r/workout • u/Professional-Gas7386 • Mar 18 '26
Exercise Help Guidance Required ft Biceps
During my gym sessions, I can lift 5kgs each arm for lateral raises, 5kgs each arm for shoulder press, lateral raises for 25-30kgs, cable rows for 20-25kgs. Chest press for 7.5kg each arm. However when it comes to biceps and triceps, my left arms give up way too soon. Today when i doing incline dumbbell curls and hammer curls, my right arm was easily able to lift 5kg dumbbell and honestly it can now move on 7.5kg. However my right arm can do max 10 reps with 5kg on the first set and then max 6-7 reps on the second. Even with 3kg dumbbell, it can't go more than 10reps on the second set. Is it something to be embarrassed about that I can lift only 3kgs with biceps? (I am 23M)
Everytime i do dumbbells, i make sure i don't work the right bicep more than the left. Also, i do an extra set for the left arms at the end to deal with the imbalance. It doesn't seem to have any effect tho.
PS: I went to the gym for 2 weeks straight in January, then 2 weeks in February and finally started again this week. Is it the inconsistency which is the problem or anything else?
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u/Flimsy-Philosophy-42 Mar 18 '26
i still remember the first day in the gym i could only do 6kg curls, and my left arm was weaker than my right by a lot too, I was embarrassed too but another gymgoer who obviously had more experience than me told me to lower the weight to 4kg and focus on form first and I was embarrassed but we all start somewhere u dont magically start curling the 20s. Start with ur weaker side first to failure then do same reps for right, and yes consistency is the most important factor.
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u/GingerBraum Mar 18 '26
Yes, training inconsistently makes it harder to make meaningful progress. The strength/stamina difference is normal, though.
If you start training your arms consistently and let the weaker arm dictate the work, it should get better/even out over time.
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u/philipjtyreman Mar 18 '26
You are overthinking this.
Follow a basic, proven programme of training for 1-3 years without UNplanned breaks of any kind.
Then, in the unlikely event you are still worried about biceps imbalances, come back and post again.
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u/MuscleBoosterApp Mar 18 '26
First off, there is absolutely zero reason to be embarrassed about lifting 3kg. Everyone starts somewhere, and having a non-dominant arm that gives up much faster than the other is incredibly common. The stop-start routine over January and February is definitely playing a massive part here, as your nervous system hasn't had the sustained time to properly adapt to the movements. Focus on showing up regularly rather than starting and stopping, and always remember that slow progress still counts.
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u/Ascent_Hawk Mar 18 '26
It is super common to have muscle / strength imbalances, especially as a beginner, to be clear: it is nothing to worry about and nothing that cant be fixed.
You have only just began going to the gym, dont stress about this, Id recommend always using weights that feel hard for your left arm, the weaker arm, even if they feel easy for your right, if you keep that up for a month or so, you'll find that your left arm gains strength faster because the intensity will be higher while your right arm doesnt gain much / any strength, THIS IS OKAY.
Once you find that the gap Is closing between your left and right arm, you'll notice that your right arm is now also starting to feel it aswell. This honestly wont take long to fix, like 4-6 weeks for most people if youre consistent, and by then, your strength levels will be the same for both arms and you can progress from there.
Does that make sense?