HI all.

In my quest to try and get myself back into a shape other than spheroid, I've discovered that my upper body is having a difficult time catching up to my lower budy as far as strength goes.

I compare my legs to drunken frat pledges. I can do all manner of exercise to my legs and they respond with the equivalent of "Thank you sir. May I have another?" My arms, however, are noodles. I can't get them to do much of anything and they tend to fail under relatively light weight.

I understand that the leg muscles are bigger. There are some things I can't change. It's just frustrating.

Don't worry, you'll get there. Takes a while to build strength and size, just have to be patient and trust the process. You could increase your volume on yyour upper body workouts.

I have the opposite, but not because i am lazy, just because many of the leg exercises are hard for me due to my scoliosis (slight spinal twis).

One of the reasons why i am at the moment running a 5x5 strength routine (done strentgh based training before but never in this particular way). 1 ) because i hot plateaus with some of my lifts, and 2) to get my legs a bit stronger as they lack back a tad compared to my growing upper body strentgh.

I don't recall what exercises / workout regime you are doing.

But maybe you got cought up too early in all the isolation exercises, as many do, instead of working on the big compound lifts (squat, benchpress, military press, barbell bendover rows, deadlift, maybe even a powerclean) in a strength oriented program. To actually build first some base strength, plus since they include the whole body, thus kind of make sure that no part really laggs behind.

changing this behaviour, and go away from isolation exercises for a while, might help you.

Sometimes missing arm strength is also a posture issue. Or chest not strong enough, postural chain in the upper to lower back and core not solid enough to support current heavier weights when working the arms. Some people underestimate the role of other muscles . Like a guy who can't hold his core tight enough can't curl up a 30 kilo dumbbell, he'd just be tipping to any of the 4 sides, wherever the weight would pull him. Which of course already happens in smaller cases too.

So you could either really get yourself into a more general strength oriented phase for a few weeks. With much focus on benchpresses / dumbbell press as isolation accessory move, and the other counpound lifts. Or just try to put some more focus with your general exercises on your arms for a while.

In any way, if you don't completely neglet them (as many do with their legs ^^) they will get there. As Ohawkey already said: patience and consistancy! =)

I have the opposite, but not because i am lazy, just because many of the leg exercises are hard for me due to my scoliosis (slight spinal twis).

One of the reasons why i am at the moment running a 5x5 strength routine (done strentgh based training before but never in this particular way). 1 ) because i hot plateaus with some of my lifts, and 2) to get my legs a bit stronger as they lack back a tad compared to my growing upper body strentgh.

I don't recall what exercises / workout regime you are doing.

But maybe you got cought up too early in all the isolation exercises, as many do, instead of working on the big compound lifts (squat, benchpress, military press, barbell bendover rows, deadlift, maybe even a powerclean) in a strength oriented program. To actually build first some base strength, plus since they include the whole body, thus kind of make sure that no part really laggs behind.

changing this behaviour, and go away from isolation exercises for a while, might help you.

Sometimes missing arm strength is also a posture issue. Or chest not strong enough, postural chain in the upper to lower back and core not solid enough to support current heavier weights when working the arms. Some people underestimate the role of other muscles . Like a guy who can't hold his core tight enough can't curl up a 30 kilo dumbbell, he'd just be tipping to any of the 4 sides, wherever the weight would pull him. Which of course already happens in smaller cases too.

So you could either really get yourself into a more general strength oriented phase for a few weeks. With much focus on benchpresses / dumbbell press as isolation accessory move, and the other counpound lifts. Or just try to put some more focus with your general exercises on your arms for a while.

In any way, if you don't completely neglet them (as many do with their legs ^^) they will get there. As Ohawkey already said: patience!.. and i might add: consistancy! =)

Thanks. I don't do a lot of isolation exercises. I try to stick to compound movements in my full body routine. I will do curls and triceps work but it will be after I have done squats, bench or deadlifts (depending on the day).

It'll come - it's just frustrating.

patience young padavan =)

also maybe look into some strentgh based routines for a while. And also: make sure you eat actually enough to support the increase in strength =) also your arms want food! hehe