my crooked body

[OTCbooty]

Alrighty girls, I finally got to thinkin' that one of you might have some sage words about my asymmetrical bod....

I just started working out in Jan. of this year and got a clue how to train in Feb. My routine had been more of a powerlifting kind of thing but recently I started adding some purely bb exercises and I'd say my goals are split right down the middle....50/50 strength/appearance.

I feel like I look weird! Anyone got any grand ideas about evening things up? I hear a lot of conflicting things about using bar vs. db's, unilateral work, supplementary weak-side work.....I don't know what to do!

 

[OTCbooty]

PS, I should note that there's almost an inch diff. between left and right upper arm and though I can't measure it, my front delts seem very lop-sided
My back seems to be pretty even....

 

[KBgrl]

cant say much about much... i think u look great!!! nice arms girl!!! keep pumpin the iron!!!
p.s. where are u legs?

 

[OTCbooty]

Umm, don't have any of those....Pics that really include my legs, that is. But here's a snapshot of my left quad!?!


(oops, edited to downsize)

 

[Sassy69]

You have a solid upper body! If it does anything for you, before my last comp I measured 15" bi on the left and 14" on the right. Also my left quad is bigger than my right.

Go figure -- but my mom always said I was a little lop-sided. LOL

 

[AziaReign]

I don't have a clue about training for BBing.......but girrrrrlll........keep up the hard work, you look fabulous!

 

[KBgrl]

Umm, don't have any of those....Pics that really include my legs, that is. But here's a snapshot of my left quad!?!

ohh nice one too !!! wow..i looked at ur arm pics again and i really luv ur biceps.. they pop right on out!! im jealous Nice work!!

 

[OTCbooty]

DAMN sassy, you got some big arms! You must be fairly tall. Mine are like 12.5/13.5 but it's really just the whole left shoulder area that is bigger. I've read that has to do with the muscles overlying the heart???
Thanks ladies for the support

 

[Phemomena]

you know, its really never as bad as we think it is... everyone has one stronger side/arm/leg... its natural...

stick to free weights and hammer strength machines can help even up strength differences... do a slightly higher weight or an extra set on the weak side if it really bothers you

but you look like you're doing fine to me... keep up the good work...

 

[KBgrl]

DAMN sassy, you got some big arms! You must be fairly tall. Mine are like 12.5/13.5 but it's really just the whole left shoulder area that is bigger. I've read that has to do with the muscles overlying the heart???
Thanks ladies for the support

Sassy's arms kick ass!!! they are beautiful... my personal inspiration i might add

 

[BrickGirl]

Love those arms, excellent work!

 

[keiko]

But, side to side symmetry definitely counts. You might want to post this on the Training board as many guys are really into this stuff.

I guess, you need to work the lagging arm more, do you do any cable exercises? YOu might work in some cable lifts for the lagging side and shoulder. I like cable because you can fine tune some of the work--I really like those tear-drop shaped tris and I get a better result doing my sets with the cable.

And in daily life, if you always do stuff with your right (that's the bigger side, right?) practice putting away your groceries, etc. with the other hand. AS you use that side more, it will seem more natural.

You quads are nice, you realize you're not very defined.

If you dropped a little BF your shoulders might look (look not measure) less uneven. It's not that you're a marshmallow, but you are a little smooth.

 

[KBgrl]

Keiko

do u have any pics floatin around here?

 

[smallmovesal]

you look great though - well on your way!

my left bi is lagging too... it'll catch up eventually though. it's already started.

 

[poohbear]

OTC,

I really can't notice the difference, but if you're worried, try working the smaller side first and then do the big side, but with exactly the same amount of weight and reps. The big side will get bored for awhile, but this will ensure eveness in the future. Once the small side catches up, you can increase poundage and reps for both.

Free weights are great, but some machines are good. Look for the ones with rope pulleys or cam mechanisms like the Nautilus. Best pulleys are the Universal. Unfortunately, Universal has gone out of business, so you will rarely see those machines. If the movement seems unnatural, however, stick with the free weights.

Your physique looks awesome. I'm sure you were an athlete. Else you have great genetics to build something like that in just 8 months.

 

[Imnotdutch]

The difference really isnt that noticeable. In your arms it seems to be your triceps that are causing the problem not your biceps (which look balanced to me).

Try doing work with dumb-bells rather than barbells.....this will prevent your stronger side from taking over in the lift. Cables could be used similarly. Also, as somebodt else said, work the weak side first.

Alrighty girls, I finally got to thinkin' that one of you might have some sage words about my asymmetrical bod....

I just started working out in Jan. of this year and got a clue how to train in Feb. My routine had been more of a powerlifting kind of thing but recently I started adding some purely bb exercises and I'd say my goals are split right down the middle....50/50 strength/appearance.

I feel like I look weird! Anyone got any grand ideas about evening things up? I hear a lot of conflicting things about using bar vs. db's, unilateral work, supplementary weak-side work.....I don't know what to do!

