How To Get Big Biceps - The Basics
- 1. Right then, lets face the harsh reality here, how many times have you seen a stacked bodybuilder being approached by a bunch of jealous looking guys at the gym and heard them utter the phrase "Wow - we love your calves". It just doesn't happen does it. The fact of the matter is that the majority of new or intermediate trainers are more focused on the size and shape of your guns, and big biceps have a tendency to be used as a barometer for strength and as a measure of success in your training program.
- 2. Of course, serious lifters and competitive bodybuilders will know that just as much hard work and dedication goes into developing each single body part, and clearly your peers will be hugely impressed when they spot your huge lats or traps. However, for a huge number of basic and intermediate lifters the focus will be on the growth and development of their biceps. Adding inches to your arms will be the primary motivator in your training regimen. So, just for you guys here are some fundamentals to stick to in order to help you reach that goal and show you how to get big biceps.
- 3. Bicep Fundamental 1: Concentrate On Working The Bicep.
- 4. This may seem like an obvious statement but it is incredible just how much it is ignored. You will doubtless have spent time in the gym and seen guys throwing huge weights around, grunting wildly and slapping each other on the back congratulating themselves on a massive set of barbell curls. The problem is however, that the vast majority of the work they have just done will be for nothing because they have been swinging from the shoulder or hips and the bicep has been largely under- used.
- 5. It really doesn't matter which bicep exercise you are performing, whether it's a huge compound exercise, barbell curl etc, or an isolation exercise on the machines it is of the utmost importance that you focus on working the bicep. Every single ounce of the weight has to be moved by the contraction of your bicep and by that movement alone. At the start of the movement just take a second and concentrate all your effort into making sure of good form and technique. Feel the bicep contracting and curl the bar or dumbell slowly, taking your time to allow the bicep to bulge and peak. It is incredible how much more you will gain from the exercise if you just take the time to concentrate on it.
- 6. Bicep Tip 2: Increase The Weight
- 7. This is a key element in your bicep development and also one of the toughest things to get right. The problem occurs when the addition of weight means that form and technique are compromised. It is a common feature among newbie lifters that they tend to stay training at a certain weight and simply increase the reps in the mistaken belief that this will lead to huge gains. In fairness, at the start of a training program this may hold some truth but the dreaded plateau will not be far away .
- 8. The simple fact of the matter is that you have to increase the weight once you have reached your desired rep range. There is a fairly simple maxim to observe here and that is that your bicep, or indeed and other muscle group you choose to exercise, will grow in line with the amount of weight you are lifting, and how many reps you perform. This will then be aided by the correctness of your technique. Again we find ourselves going back to the word "concentration". Too many gym members simply forget to concentrate on what they are doing and as a result they lose out on a lot of their potential gains. Being able to fully concentrate is key when it comes to performing at a higher weight for the first time. Feel the blood really gush into your bicep and enjoy the pump.
- 9. Bicep Basics 3: Keep A Full Range Of Motion
- 10. A rep will only count as a full rep if you have fully completed the exercise. There is no point in a partial rep. If you are performing a set of 10-12 concentration curls then you have to ensure that you have fully extended and contracted your bicep all the way through the movement. You have to make every rep count fully and this is the only sure fire way to get the blood flowing through the muscle and this then has the added benefit of building a great pump .
- 11. I personally have a bit of an issue with the whole idea of training to failure as I don't really know exactly what it means. I prefer to have a specific number of reps to work to as that gives me the focus I need to concentrate fully on the workout. Try to live and train by the maxim that "Failure is not an option", get all your reps out and perform them to the maximum of your ability. There is absolutely no such thing a half a rep! My gut feeling is that the majority of the time when people are training to failure they are actually giving up a little bit too early. If you are struggling to get the last couple of reps out with the correct form then consider dropping the weight temporarily. Alternatively, if you are getting the reps out and only feeling the burn at the top of the muscle and not really getting that deep pump that you need to really build
- 12. The real fact of the matter here is that building big biceps is not going to happen overnight and it is certainly never going to happen without putting a significant amount of work in first. You can build big biceps and you will find yourself being on the receiving end of those admiring glances as long as you get the basics right. Good luck.