Forearms

[Mr.Positive]

Something I've been recently noticing (due to some comment from a random chick I met at a bar)..it seems I have disproportionate forearms. My forearms seem to be, to the nake eye, the same size as my biceps, upper arms.

I am thinking this is due to doing deadlifts, and my work, which requires a lot of grip strength.

Anyway, I do not train forearms directly, but am wondering if this is genetic, or what would cause forearms to grow to a size that does not 'fit' with the rest of the arm, or the rest of the body, for that matter.

Any thoughts? Do you guys train forearms at all? Any ideas on how I can get the rest of my arms to "catch up"?

I can't shake the feeling that I'm lumbering around with crab claw of arms, some freak meat hooks.

 

[shaunuk]

Hmm yeah I see what you mean mate, I found this picture of you online: http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/imagefolder/popeye.jpg



Hehe, but seriously, do you feel the rest of your arms are lagging behind your forearms? If they are, look at what bicep and tricep work you're doing, and increase volume accordingly (or decrease if you're doing too much)

-shaun

 

[Mr.Positive]

Hmm yeah I see what you mean mate, I found this picture of you online: http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/imagefolder/popeye.jpg



Hehe, but seriously, do you feel the rest of your arms are lagging behind your forearms? If they are, look at what bicep and tricep work you're doing, and increase volume accordingly (or decrease if you're doing too much)

-shaun

Hahaha, thanks for the laugh..ironically, the drunk chick at the bar was calling me popeye. If she was only a HB...

I think forearms, in general, get overlooked though. I do spot train my biceps and triceps, as well as hit bench press really hard. Though the gains, it seems, goes straight to my forearms.

 

[The Inside Man]

My forearms used to be as big as my upper arms and it looked really out of proportion. It helped me with wrestling though. What I used to do was tie a 5pound weight(u can increase in following weeks) to a long cord, tie that to a small bar in the middle...like a triceps pressdown bar.

So you stand, arms straight out, holding the bar, with the weight resting on the floor tied to the cord. Keeping your arms straight, make an "indian burn" motion on the bar so it reels up the cord and weight. When it gets to the top, unreel it again and let the weight hit the floor with your arms straight out, perpendicular to the weight and cord. Burns like the fires of hell but it really works! Try doing a couple sets with arms straight out and you'll be hurting. Try to do a few sets twice a week with the rest of your workouts and you will see and feel changes.

 

[The Inside Man]

Oh sorry I just reread your post. You want your forearms to get smaller and not bigger...like I said I used to have the same problem, try a lot of high rep work combined with heavy hammer curls for biceps and similar with the biceps...mine eventually were outsized by my upper arms.

 

[Warboss Alex]

once you have added 40lbs to your physique your upper and lower arms will be in proportion.

genetically big forearms are an asset anyway.

 

[supersaiyanjason]

deadlifts and pullups should blast ur forearms

 

[LOX]

Its funny how a few of the people who responded to this thread misunderstood the OP's question. Not that surprising though, I don't think I've ever heard anyone comlain that their forearms are "too big". Usually the complaint is just the opposite.

To answer your question though, I'm pretty sure its almost entirely genetic. Many people, me included, have a hell of a time trying to grow their forearms bigger so I doubt you somehow managed to get them so big without even trying.

If I had one complaint about my own physique it would be small wrists/forearms, but really when it comes to appearance (not neccessarily strength) I think 90% is bone structure. Small wrist and elbow joints = small forearms. I guess you're just on the other spectrum...

 

[Fluffy]

Something I've been recently noticing (due to some comment from a random chick I met at a bar)..it seems I have disproportionate forearms. My forearms seem to be, to the nake eye, the same size as my biceps, upper arms.

I am thinking this is due to doing deadlifts, and my work, which requires a lot of grip strength.

Anyway, I do not train forearms directly, but am wondering if this is genetic, or what would cause forearms to grow to a size that does not 'fit' with the rest of the arm, or the rest of the body, for that matter.

Any thoughts? Do you guys train forearms at all? Any ideas on how I can get the rest of my arms to "catch up"?

I can't shake the feeling that I'm lumbering around with crab claw of arms, some freak meat hooks.

what size are your upper arms and what are your forearms? I wanna get a mental image here

 

[Mr.Positive]

Its funny how a few of the people who responded to this thread misunderstood the OP's question. Not that surprising though, I don't think I've ever heard anyone comlain that their forearms are "too big". Usually the complaint is just the opposite.

To answer your question though, I'm pretty sure its almost entirely genetic. Many people, me included, have a hell of a time trying to grow their forearms bigger so I doubt you somehow managed to get them so big without even trying.

If I had one complaint about my own physique it would be small wrists/forearms, but really when it comes to appearance (not neccessarily strength) I think 90% is bone structure. Small wrist and elbow joints = small forearms. I guess you're just on the other spectrum...

Well, I started a new job about 5 months ago, and it is very physical and requires a lot of heavy lifting and "grip strength"

Thanks for the responses everyone. I just can't place why this is bugging me so much.

The funny thing, is that I've got small wrists too. To give a visual, my forearms are about 3 times as wide as my wrist. The more I keep noticing it, the stranger it looks (to me). It's probably all in my head. I haven't measure my arms.

Ah, well, I think WBA is right, if I put on 40 lbs (I'm 185), I'm sure then I won't be focusing on my forearms as much.

 

[Mr.Positive]

Alright, I just measured my right arm.

I have a 16" bicep, and 14 1/2" forearm, to my best measurement.

 

[Throttle]

as several have said, it's almost certainly genetics, and WBA has your solution.

hammer curls are definitely not the answer, they're liable to make it worse. make sure you're giving squats enough attention, not to build your biceps of course but to aid you in adding that next 40 lbs.

and you're right, it's probably all in your head. i suspect most guys have huge body image problems, but while it's fashionable to talk about women's body issues, guys aren't 'supposed' to have such problems... actually, some of the biggest, leanest guys I've known also had some of the worst body image issues. hell, their persistent state of image-crisis probably gives them the incentives to stay truly fit that some of us apparently lack. pass the cheetos

 

[Mr.Positive]

and you're right, it's probably all in your head. i suspect most guys have huge body image problems, but while it's fashionable to talk about women's body issues, guys aren't 'supposed' to have such problems... actually, some of the biggest, leanest guys I've known also had some of the worst body image issues. hell, their persistent state of image-crisis probably gives them the incentives to stay truly fit that some of us apparently lack. pass the cheetos

How about I pass the bon bons? You're right, this is what I needed to hear, I sound kinda like a woman. Great post, thanks.

I'll start focusing on my lifting stats, try and get my squat and deadlift up to 400lbs, (my goal). I'm around 300lb now. I'm off to the gym for squats right now..

EDIT: and the next time some drunk chick calls me popeye, I'll look her in the eye and tell her I've got a nice big can of spinach she can chug on.

 

[Throttle]

EDIT: and the next time some drunk chick calls me popeye, I'll look her in the eye and tell her I've got a nice big can of spinach she can chug on.

**** that, hold her down and show her what those big guns are good for.

(obligatory disclaimer: if she says no, no still means no. i know that you know that, but some the kids around here can't tell when we're kidding around...)