 

[tripleV]

i think you look great. dont see any big anomolies. we all have them though, but we notice our own way too much. u understand i have the same thing with diff body parts too.
so bottom line, youre looking fab so keep on lifting!

 

[luv2workout]

You are being WAY too critical of yourself...Its definately NOT noticeable and If it was, who gives a shit! !! You look beautiful!!! I dont think anyone will ever come up to you and say..wow - your left bicep is 1/2 inch smaller than the right...they are thinking "damn that girl looks good"....and to only have been hitting the weights for 6mts????? Keep doing whatever it is your doing because its working!!

 

[luv2workout]

You have a solid upper body! If it does anything for you, before my last comp I measured 15" bi on the left and 14" on the right. Also my left quad is bigger than my right.

Go figure -- but my mom always said I was a little lop-sided. LOL

Damn SASSY!! 15 inchers! I just measured mine and they were a measely 12.5 (not flexed) and I get comments on my bi's often....

 

[OTCbooty]

luv2workout: "You are being WAY too critical of yourself"
---that seems to be something, as a woman, that I'm good at.

Imnotdutch & poohbear: Training one side before the other will necessitate a huge change in my training style so I hope you don't mind clarifying a little for me...like I mentioned, I've been using a powerlifting kind of routine--all deadlifts, squats, pull ups/chin ups, dips, mil. press, bench press and narrow grip press. Obviously the tri work has mostly come from dips and NGpress. So what you suggest for triceps for instance would be to switch to unilateral work, say, dumbbell kickbacks and one armed cable pressdowns, complete all my sets for the weak side, then repeat the exact sets/reps on the stronger side? Thanks for the help.

"I'm sure you were an athlete. Else you have great genetics"----Those pics were taken probably a month and a half ago, maybe 5-6 months into training. I remember my mom doing push ups with me sitting on her back when I was a kid, so she was a pretty strong lady. Must be genetic! I never really did any sports in school, and now that I'm pushing 30, I'm as close to being 'athletic' as I've ever been.

 

[Imnotdutch]

If you are following a powerlifting program you could also do skullcrushers and tri extensions with dumb-bells.....Hannibal posted a good tri exercise on the powerlifting board. I think that these are more effective than kickbacks.

Military presses can be replaced with dumb-bells. I wouldnt go changing your whole routine just to cables and dumb-bells......just modify a few things.

If you can do the dumb-bell exercise with both hands at once I'd do that.....and go until your weakest side fails. If you are going to do one side at a time, I would just alternate sides, starting with the weakest side.

Imnotdutch & poohbear: Training one side before the other will necessitate a huge change in my training style so I hope you don't mind clarifying a little for me...like I mentioned, I've been using a powerlifting kind of routine--all deadlifts, squats, pull ups/chin ups, dips, mil. press, bench press and narrow grip press. Obviously the tri work has mostly come from dips and NGpress. So what you suggest for triceps for instance would be to switch to unilateral work, say, dumbbell kickbacks and one armed cable pressdowns, complete all my sets for the weak side, then repeat the exact sets/reps on the stronger side? Thanks for the help.

 

[jazziemel]

Everyone experience one part being bigger than the other, this is usually because you are stronger on one part of your body part, than the other. For me, my left arm is way stronger than the right, I can lift more weight and more reps than I can with the right, very weird. whichever arm you utlilized the most will be the one with all the strenght, so with all that said, unilaterals will help, bring up any lagging body part.

 

[ann]

I try to concisely remember when loading the machines with weights, to use my weaker arm when lifting ,loading and unloading the weights. Might help that evening-out thing

 

[keiko]

Have I gotten ahold of the wrong end of the stick, here? I thought you were getting ready to compete. Aren't you?

Sorry for my confusion--in real life, your arms are great, who cares about the non-matching measurements? Same with definition...


(My pix are a long ways off--way too many lumps and bumps, still. And my husband hates my old competition pictures as I did look pretty hulking--not mention my big hair phase!)

 

[OTCbooty]

Well, I hate to bump this back up, but...

ann---good idea! I think I'm already doing that though, because my dominant hand (right) is actually the weaker side.

dutch--thanks for clarifying Started putting some of it into play last night.

keiko--No, I'm not getting ready to compete, in any immediate sense. It's something down the road that, like so many others, I'm thinking I'd like to be able to do, but heck, I just got started and I have no idea what's in store for me. I've been concerned though with the increasing imbalance between sides and want to address it if possible before it DOES become a more critical issue. And I'm not concerned with definition at this time; build first, cut later
Would love to see some of your 'hulking' pics--I don't foresee that in my future, but I sure appreciate women who manage to pull it off!

 

[NY Muscle]

hmm

its hard for me to give u my proffesional opinion of your physique unless you send me a nude.

 

[Superman7]

OTC, you look great to me sweetie.. For not having years of training under your belt, you look outstanding.. I can't see any misproportions... Keep up the good work...