# The mystery of the gigantic Popeye forearms **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 30, 2007, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-the-gigantic-popeye-forearms/431722 "2007-12-30T19:12:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-the-gigantic-popeye-forearms/431722/21 "2007-12-31T14:25:42Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Moto] [look at SN Rincon.](http://www.fredsplace.org/images/rush/week1/) [/QUOTE] I found myself looking at FN Barrick instead. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-the-gigantic-popeye-forearms/431722/22 "2007-12-31T14:30:15Z")
[QUOTE=Crafter\_Man] I found myself looking at FN Barrick instead. 😛 [/QUOTE] Yeah, she ain’t bad. She can touch up my bulkhead anytime. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-the-gigantic-popeye-forearms/431722/23 "2015-06-03T09:12:07Z")
OK, I think I’ve finally come up with a plausible explanation for this. I just learned about [lymphedema](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lymphedema), a medical condition in which limbs (or parts of them) become enormously bloated by fluid retention. [Googling for pictures of the condition](https://www.google.com/search?q=lymphedema+arms&tbm=isch) reveals a lot of photographs which very closely match what I saw. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-the-gigantic-popeye-forearms/431722/24 "2015-06-03T11:42:46Z")
Maybe this zombie was descended from **\Alley Oop** : [https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;\_ylt=AwrB8p8L6G5Vw3IADqqJzbkF;\_ylu=X3oDMTIzdmo2b3VqBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZAM3ODg5ZTFhNTc2NTliZTQxYjQyNWU2ZGI4NDI0YzQxMQRncG9zAzE5BGl0A2Jpbmc-?.origin=&back=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3DAlley%2BOoop%26fr%3Dyfp-t-252%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D19&w=784&h=1018&imgurl=rjwizard.files.wordpress.com%2F2014%2F12%2Falley\_oop\_by\_zombiegoon.jpg&rurl=https%3A%2F%2Frjwizard.wordpress.com%2F2014%2F12%2F26%2Falley-oop-its-all-in-the-listening-or-its-about-the-other%2F&size=96.5KB&name=\Alley\<%2Fb\>+\Oop\<%2Fb\>!+–+It’s+All+in+the+Listening%2C+Or+It’s+About+the+Other&p=alley+oop&oid=7889e1a57659be41b425e6db8424c411&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-252&rw=alley+oop&tt=\Alley\<%2Fb\>+\Oop\<%2Fb\>!+–+It’s+All+in+the+Listening%2C+Or+It’s+About+the+Other&b=0&ni=216&no=19&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=134sjjd91&sigb=12p0468iv&sigi=120sc8g91&sigt=12jh88be0&sign=12jh88be0&.crumb=iFnxBO8CwGG&fr=yfp-t-252](https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=AwrB8p8L6G5Vw3IADqqJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTIzdmo2b3VqBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZAM3ODg5ZTFhNTc2NTliZTQxYjQyNWU2ZGI4NDI0YzQxMQRncG9zAzE5BGl0A2Jpbmc-?.origin=&back=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3DAlley%2BOoop%26fr%3Dyfp-t-252%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D19&w=784&h=1018&imgurl=rjwizard.files.wordpress.com%2F2014%2F12%2Falley_oop_by_zombiegoon.jpg&rurl=https%3A%2F%2Frjwizard.wordpress.com%2F2014%2F12%2F26%2Falley-oop-its-all-in-the-listening-or-its-about-the-other%2F&size=96.5KB&name=%3Cb%3EAlley%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cb%3EOop%3C%2Fb%3E%21+%E2%80%93+It%E2%80%99s+All+in+the+Listening%2C+Or+It%E2%80%99s+About+the+Other&p=alley+oop&oid=7889e1a57659be41b425e6db8424c411&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-252&rw=alley+oop&tt=%3Cb%3EAlley%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cb%3EOop%3C%2Fb%3E%21+%E2%80%93+It%E2%80%99s+All+in+the+Listening%2C+Or+It%E2%80%99s+About+the+Other&b=0&ni=216&no=19&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=134sjjd91&sigb=12p0468iv&sigi=120sc8g91&sigt=12jh88be0&sign=12jh88be0&.crumb=iFnxBO8CwGG&fr=yfp-t-252) For those wondering: Popeye’s first appearance in _Thimble Theater_ preceded Alley Oop’s by three years. And Popeye had the ridiculous forearms (and calves) first. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-the-gigantic-popeye-forearms/431722/25 "2015-06-03T13:00:37Z")
> **[Man’s genetic disorder makes one arm supersized, helping him become an arm...](https://news.yahoo.com/blogs/oddnews/man%E2%80%99s-genetic-disorder-makes-one-arm-supersized--helping-him-become-an-arm-wrestling-champion-203600087.html)** > > A man’s rare genetic bone disorder resulted in his right arm being far bigger than his left. Matthias Schlitte’s forearm measures 46cm and has led him to glory in the world of arm wrestling… Matthias can win in his weight class, as he is rather puny except in the one fore arm… where he has large functional muscles. Most other winners have larger biceps … as in upper arm is larger than the forearm… ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-the-gigantic-popeye-forearms/431722/26 "2015-06-03T13:24:15Z")
