporating in my everyday work outs I had some good results. Thanks!

 

[lulu68]

Military presses will work the shoulders wonderfully well. I always use dumbbells, never the barbell. The angle --where you hold the barbell in front of you and have to push it up and keep it slightly in front of you-- is torturous for me. I need to be able to hold that weight to the sides of my head. My preferred shoulder move is actually the Arnold's press, where the sweep of the weights begins in front of the chest.

You might also try different instructors. Kelly Coffey Meyer works the shoulders completely differently to Cathe, with different exercises. Kelly's shoulders are incredibly shapely, more so than Cathe's. Cathe's are strong, Kelly's are defined. Kelly's shoulder routines slay me every time. Go to coffeyfit.com for a looksie. In fact Kelly works the whole upper body differently to Cathe, and I recommend using other techniques, from other instructors. I very much like Kelly's Your Best Body and Muscle Definition, both of which are in her 30 Minutes to Fitness series.

One of Cathe's best upper body routines for the upper body is a higher rep, lighter weights workout, endurance in style, from CTX series: the Upper Body Split. This should help with definition.

But yes, the truth is, we can only get as far as genetics wants us to go, and yes also, at the age we are, our bodies are changing. Not as defined as they were. To retain a very defined look as you age requires a humoungous amount of exercise and constant vigil
over, what seems to me to be, a very restrictive diet. Personally, I can't face plates of the kind of bland food that constitutes "clean eating."

Clare

Clare! That is exactly what I was talking about! For a few years now my shoulders have that more stronger look then define look. I will admit when I had the more define look it was when I was under the age of 40 and yes I was working out sometimes 3 times a day. As a very busy mother of 6 children I don't think i wan't to go back to working out 3 times a day just do have more define arms. I will most definately give Kelly Coffey a try, thank you so much for your inpup!

Lourdes

 

[psusoccer17]

Psusoccer17 everyone has been raving about horizontal conditioning I need to give those a try! I will admit that my mid section is one of the weakest parts. Ever since doing insanity I have ignore doing more tradional ab work. I remember back in the days when doing more tradional abs work and incorporating in my everyday work outs I had some good results. Thanks!

If you order these know in advance they are really hard!! I did not buy the getting started series and really wish I had. You really need to work up to all the pushups, plank work etc.., it is hard on the wrists and shoulders. I am ok doing the longer w/o now but it took me awhile, I still cannot do all the reps that Sandra does, she is amazing. I think vol 4 is my favorite one so far, she incorporates the stab ball in this one, quite challenging.