Let's talk Tricep muscle

[tytbody]

Yes, the bat wings. I have a video (or more) that has the triceps dips in them.
The Bar Method seems to call them Reverse Pushups. This move is designed to work your tricep muscle.

What I want to know is if you do Tricep pull downs or the one where you hold the weight behind your head with two hands works the muscle in the same way?

If so, then I don't have to do tricep dips right?

I'm not looking for a picture on how to do them, just asking if it's hitting the muscle the same way.

[fatkat555]

The exercise where you hold the weight between your shoulder blades is an alternate to the reverse pushups; however, the reverse pushup or tricep dip uses your body weight as resistance so you will generally have more resistance with this exercise than the alternate and it will help you build strength quickly. That's not to say the alternate is not effective. It is! If you have wrist issues, shoulder issues, or are unsure of form, I'd advise you to use the alternate method to protect your joints. Ensure that your elbows are close to your head and point them straight up. Never come to the top or bottom range of motion to stay in isometric contraction and you will get a great workout with the alternate.

[tytbody]

Great explanation. thank you very very much. so I could go heavier like 25 doing it the alternate way until I can push myself up on the dips right? I'm sure i"d be burning.

How much weight are we using when we do it the regular way? Like is there a percentage.

[NoraKate]

NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
no tricep dips!

*sorry. suddenly channeling my physical therapist*

she swears that even people without prior wrist or shoulder problems should steer clear of them


here's a brief blurb about why not to do them
http://www.livestrong.com/article/11...der-exercises/

a heavy weight training perspective
http://www.ironmanmagazine.com/blogs...s-good-or-bad/


aaaand a video is embedded here
http://exercisesforinjuries.com/shou...d-tricep-dips/


I'll admit I've occasionally succumbed to the weird they're-doing-it-on-the-dvd peer pressure

and oooooh have I regretted it

[CatInTheHat]

I believed the tricep dips and the overhead tricep press were the same exercise, and the tricep pulldowns (I assume you are talking about the machine?) were similar to the triceps pushup - that's like a pushup except you have your arms bent and elbows at your sides.

I don't have a problem with tricep dips, but don't particularly love them because I always feel like my elbows are going to break! I've never been good at equating weight in one exercise though to the matching exercise with a dumbbell. With the dip, obviously I'm lifting my entire body weight, but I could never lift a dumbbell of even 1/3 my body weight with an overhead tricep press. With a tricep pulldown I might pull 30 lbs, but with the pushup, again, lifting my body weight. That part confuses me - like, why can't I lift more with the weights if I can lift my whole body?

[tytbody]

Cat I hear you loud and clear. I liked tricep pull downs, when I went to the gym.

Thanks for the links Nora Kate. These are things we should know. Especially that you can build these small muscles without being a contortionist.

[Lucky Star]

Originally Posted by NoraKate

NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
no tricep dips!

NoraKate, thank you for this info. Very important, especially for those of us with shoulder issues!

ETA - So what tricep moves are safe? I like skullcrushers (and variations) and tricep kickbacks or whatever they're called. Tricep pushups are very, very hard for me. What else is recommended?

[tytbody]

Omg, did you see the bob Harper one? As I was watching I had to stop because it was painful to watch. So sad he has her doing 100?? She'll pay when she is a woman of a certain age. No darn way. 100. Does he make people on Biggest loser do 100?

They are out of my repertoire. That way I don't have to be so hard on myself for not doing them.

[Lucky Star]

Yes I saw that. I'm also never doing them again, yay!

[tytbody]

You know, all I want to do is keep the body moving, 100 is torture to any one , boring and it not going to build the muscle any faster then if you did 10. If you were to do them.

Where I got off on the tricep dip was watching Burr Lenard in The Bar Method. I'll sit on my butt and use my tiny 10 pound weights.