aesthetics

The world’s largest natural (well, to an extent) biceps once belonged to the Austrian Oak, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who’s 22” pythons led him to six consecutive Mr. Olympia victories.

(Don’t get us started on those ridiculous 31” oil or cement-filled biceps that currently hold the record and make even Popeye look well-proportioned.)

But these biceps measurements don’t only include everyone’s favorite muscle to flex. In fact, the often-forgotten horseshoe-shaped triceps account for about ⅔ of your upper arm mass.

If you want beastly arms and tight-fitting sleeves, here’s how to build aesthetic triceps:

That’s right, we said the “C-word.” Nope, not that one … cardio.

There’s somehow more than enough time in your schedule for a five-day split, daily shopping for supplements, and arguing with other forum-goers about whether a bodybuilder is natty or not.

But, as luck would have it, cardio always falls into last place on your to-do list (ah, shucks).

You were just about to hop onto the treadmill when you realized you had to complete your taxes by hand ASAP, willingly sit in a traffic jam on the freeway, or tune into an ad about “turkey neck.”

(Funny how these things never come up on chest day.) B.S. excuses aside, building a truly aesthetic physique requires two steps: packing on lean mass and trimming down excess body fat.

This aesthetic cardio workout will take care of step #2 as painlessly as possible.

Building an aesthetic, head-turning physique is all about perfecting your “ratios.”

Classic bodybuilder Steve Reeves is a prime example of the Golden Ratio and Grecian Ideal in action — mastering the most appealing arm-to-calf, shoulder-to-waist, & thigh-to-knee ratios.

Yet, even in those newbie days where the gains follow at warp speed, one area is notoriously stubborn: that coveted V taper made famous by stars like Brian Buchanan and Troy Alves.

So how do you sculpt a chiseled V taper, slim down your core, and broaden your shoulders?

Our Ultimate V Taper Workout guide holds the answer.

The forearms are like the calves of the upper body.

They’re incredibly stubborn, you pray that other exercises will target them by sheer luck, and they’re far too weak by the end of a workout to justify a few isolation sets (all common excuses).

… which might explain the T-Rex arms.

But if you want to super-size your forearms to match your growing bis and tris, Jeremy Ethier’s Forearm Workout might be your answer.

Here’s a look at this two-day specialization routine:

Your first pit stop after walking through those gym doors is where ‘men become boys,’ parting the crowd to claim your spot in the bench press line.

But the progress is somehow evading all logic.

You add 45 after 45, can bench 1.5x your body weight, and make steady progress every week. And, yet, your chest gains are stalling, and your pecs look … well … less than impressive.

A shirtless jog or beach day should be a point of pride, not shame!

Check out our aesthetic chest workout for bigger pecs that’ll turn at the gym, the beach, and everywhere in between.