This may be a silly question but....

How do I know how much weight to use for tricep pulldowns and tricep extensions.

For tricep dips it's up to half my bodyweight that I am dipping and I cannot do many but extensions I do a lot more.

I ask because I upped the weight to 15k yesterday and my shoulders are mildly aching today but not my triceps.

I'm no expert but i think it depends if you want to just tone up your triceps or build muscle on them. I use a weight that I can just about do 8 reps on, and do 4 sets of those

As Kirsten says it depends whether you want to build up or tone up. High weights low reps will build you up whereas low weights higher reps will tone you up. Being female I am more interested in toning up than building up and I have noticed a big improvement over the few months i've been going to gym. I aim to do between 12 and 15 reps. If I can do 15 reps easy on a weight I put it up a bit - last 2-3 reps should be really difficult. Goodbye to batwings (hopefully!)

well i do it in a class at the gym and with that we actually vary what we do. combination of tricep press' and extensions. a good one thou is kick backs. easiest way to do this is to go on all fours with a weight in one hand have ur arm bent at ur side at 90 degree then extend it backwards till its straight. do a few of those and you really start to feel it.

If your shoulders but not your triceps are aching I would think you should look at your posture and technicque.

It sounds like youre straining or putting stress on areas you shouldnt be.

As for the how much weight? Well it should be a little more than is comfortable. You should be exerting yourself and it should be hard work to finish your reps. If you can complete it easily move up a level.

Personally I do 10 or 12 reps in 3 sets. But everyone has their own ways.

I agree with Kathleen, I believe if it's too easy you aren't working hard enough. You should find it hard and once you get used to the weights you should gradually go higher. I believe no pain no gain. Of course you need to make sure you warm up and cool down properly. If you are a member of a gym you should be able to get advice from staff. Hope it goes well Roger, or should we call you Desperate Dan

Thanks for your posts. I am not really any wiser about triceps. In a Body Pump class I can use more weight for my triceps than my biceps and use the same weight for shoulder press as triceps. I did have a shoulder injury last year but seems to be OK now. I am reluctant to raise the weight too much as I feel it in my joints.

Guess I will have to stick to trial and error.

(why desperate?) not me at all.

I would say ask someone for example a gym instructor or personal trainer. My gym instructor just let me decide on what weight I wanted to use but especially if you have had an injury it is best to seek professional advice.

Good luck in your quest for knowledge.

hi, dont forget all the exercises in which your arms push straight will work your triceps. bench press, overhead press and in my opinion (which aint worth nowt) the daddy of all upper body exercises pressups, when you can do 100 you will be in pretty good shape x

hi try this do 10 reps at your usual weight, 8 at abigger weight you can manage, then 6 reps at a bigger weight , 3 if can do it if not its okay finally drop the weight right down to next to nothing, and DONT , stop till you cant do any more even going to 25 reps on your final effort .. then pat yourself on the back.. most muscle groups should be left to recover ie back triceps one day chest biceps the next legs ,abs the next shoulders ect so rest muscles so the can grow ,most women wont grow huge muscles as dont have as much tetestrone as men..

hi paul,for sport relief at my gym a instructor, did as many press ups he could in half a hour , around 530 plus /// he is i guess in his prime, what he suggets is this FIRST MINUTE DO 20 REPS if takes 30 secs ,just rest the other 30secs , 2nd min 20 REPS REST TILL THE 3RD MIN., IS DUE ECT ECT.. i tried it as a trial this is what happened. 1st min 20 reps had 30secs rest, 2nd min 20 reps 30secs rest so in other words out of the ist 2mins had 30secs rest in each min,, 3rd min 20more reps inc 25secs rest,4th min20reps 20secs rest ,,getting harder now.. 5th min 20reps but now only got 15SECS OR LESS TO GO BEFORE THE MIN IS UP AS TIRED , just made it BUT on the 6th set only did about 6 more.. total in all 106 , he is to try for 600 in 30 mins on may 1st ill def be there to watch and help motivate him hope to try and dabble in a spot of training to improve on my rates ,, i agree with you p/ups a total upper routine ,esp ,if push it paul ..

hi, if your new to press ups you soon discover that the abs also get a good work out. they're a bit old fashion but they work try them in slow motion or hold the bent arm position for a second or two, for explosive power try to push off the floor with a hand clap, be careful though with the landing!

hi everyone /guess your right paul cos as you do press ups if you look down you can see your abs working , also as you prob know doing a press up with one arm on a med ball the other on the deck alt arms is tough to , i suppose we all dont realise use of own body weight exercises works wonders WITHOUT ANY WEIGHTS AT ALL ,at the gym circuit trn no weights istough ,and no weights in site.. all food for thought..

Is a press up like a USA push up? A press up here, is like a "Dip" if you know what I mean.

600 Pressups or pushups is A LOT!

hi matt its paul it will be a push up usa terms yes i agree 600 is a lot i tried 20 rest 30 secs 20 rest 30secs ect and managed 1o8 , gym instuctor age 24 536 hope to try and catch him at 54 i wont but will have fun trying,, if do 30mins of push ups 20 a min could in theory do 600 which is his ultimate aim ... and what a workout it is YOU ONLY FEEL PAIN WHEN YOUR ALIVE ////

I've got to get on a program!

hi, sounds a little OTT to me i must admit, in my twenties i managed to inflame the ligaments that tie the chest muscles to the sternum by overdoing things a bit and it was very sore and a B*****d to get rid of! i must admit my mottos now are; no pain my gain, any exercise is good exercise and good form brings a good form. dont hurt yourself it defeats the object!