Loss of blood in your arms?

[Kwello]

I noticed lately especially on the lat pull downs that my arms get this really odd feeling in them after 7-8 reps. It's due to lack of circulation in the forearms and it only started since I got a lot bigger. How can I remedy this? I do my arm stretches everyday but I still just get that sharp feeling during pulldowns.

 

[stronglifts]

Pulldowns work your arms/forearm hard.

Just continue doing them. It will go away after some time. As long as it doesn't hurt in a bad way, you're ok.

What do you mean with "sharp feeling"? sharp pain?

-Mehdi.

 

[Kwello]

Well it's more like a dull pain. It goes away the second I let go of the bar and drop my arms to my sides again... maybe I'll work on pulldowns first thing when I get to the gym rather than midway through. That way my forearms won't be swelled from other exercises and the blood can flow better.

 

[stronglifts]

The last time I did pulldowns was 5years ago. But I remember the feeling you describe. I had it too.

Why don't you try pull-ups & chin-ups? I bet you won't have this problem & they give better results.

Good luck.

-Mehdi.

 

[Kwello]

Do they really give better results though? I'm at the point now where I can do sets of 15-20 chin ups. On the pulldown machine I can at least crank the weight to something that will only let me do 6-8 reps.

 

[stronglifts]

Do they really give better results though? I'm at the point now where I can do sets of 15-20 chin ups. On the pulldown machine I can at least crank the weight to something that will only let me do 6-8 reps.

Comparing chin-ups/pull-ups with pulldowns, is like comparing the squat with the leg press: what would you do?

If you can do sets of 15-20 with chin-ups, it's time to add weight. Check this video if you don't know how: Weighted Pull-Ups

Feel free to ask if you have questions.

Good luck.

-Mehdi.

 

[Create Reality]

I concur screw the pulldown machine and go for weighted pull ups

 

[Kwello]

Okay thanks guys, I'll abandon the pulldown machine from now on. I actually like that a lot better as right now it's the only machine left in my gym routine... everything else is freeweights as of around 3 weeks ago and I feel MUCH stronger because of it.

Literally in the last 3 weeks (since I moved from mostly machines to all free weights), I'm up 6 pounds in body weight (even more defined than I was before so I'm sure it's all muscle mass) and my benching and squatting strength has gone up exponentially. Like for example I used to bench something crappy ~125lbs and I'm already up to 155 now. I'm sure that once I start using creatine and taking protein supplements that I can shoot it up to maybe ~180 by the end of the summer.

Think that's realistic?

 

[Warboss Alex]

yep, perfectly doable. (sorry, got mixed up between kgs and lbs)

 

[stronglifts]

Okay thanks guys, I'll abandon the pulldown machine from now on. I actually like that a lot better as right now it's the only machine left in my gym routine... everything else is freeweights as of around 3 weeks ago and I feel MUCH stronger because of it.

Literally in the last 3 weeks (since I moved from mostly machines to all free weights), I'm up 6 pounds in body weight (even more defined than I was before so I'm sure it's all muscle mass) and my benching and squatting strength has gone up exponentially. Like for example I used to bench something crappy ~125lbs and I'm already up to 155 now. I'm sure that once I start using creatine and taking protein supplements that I can shoot it up to maybe ~180 by the end of the summer.

Think that's realistic?

Your only limits are the one you set up in your own mind.

-Mehdi.

 

[Kwello]

Good, then I'll be benching 575lbs by August!

 

[stronglifts]

Good, then I'll be benching 575lbs by August!

within reason Kwello, within reason.

-Mehdi.

 

[Kwello]

Fine, 570.

 

[stronglifts]

Fine, 570.

lol, you got me.