TRICEPS WON'T GET SORE!

MrsJennaKwasniewski
MrsJennaKwasniewski Posts: 204 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi guys and gals,
I am still morbidly obese but I am working on losing weight. I have been doing pretty well at a steady 1-2 sometimes 2.5lbs a week loss. I am going to the gym and walking as well as strength training to try to tone up the loose skin as I lose weight.

That being said, I do arm exercises for my triceps (which I try to do more tricep exercises than other exercises for my arms since I foresee that being a "batwing problem area" later) and I don't get tricep burn or muscle "pain" after my workout. Instead my biceps close to the inner elbow is where it "hurts" the most. Why is this happeneing?

I do use a machine that is for triceps where you push down with your elbows close to your body but I mainly do tricep rope push-downs (2-3 sets of 15 reps thoughout my time at the gym)

This is my 3rd week at the gym and I think that is probably to early to see results in my arms (especially with the layer of fat over them lol) but I do notice my biceps looking more full as I do the tricep rope pull-downs. I just don't understand why my biceps would be the ones "hurting" after a tricep workout...unless I am doing it wrong...however based on the videos I have watched I am not doing it wrong. In this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLvSbziilmo) I do it the 2nd way the dude does it. I will try doing it the first way he did it with his knees bent and sorta hunched over next time but until then do you all have any suggestions or comments or anything on what is going on?

Replies

  • MomTo3Lovez
    MomTo3Lovez Posts: 800 Member
    yep I have that dreaded flappy arm syndrome lol I hate it, I am going to start doing weight lifting/free weights soon so hopefully as I lose weight the flappiness will diminish and I will have arms that are toner. Good luck!
  • Fit2BeQueen
    Fit2BeQueen Posts: 2
    Just because you aren't sore doesn't mean you aren't getting a good workout. That being said, you may want to try switching it up. Soreness us usually associated with your muscles not being use to what they are doing so they may be "bored" :-) Try heavier weight, Lower reps (8-10) or add some new moves like kick backs or scull crushers... maybe try some super sets? Shake it up a bit ;-)
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    They don't have to get sore.
  • kaylatee0
    kaylatee0 Posts: 65 Member
    My triceps don't ever get sore.. ever! I do the rope pulldowns that you describe, bar push downs, skull crushers, kickbacks and extensions (not all in in workout) and simply don't get sore! That doesn't mean it isn't working though, I'm seeing TONS of definition in my arms lately and have definitely put on some muscle.

    Biceps and Shoulders, always sore after.

    Same story with my back.. I work my back hard and don’t get that “burn” that I do with other muscle groups.

    Sore doesn't mean it’s working (contrary to all those “fitspo motivation” images you see). If you are adequately fuelling and resting your muscles, you likely won’t feel sore all that often.
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    That being said, I do arm exercises for my triceps (which I try to do more tricep exercises than other exercises for my arms since I foresee that being a "batwing problem area" later) and I don't get tricep burn or muscle "pain" after my workout. Instead my biceps close to the inner elbow is where it "hurts" the most. Why is this happeneing?

    I just don't understand why my biceps would be the ones "hurting" after a tricep workout...unless I am doing it wrong...however based on the videos I have watched I am not doing it wrong. In this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLvSbziilmo) I do it the 2nd way the dude does it. I will try doing it the first way he did it with his knees bent and sorta hunched over next time but until then do you all have any suggestions or comments or anything on what is going on?

    It really hard to say without seeing the exact spot where you are hurting along with a video of you doing the exercise. Sounds to me its not the bicep at all but the tendon flaring on the inner elbow(golfer's elbow). Usually causes by overuse and/or bad form.

    Regardless what it is, its not unusual for elbows to hurt on tricep work. One exercise may hurt one person and not effect another at all even with proper form. This holds true even more as one gets older.

    Advice is to let a doctor tell you exactly what is going on with you.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,988 Member
    Just a note: doing tricep exercises won't rid you of "bat wings". If there's excess fat and skin there, no amount of exercising will rid you of it.
    As for getting sore, it's probably because you're focusing on them all the time. Train the same muscle over and over again (especially daily) then the muscle adapts and becomes conditioned to activity.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Try switching up with exercises you do for the tricpes, or increase the weight and lower the reps.
  • lynnpertle
    lynnpertle Posts: 34 Member
    My question is this. I do BodyPump at the Y M C A. I am just starting out and heard that it is important to do strength training as well as cardio.
    So... When I am sore from Body Pump, I am tired and sore the next day or two and do no exercise then. Not even walking.!!!
    Should I keep on plugging away and hope it will get better one day?

    Thanks for your advise.
  • tomomatic
    tomomatic Posts: 1,794 Member
    There's lots of good advice on this thread. I'm just going to throw in a few movements that you can go look up:

    Skull Crushers <--- one of my favs. I do this with a curl bar.
    Tricep push downs <-- rope or V bar or lat bar variations
    Tricep extensions
    Tricep dip <-- You don't need a machine for this. You can just use a stable office chair or park bench.
    Tricep kickback <--- kicks *kitten*. Keep that elbow high!
    Balance Ball pushup with a tricep variation.
    And that cheezy tricep machine which seems to replicate the motion of someone slamming their ski poles into the ground.

    I vary my workout depending on what station is available. Good luck!
  • MrsJennaKwasniewski
    MrsJennaKwasniewski Posts: 204 Member
    Thank you all for the comments. I will definately be looking into those exercises and watching videos to get my form right from now on!

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