I've been stuck at between 25-30 lb dumbells for a while now, about three months. I switch up my bicep exercises every week with a variation of barbell, EZ-bar, cables, and dumbells. I do biceps once a week, and although I HAVE seen growth in my biceps, is it normal to have a bicep WEIGHT-LIFT plateau? And my other muscle groups seem to be able to lift more weight gradually.. Anyone have any input on this?
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Thread: Bicep Plateau.
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07-11-2006, 09:28 PM #1
Bicep Plateau.
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07-11-2006, 09:32 PM #2
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07-11-2006, 10:01 PM #3
Hopefully your working back, that will contribute quite a bit to bicep growth. Most don't need a whole lot for bi's after that, most are in the 3-6 sets range, some none at all and others like me up to 12 sets on occasion. Figure out how many sets you need, check your form, no elbow movement whatsoever, good contraction at the top, controlled negative, no back involvement whatsoever.
You might be better off sticking with set exercises instead of mixing them up constantly, this way you get really good at those exercises, instead of moderate at a bunch. I'd maybe change up the exercise to a new one anywhere from 3-8 weeks, or when gains slow.
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07-11-2006, 10:12 PM #4
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07-11-2006, 10:26 PM #5
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07-11-2006, 10:27 PM #6
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07-11-2006, 11:14 PM #7
Okay, keep with the same exercises? I can do that .
Btw, I like to think I have one of the better forms in all of my exercises in my gym. I started lifting with very low weights to get used to good form, and I still maintain that form, so I don't think form is my lack of progression.
I also ALWAYS do back / biceps, but I switch up my bicep exercises EVERY week.
Here's what I am going to do tomorrow, input will be appreciated.
Incline Alternating DB curl : 3x8.
Close Grip EZ-bar curl : 3x8.
Alternating One-Armed DB Preacher curl : 3x8.
Any other exercises I should add ( or swap) will be appreciated. I'm looking for a good finisher bicep exercise to add to this, but I can't really think of anything that does what I already have on there.
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07-11-2006, 11:17 PM #8
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07-11-2006, 11:44 PM #9
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07-12-2006, 01:05 AM #10
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07-12-2006, 01:39 AM #11
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07-12-2006, 05:22 AM #12
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07-12-2006, 06:55 AM #13
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HUHU: let me take this into another tack:
I assume you are working out in a commercial gym, where you are limited to set increases in the dumbbells????
in which case, 5 pounds is the smallest jump that you can make......
If you were using adjustable bells, you would then have the option of adding either a 2 and a half or even a lowly one and a quarter to increase weight......
sometimes, minute differences like that can "fool" your body better, and allow you to make even slower, but steady progress.....
in many movments, even a 5 pound jump can mean an awful lot: a great example of that is in lateral raises........the difference between , say, 30 and 35 or 35 and 40 can seem enormous at times......
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07-12-2006, 07:57 AM #14
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07-12-2006, 09:57 AM #15Originally Posted by HuHu
Yes, every muscle in the body is prone to plateau when training it, that is when you would change up your routine up too catch the muscle "off guard."
Hope that helps.
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07-12-2006, 10:19 AM #16
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i bet your forearms are too weak. work on your grip with some deadlifts and shrugs. the others are probably right about the 5 lb increase with dumbells.
if you dont have a choice with the weight increment, id say make sure you do your curls sitting down so it makes them harder. and if you need to make the jump, do those 35s standing up to make it a bit easier, and as your strength goes up do the 35s sitting down.succeeding is not enough, others must fail.
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07-12-2006, 10:39 AM #17
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07-12-2006, 11:00 AM #18
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forarm strength is targetted will through grip excersizes not necessarily forarm curls or some other "forarm" excersize.
do some pullups with a towel to work on that grip (you might do 1 or 2 the first time they are quite hard) and do some plate pinches. there are some good articles on the bb.com supersite that will help out a lot.
when i started incorporating these excersizes in my routine my forarms grew big time and helped out with all of my other excersizes.succeeding is not enough, others must fail.
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07-12-2006, 12:45 PM #19
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07-12-2006, 02:59 PM #20
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07-12-2006, 03:13 PM #21Originally Posted by HuHu
If your bicep is growing, don't worry about the amount of weight - work on form and keep it tight.
And, what is a plateau to you?
I believe that if you are getting one more rep on any set, you are using less rest time between sets, you are able to do the last set with 5 lbs. more but only six reps or that your arms are still growing - you ARE NOT at a plateau.
Back will help as others say, but don't do your back exercises with your focus on arms.
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