Embarrassingly skinny forearms

[Ratae]

I have really skinny forearms and wrists, which is really eating at my self worth cos they are stubborn and I'm genetically weak in this area. Basically I have just 6" diameter wrists and 10" circumference around the fullest part of forearm. Pale as hell (Scottish ancestors), I burn/don't tan and have no forearm hair either which makes me feel utterly 'juvenile' in the warm summer months with us all bombing around with t-shirts on. I can't wear the majority of men's watches because the dials are too big. Just recently when playing soccer a women that was 36 thought I was around her sons age (17), she couldn't believe I was 30, and I think this was all because of my twigglet arms popping out of a long sleeve t-shirt.

What is the most effective exercise to put bulk on the lower arms?

[Jippo]

Skinny forearms is largely a genetic thing and something i suffer from myself, the only thing that has worked is getting stronger on big lifts such as deadlifts, pullups, bench, shrugs etc.
What is your current training schedule and what are you lifting in the big 3?

[jstucker]

The big three are important and help with just about everything, but obviously sometimes it's not enough. I don't even want to know the dimensions of my forearms, but I can tell you I know exactly what you're talking about, particularly with watches. I've recently found that often times my weakness in my forearms imposes limitations on further developing other muscle groups (biceps) because my forearms get sore and tired before I can fully max the bicep. So long story short I've recently started putting some attention on forearms, and here's what I've found so far; it's all in the wrist. Continue the big three and bicep curls, but add any of these to complement. Take a bicep curl bar, load on 5 or 10 lbs plates on each side (more if you can handle it) and sit on a bench. Rest your forearms on your legs and with a palms up grip hold the bar down in your fingers, curl up into your hand and curls wrists up. Lower, and repeat. Switch to a palms down grip, holding the bar fulling in your hand to start with wrists bent down and curl wrists back till parallel to the floor (use less weight for this one). You can do practically the same thing with dumbbells. Another option if you can find it is a small bar with a long strap attached from the center (not sure what the proper name for this bar is). Attach a plate (20+ lbs to start) and holding the bar in both hands in front of yourself roll the bar so that it draws up the weight by coiling the strap around the bar. This can be done at home with a 1.5-2" wooden dowel with a hole drilled through the center and a rope run through. Finally you can also take dumbbells in each hand, holding them down at your sides, and rotate your wrists side to side. I've played hockey for a decade and after two weeks just using this last exercise my wrist shot was noticeably and significantly stronger and quicker. Hopefully this will help, if nothing else it will increase your forearm strength, which helps in a ton of everyday things (need help opening that jar?).

[mybody001]

can't do anything about your wrists for but the muscular parts you can focus on both heavy pulling motions or isolated motions such as wrist curls, etc.

[USMSRN]

Captains of Crush grippers have worked well for me. I just went to the #2 level after about 4 months of randomly doing #1 Grippers. I noticed a huge improvement on pull-up grip strength/endurance within the first month of use. I don't know if it gives mass seeing as how I am a fatass atm but when I make a hard fist I can see lots of muscle I never saw before.

[pberrios]

its deff genetic, my dad and all my uncles got popeye arms, hence i do to, before i wouldnt even train them cuzz theer wher already big enough, now i been triaining them and they getting hell bigger, its the first thing people notice abou tme always, call me popeye egegeggeggegg j/k

[Wildtim]

Skinny wrists indicates finer bone and smaller joints. This is actually a huge advantage for a bodybuilder. What It means is that it takes a smaller amout of muscle to look big in proportion., for example a 12 inch arm on you looks twice as big as your wrist when for every inch larger someone would have to add 2 more inches to their arms to attain the same look.

For sny advice I would have to know what you are already doing.

[bonvec01]

inb4 fappin...

[pberrios]

id rather have the actual raw mass =)

Skinny wrists indicates finer bone and smaller joints. This is actually a huge advantage for a bodybuilder. What It means is that it takes a smaller amout of muscle to look big in proportion., for example a 12 inch arm on you looks twice as big as your wrist when for every inch larger someone would have to add 2 more inches to their arms to attain the same look.

For sny advice I would have to know what you are already doing.

[Niblixdark]

I have the opposite problem, mine are too big thanks too my Scottish inheritance .. I don't ever train them period or they'll get too sickly big, people call me "pipes" at work ffs, mine are sporting a 15" 1/8 circumference with 7" wrist. all thanks too my grandfather and his dad, on both sides of my family too.. wierd

[pberrios]

I have the opposite problem, mine are too big thanks too my Scottish inheritance .. I don't ever train them period or they'll get too sickly big, people call me "pipes" at work ffs, mine are sporting a 15" 1/8 circumference with 7" wrist. all thanks too my grandfather and his dad, on both sides of my family too.. wierd

7 inch wrists with 14 inch forearms :P

[manONfire]

hmmm gentics...dont mess with it ....

[DJAuto]

1. Heavy pulls.
2. Heavy hangs.
3. Heavy holds.
4. Direct work.