Curls are for girls?
- Thread starter vaecicla
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Only if you do them on a bosu ball, on one leg and in front of the mirror, whilst jumping up and down wearing pink and black spandex with an excessively wide belt, shouting, "I'm a pony! Watch me prance, free!" and alternating the working leg+arm every rep.
Or before/in place of any of your bigger (multijoint) lifts.
Or before/in place of any of your bigger (multijoint) lifts.
About curls, it depends on your goals, as with any other exercise. If your goal is to get big arms, then you will probably need some curls, though you should of course still do the big back pulls like pullups, rows, etc.
If you want biceps strength, curls can also come in handy (again, in addition to compound upper body pulls) A lot of movement you do IRL can need some biceps strength so having them up there isn't a bad idea. As you see, it's all about what you want.
Curls only hits small muscles and is a small isolation exercise, so if you're looking to burn calories, then curls aren't your answer.
If you want biceps strength, curls can also come in handy (again, in addition to compound upper body pulls) A lot of movement you do IRL can need some biceps strength so having them up there isn't a bad idea. As you see, it's all about what you want.
Curls only hits small muscles and is a small isolation exercise, so if you're looking to burn calories, then curls aren't your answer.
I’m not a big fan of curls but I still do them a bit, always after I’ve done my compounds for the day of course.
Bicep isolation gets a bad name because of all the skinny guys who have a ‘bicep day’ and do about 3 or 4 different bicep exercises per session and never do chins or squats but the bicep is still a vital muscle that deserves attention like every other and having weak biceps will have a negative effect on your pulling so always find time to fit in curls about once a week
Bicep isolation gets a bad name because of all the skinny guys who have a ‘bicep day’ and do about 3 or 4 different bicep exercises per session and never do chins or squats but the bicep is still a vital muscle that deserves attention like every other and having weak biceps will have a negative effect on your pulling so always find time to fit in curls about once a week
I conclude I must include curls in my full body routine, and the rest can conclude that curls are for girls.
This is fine with me.
The next time, I grab a suite case with an under hand grip, and curl it in a motion that brings it closer to my body, I will remember we do not do this movement (normally) in our every day lives.
I will continue to train my body the way it was designed to function.
Additionally, when I started my (fat loss quest), I had about 13" arms (they are now slightly larger than 16"). While I give (diet) and the majority of the major compound lifts (and other free from style exercises and the up and down swings of my body weight) the most credit, I do know, that this rather misunderstood movement, played a key role in the overal function of my goal quest.
Don't be a squirrel and think curls are for girls.
Best wishes,
Chillen
This is fine with me.
The next time, I grab a suite case with an under hand grip, and curl it in a motion that brings it closer to my body, I will remember we do not do this movement (normally) in our every day lives.
I will continue to train my body the way it was designed to function.
Additionally, when I started my (fat loss quest), I had about 13" arms (they are now slightly larger than 16"). While I give (diet) and the majority of the major compound lifts (and other free from style exercises and the up and down swings of my body weight) the most credit, I do know, that this rather misunderstood movement, played a key role in the overal function of my goal quest.
Don't be a squirrel and think curls are for girls.
Best wishes,
Chillen
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Unless 15-16" are your definition of huge biceps, you'll want to add in some sort of direct bicep lifting.
Well, for some reason, we have this huge camp out in the world that's gone on this 'compounds only or die' way of thinking.
Any one will tell you, that is in the know, that arm size has "a lot" to do with overall body weight and size. IMO, the arms are the facilitators of the larger and much stronger muscle groups, and when you look at their "overall" functional purpose of the arm, working the larger muscle groups (when they are used to bring in the big muscle movers), one should see rather quickly, that increasing the size of the huge muscles (thus personal weight), will make the arms bigger.
Best wishes,
Chillen
We can't become close minded in our goal. For example, though one may be genetically limited, they "could" be a time in one's routine, where ISO's for the bicep (maybe to aid in height and shape) and can be a benefit--especially when they find they respond fairly well, and wasnt quite getting the shape (or height) from pullups/chinups, or from their previously heavy two arm curls. Direct arm work definately has its place in a routine. There is no doubt about it.
EDIT: And, no I dont consider my arms huge at just a tad over 16, but at 161 pounds and 5' 7", it isnt bad either. Additionally, I gained 3 inches in about 2 years of hard work, in an environment (most of the time) that wasnt "necessarily" anabolic.
I remember reading an article the other day, that persons over 45, cannot gain muscle.
This dude was "smoking something whacky". I dont want his........shiaat.....LOL
Best wishes
Chillen
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I think it's pretty simple, if you want big biceps, do some curls in addition to your rows, chins, and every other compound. Getting some extra direct stimul will help.
I don't think they are only good for shaping, but for just adding size too. Yes, you can get big arms without curls, but it will probably be faster with curls. No one is saying to sacrefise anything else in the program for curls, it takes 3 min to do a couple sets of curls 2 times a week or something.
I don't think they are only good for shaping, but for just adding size too. Yes, you can get big arms without curls, but it will probably be faster with curls. No one is saying to sacrefise anything else in the program for curls, it takes 3 min to do a couple sets of curls 2 times a week or something.
I agree with you Karks, and may add that the diet is the "king" manipulator of growth, remove this very thing, and the arms stay as sticks no matter what one does.......
Best wishes
Chillen
We're not saying you have to get fat. And I'm willing to bet your brother would have even bigger, or gotten his big arms sooner had he done curls (in addition to whatever else he was doing) I don't get what people have got against curls? It's just an exercise used for the goal of getting bigger biceps or stronger elbow flexion (which is a movement used quite a bit, have you ever put on a backpack with one hand? Elbow flexion is a part of many movements we do in life)
Greg Valantino's arms were measured as 28 inches. Biggest arms ever recorded.
Arnold, at his peek had 22 inch arms. ( and he was 6'2 )
Sorry, I call bull ***** on your friend.
either your lying, or you can't measure arm size correctly....or your friend has fatceps. LOL
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:yelrotflmao:
The dude in Phates pic was a "stupid" man, and has paid a huge price for his mistakes with steroids. Even the best body builders in the world (whom tend to use steroids in an "educated" manner) do not have 27 inch arms on average, and it is very high odds, if one is going natural, one isnt going to have 27 inch arms (or ones that are worth showing).
I agree with Phate, In calling BS.
Best wishes,
Chillen
Personally, I like curls. I'm a girl
I can't imagine not doing curls. In fact, I'm not sure how else I'd work my biceps with free weights.
The only other way I can think of to work your biceps would be chin-ups or pull-ups.
But 27" biceps without doing curls? Come on ...
I can't imagine not doing curls. In fact, I'm not sure how else I'd work my biceps with free weights.
The only other way I can think of to work your biceps would be chin-ups or pull-ups.
But 27" biceps without doing curls? Come on ...