New to weights

vblair77

Hi all. I've been working out steady and lifting progressively heavier weights since Jan. I use the weight machines since the free weight area is always packed and I'm honestly clueless over there. I've been getting great results...my arms are toning up, my stomach is shrinking, my spare tire is disintegrating (I also use Elliptical for 20 to 45 mins). My issue is that my right arm is noticeably leaner and more toned than my left. I am right handed but since my job is clerical all of my "work" for shaping up happens at the gym. I think on the machines I'm somehow still favoring my right arm. Should I just do extra workouts with resistance bands and/or hand weights to target my left arm? Is this normal in the beginning? Maybe I'm just overthinking it but it's noticeable enough that my teen pointed it out to me. Any advice? Thanks!

STEVE142142

I'll only speak for myself cause I know everybody is different. I'm also right handed and I noticed that my right arm has more definition and is more vascular than my left arm.

My suggestion to you would be you use free weights. Thinking about it I think since we're right arm dominant psychologically we might be using more Force without right arm which is getting aspect better results

sammyliftsandeats

I'm right handed too and stronger with my right arm. You can do one armed rows or other unilateral movements and do some extra reps with your left arm to help balance it out but also remember that humans are not perfectly symmetrical.

canadianlbs

also right-handed - and a right-footed cyclist too, which i'm trying to level out a little. i lift free weights and i do little nickel-and-dime things to try and help it, such as using the left hand for carrying plates and wrangling the spring clips that hold them onto the bar.

standard recommendation i've seen bros give each other is to do 'extra sets' with the weak side. this is more dumbbell-specific but i don't see why that's not transferrable to anything one-handed you can do with a machine. start with the weak side first, and keep your right side to the same weight/volume that the left can do.