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Left biceps hurts on weightlifting noob. Now what?

nomadicink — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:08:08 -0800

Recently started lifting weights a few months ago. Now arm hurts, wtf? In the bid to get in shape, got a trainer, worked with him, did a lot of crossfit stuff, some weightlifting lessons. Have since left "class" and am lifting on my own for about 6 months.

Over the past few weeks I've noticed a dull ache in my left upper arm, in my biceps I think. It's not a fierce or sharp pain, just a dull ache that feels worse if I lift. I tried shifting down to a lower weights, say going from 195 on a seated press to 130 and that helps a lot but the ache is still there.

What should I do? Should I totally stop lifting with my left arm? If so, can I still do weights with my right? Do I visit a doctor? Like I said it's not sharp pain at all, mostly unnoticed as I go through a normal day, so it seems odd to visit a doctor. Is there some time frame about long I should lay off?

Mostly, I'm really kinda freaking out over starting to develop nice definition and form and losing that. Is there anything I can do to prevent that, while attending to the pain/ache?

Is this workout routine a bad idea?

mizrachi — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:59:57 -0800

A trainer at my gym recommended this workout and I'm not entirely sure it's safe or effective or the right one for me. I've itemized the routine below, but in short it involves both upper and lower body workout every day, Monday through Friday, three sets of 10 -12, with one muscle group off per day after what he considers the toughest exercise for that body part. The trainer says it's worth doing for 12 weeks and will help build strength and muscle endurance and that working the same muscles a for five days in a row isn't wrong to do as each exercise targets different parts of the muscle and I'm using fairly low weight.

Here's the workout. Does it make sense? Or is it a mistake? Or should I consider making some substitute exercises?

MONDAY:

Chest - Bench press
Triceps - Rope pull down
Biceps - None
Back - Close grip row
Shoulders - Front raise
Quads - None
Traps - Shoulder Shrug w/straight bar
Hams - None
Calves - Seated calf raise

TUESDAY:

Chest - None
Triceps - Dips
Biceps - Preacher curls
Back - Wide grip pull down
Shoulders - Lateral raise
Quads - Squats
Traps - None
Hams - None
Calves - Donkey calf raise

WEDNESDAY:

Chest - Incline db press
Triceps - Overhead extensions
Biceps - Alternating db curls
Back - None
Shoulders - Military press
Quads - Leg extension
Traps - None
Hams - Seated leg curls
Calves - Angled calf raise

THURSDAY:

Chest - Machine Fly
Triceps - Close grip bench press
Biceps - None
Back - Close grip pull ups
Shoulders - Rear delt machine
Quads - None
Traps - Upright rows
Hams - Straight leg dead lifts
Calves - Standing calf raise

FRIDAY:

Chest - Hammer strength bench press
Triceps - None
Biceps - Seated Incline hammer curl
Back - Wide grip row
Shoulders - None
Quads - Lunges
Traps -DB shoulder shrugs
Hams - Standing leg curl
Calves - None

Why do the weights make me a grump?

JohnFredra — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 15:04:21 -0800

I get into a really crappy mood after lifting weights, and I'd like it to stop. I've been on a regular upper and lower body weight-lifting routine for about 2 months and afterwards I get into a really bad mood. I get extremely impatient and little things really set me off (today it was that the hard-boiled eggs were too runny) and I want to nip this in the bud. Some symptoms/patterns that I've noticed:

I'm a guy, if that has any bearing.
Food intake seems to have something to do with it, as my mood often improves after I eat, but eating before lifting doesn't seem to make all that much difference.
I bike commute 10 miles every day, and I really push myself on parts of the ride. This type of physical exertion has the opposite effect -- it makes me pretty happy and endorphiney.
My girlfriend characterizes me as more of a grump than a jerk when this happens.

I realize that this info is scant at best; I apologize for the relative lack of detail. Could the problem be related to the type of exercise (ie, weights vs. aerobic), or the kinds of foods I'm (not) eating before lifting? Any advice is very much appreciated!

Brave New Exercise

devilsbrigade — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 17:32:29 -0800

Today at the gym I saw a couple guys (football players, as it happens) doing an exercise I hadn't seen before. They started with a 50lb dumbbell in one hand, bent over towards that side (that quad ~ 45 degree angle to the floor), the dumbbell fairly close to the floor. They then pushed off with that quad, jumped/transferred weight to their other foot so their body was completely under their arm, & did a military-press-like motion with the weight. They did 3 sets of 10 with each arm. What is this exercise called? Also, what is that general style of exercise called (more active/full body than simply isolating a particular group), & what are some other examples of this style?

What is the best way to workout using weights?

fox_terrier_guy — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 06:24:04 -0800

Help me understand newer trends in muscle development with weights. OK, so I have been working out using weights off and on for numerous years since I was a teen. In the past I had always been told that you need to work the muscle to (near) exhaustion, as that is what causes growth - well, that and increasing the weight you lift every time if possible.

However, some recent articles I read tells me of a new trend; that of only doing one exercise/session/group and going heavier. For example, rather than doing 5 sets bench press (to say 200#) and then later coming back to the pec deck to fully exhaust the chest, the article says to simply do benches to five sets but try to go to 205#. Then you move on to the next group.

The theory is that when doing the pec deck, you don't actually stimulate growth as the weight will most likely not be heavy enough. I like the idea of streamlining my workouts, but why do workouts if they don't *work*?

So, looking for knowledgable responses on this topic. FWIW, I am a middle age ectomorphic guy and I do try to go to greater weights every time by keeping a logbook.

What is wrong with my arm?

MasonDixon — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 09:23:19 -0800

What is wrong with my arm? Per my wife's encouragement and the fact my waist has migrated to the last hole in my belt, I recently joined a gym. I did an initiatory couple of sets on the Arm/Chest/Back Nautilus machines on Wednesday. Although I am fairly strong, I only did about 20 reps total. I lifted just two or three of the weight plates to get the feel for the machine, far less than the maximum weight I can actually lift.

When I woke up yesterday, my left arm on the inner side of my elbow and upper inner forearm hurt. It hurts even more today. I can't straighten out my arm completely without it hurting, although if I force myself long enough the pain gradually subsides.

Is this the sign of something torn or screwed up? Or just the result of not exercising in a while?