Muscle size vs. weight gain

Gettin'stronger · 08-26-2005, 03:20 PM

I just finished reading Brawn. In it the author states that in order to add an inch to your arms, expect to add about 30lbs of mass to your entire body. True? If so, I should just go ahead and quit trying to build big arms (15 1/2 right now) because I don't want to weigh 210 lbs at 5'7". Am I just spinning my wheels trying to build my arms without massive weight gain?

ShortMick · 08-26-2005, 03:27 PM

Big arms look a little silly when every other bodypart is underdeveloped. Not to mention that they aren't terribly functional (what good is it to have a strong elbow flexion/extionsion if your weak at the shoulder joint?).

guyfromkop · 08-26-2005, 03:28 PM

what's wrong with weighing 210 at 5'7?

***iron addict*** · 08-26-2005, 03:32 PM

Stuart is PRETTY close to right on, but 20 lbs does it for many guys.

TRY this: go to the grocery store and grab just a 1 pound steak. Now stick it up to your biceps and gaze in wonderment about how much friggin bigger you bicep would be with only that 1 lb on each side going on. The problem is that for MOST people, until you FORCE the body to grow by working the major structures such as legs and back, you will not be likely to add the weight directly to your arms.

Most people are not very genetically suited to synthesizing large amounts of muscle tissue on demand. Work biceps and triceps and you have perhaps worked 5-8 % of your overall muscle mass. Now instead, squat or deadlift heavy and you are working 70-80% of your muscle mass at once.

Which of these two activities sent a strong signal to your body that it better get better at growing muscle? That’s what I though you would say

IA

the incredible bulk · 08-26-2005, 04:20 PM

I think it also depends where you are in your training.

For instance, when I started lifting and added my first 20 lbs or so to my frame, my arms grew roughly 2 inches. And I'd bet that now I'll have to add another 30 lbs or so for another 2 inches, which would get me to my calculated "genetic potential" arm size according to the formula in Brawn.

I've read all of the Brawn books, and the formula's given in them have all matched up pretty close with my own experiences.

Hope that helps!

the incredible bulk · 08-26-2005, 04:23 PM

P.S. 15.5" - 16" arms on a 5'7 frame probably looks huge, as arms of that size are even impressive to non-lifters on taller people.

ShortMick · 08-26-2005, 04:29 PM

Mine are about 17". I'm 5'6" and weigh 238-242.

Then again, I don't do much direct bicep work. And a lot of the tricep work I do is really lockout work for the bench press rather than specifically trying to train the triceps.

the incredible bulk · 08-26-2005, 04:41 PM

Wow Mick, you must look like a freakin' T-Rex (in a good way of course). ;-)

ShortMick · 08-26-2005, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the incredible bulk

Wow Mick, you must look like a freakin' T-Rex (in a good way of course). ;-)

LOL! I've made that joke myself. My arms are about that long, proportionately, too. I can't get my elbows on the ground when doing a floor press, hahaha! I figure I should be benching about 650 since my range is probably 7 inches!

**Halfway** · 08-26-2005, 04:50 PM

stuarts figure is a lot closer to the mark than arnie's 10lbs...

I remember reading something by Darden (or jones, I forget) where he discussed somatypes, and had noticed there were 'arm people' and 'torso people' - one group could build large arms relatively easily and the other could build torso size but not their appendages.

a guy I train with has almost the same size arms at 150lbs but his chest is 10" smaller than mine.. mine refuse to grow no matter how much I bench or row, but my chest measurement keeps going up each year. I guess it's just genetic

08-26-2005, 03:20 PM	#1
Gettin'stronger Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 274	Muscle size vs. weight gain I just finished reading Brawn. In it the author states that in order to add an inch to your arms, expect to add about 30lbs of mass to your entire body. True? If so, I should just go ahead and quit trying to build big arms (15 1/2 right now) because I don't want to weigh 210 lbs at 5'7". Am I just spinning my wheels trying to build my arms without massive weight gain?

08-26-2005, 03:27 PM	#2
ShortMick Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Under the bar. Posts: 1,406	Big arms look a little silly when every other bodypart is underdeveloped. Not to mention that they aren't terribly functional (what good is it to have a strong elbow flexion/extionsion if your weak at the shoulder joint?). __________________ 744/501/672 (1917) Elite 242

08-26-2005, 03:28 PM	#3
guyfromkop Strength Verified Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: phoenixville, pa Posts: 1,264	what's wrong with weighing 210 at 5'7? __________________ “Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself”: FDR Dynamo Club Powerlifting - We applaud our successes and mock your failures

08-26-2005, 03:32 PM	#4
*iron addict* Voice of Reason Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In Zen Posts: 22,132	Stuart is PRETTY close to right on, but 20 lbs does it for many guys. TRY this: go to the grocery store and grab just a 1 pound steak. Now stick it up to your biceps and gaze in wonderment about how much friggin bigger you bicep would be with only that 1 lb on each side going on. The problem is that for MOST people, until you FORCE the body to grow by working the major structures such as legs and back, you will not be likely to add the weight directly to your arms. Most people are not very genetically suited to synthesizing large amounts of muscle tissue on demand. Work biceps and triceps and you have perhaps worked 5-8 % of your overall muscle mass. Now instead, squat or deadlift heavy and you are working 70-80% of your muscle mass at once. Which of these two activities sent a strong signal to your body that it better get better at growing muscle? That’s what I though you would say IA __________________ For info about personal training consultations email me at ironaddict@ironaddicts.com "A human being is a part of a whole, called by us, universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest... a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty." Albert Einstein __________________________________________________ _____ If you are NOT a paying client, a friend, or a staff member, do NOT PM or email me asking for advice. Please post your questions on the forums. I simply do not have time to answer everyone's questions.

08-26-2005, 04:29 PM	#7
ShortMick Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Under the bar. Posts: 1,406	Mine are about 17". I'm 5'6" and weigh 238-242. Then again, I don't do much direct bicep work. And a lot of the tricep work I do is really lockout work for the bench press rather than specifically trying to train the triceps. __________________ 744/501/672 (1917) Elite 242

08-26-2005, 04:20 PM	#5
the incredible bulk Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Oilberta Posts: 718	I think it also depends where you are in your training. For instance, when I started lifting and added my first 20 lbs or so to my frame, my arms grew roughly 2 inches. And I'd bet that now I'll have to add another 30 lbs or so for another 2 inches, which would get me to my calculated "genetic potential" arm size according to the formula in Brawn. I've read all of the Brawn books, and the formula's given in them have all matched up pretty close with my own experiences. Hope that helps!

08-26-2005, 04:23 PM	#6
the incredible bulk Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Oilberta Posts: 718	P.S. 15.5" - 16" arms on a 5'7 frame probably looks huge, as arms of that size are even impressive to non-lifters on taller people.

08-26-2005, 04:41 PM	#8
the incredible bulk Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Oilberta Posts: 718	Wow Mick, you must look like a freakin' T-Rex (in a good way of course). ;-)

08-26-2005, 04:50 PM	#10
Halfway physique verified and moderator Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,046	stuarts figure is a lot closer to the mark than arnie's 10lbs... I remember reading something by Darden (or jones, I forget) where he discussed somatypes, and had noticed there were 'arm people' and 'torso people' - one group could build large arms relatively easily and the other could build torso size but not their appendages. a guy I train with has almost the same size arms at 150lbs but his chest is 10" smaller than mine.. mine refuse to grow no matter how much I bench or row, but my chest measurement keeps going up each year. I guess it's just genetic

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