I'm working Stage 3 now, which has multiple exercises where the arms are working separately, sometimes doing something completely different at a given time. I find that for a certain dumbbell weight, sometimes my left arm will be about at failure while my right arm might be feeling about ready to increase.
I have been using the same weight for both arms, hoping that the left arm will catch up. Is this the best approach? Or should I pick weights that are at the right challenge level for that arm?
go by your weakest arm. it will catch up and you'll keep from widening the gap. you're doing enough work (albeit easy) with the strong arm to keep it from not getting any benefit. also be sure to check/work on mobility, flexibility, and prehab. it may not be raw strength that is actually the problem.
Thanks! I certainly don't want to get even more out of balance. I'll pay more attention and see if there could be some other underlying issue with my left arm.
BTW, thanks for the workout logs. I've been using them since 1A1 and have a veritable book of them now!
Most everyone has a more dominant side.....usually it's related to your handedness. I'm left handed, so my left arm is stronger. But, I stray from that when it comes to my legs/glutes, my right side is stronger, oddly enough.
Technically, it's supposed to be that way, Jane. The opposite top and bottom. I forget if it's a brain thing or if it's a more mundane "the body tends to work that way" thing… but I remember reading that basically that's the way it was.
Melly, you're welcome. Glad you found them useful.
Most everyone has a more dominant side.....usually it's related to your handedness. I'm left handed, so my left arm is stronger. But, I stray from that when it comes to my legs/glutes, my right side is stronger, oddly enough.
I have noticed that as well, and I have a theory that stems from having children. I am right handed, and my left leg side is stronger than my right. I theorize that it's because when kids are young, we carry them in the non-dominant arm so that the dominant arm is free to do things. With the extra weight on the non-dominant leg, that leg gets stronger over time. Just a theory, but it seems to fit. . .of course, if you don't have kids, and no other explanation of extra weight on the non-dominant side, that theory doesn't hold.
Interestingly, I'm stronger on my right side, top and bottom. With a much bigger gap in leg strength.
Melly, when you get to exercises that you do one side at a time (e.g., two-point rows), do your weaker side first, and do as many as you can, then do the same amount with your stronger side.
Uneven arms question
Linear Mode