Some obese people may put the fat on their forearms… they might lose weight from their belly and legs, but not thin out at the arms… thus keep thick arms… Here’s a boy … maybe its just baby fat… Maybe it means they did no excercise, they’d have puny arms unless they had such excess fat [![](https://darkatsports.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/poor-obese-kid.jpg) ](https://darkatsports.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/poor-obese-kid.jpg) lymphedema is a possibility - which means lymph fluid is causing the swelling, it could be lipedema, it would probably affact their lower legs too, … which means unusual fat deposit. In any fat problem, they probably would avoid becoming obese around the torso so as to keep their limbs mobile… you can’t get fat if you can’t eat… when they have a problem with their forearm, they stop eating… here’s an example of someone who lost weight after a developing a problem… NSFW … NSFSP (sane people) [http://www.scielo.br/img/revistas/rcbc/v41n1//0100-6991-rcbc-41-01-00018-gf01.jpg](http://www.scielo.br/img/revistas/rcbc/v41n1//0100-6991-rcbc-41-01-00018-gf01.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-the-gigantic-popeye-forearms/431722/27 "2015-06-03T13:28:36Z")
Guy I knew back in the SCA who made riveted ring mail had arms like that (mostly his right arm, for obvious reasons, which was weird.) ETA - sorry, just noticed this is a zombie. But, I mean, I DID know a guy who DID make riveted mail and DID have weirdly huge forearms. So it’s not like it’s not relevant. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-the-gigantic-popeye-forearms/431722/28 "2015-06-03T14:19:49Z")
> [@Isilder](#): > > [Yahoo News: Latest and Breaking News, Headlines, Live Updates, and More](http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/oddnews/man%E2%80%99s-genetic-disorder-makes-one-arm-supersized--helping-him-become-an-arm-wrestling-champion-203600087.html) > Matthias Schlitte’s forearm measures 46cm and has led him to glory in the world of arm wrestling… > Matthias can win in his weight class, as he is rather puny except in the one fore arm… where he has large functional muscles. > > Most other winners have larger biceps … as in upper arm is larger than the forearm… OK, zombie thread and all but the power tool commercial in that link, featuring Mr. Schlitte, is pretty funny. He obviously has a sense of humor about his unusual gift. The boat scene made me laugh out loud. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-the-gigantic-popeye-forearms/431722/29 "2015-06-03T15:32:40Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > ETA - sorry, just noticed this is a zombie. It is what it is. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-the-gigantic-popeye-forearms/431722/30 "2015-06-03T16:24:50Z")
[Popeye] I wants me brains.[/Popeye] ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2015, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-the-gigantic-popeye-forearms/431722/31 "2015-06-04T01:22:33Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > OK, I think I’ve finally come up with a plausible explanation for this. I just learned about [lymphedema](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lymphedema), a medical condition in which limbs (or parts of them) become enormously bloated by fluid retention. [Googling for pictures of the condition](https://www.google.com/search?q=lymphedema+arms&tbm=isch) reveals a lot of photographs which very closely match what I saw. I saw a guy in Toronto with lymphedema (of the legs) about an hour ago. ---
**Author:** ![SpyOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@SpyOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpyOne)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2015, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-the-gigantic-popeye-forearms/431722/32 "2015-06-04T15:00:59Z")
Since this is already shambling about, there’s no harm in adding another profession that develops massive forearms: baker. My brother baked for Dunkin’ Donuts, and then for a local grocery store, and all the time spent kneading dough and working with just his hands and the flex of his wrist gave him forearms that were big and as hard as rocks. His shorthand for describing how his arms looked back then is to laugh like Popeye. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-the-gigantic-popeye-forearms/431722/33 "2015-06-04T18:47:12Z")
[I just saw this](https://www.facebook.com/wingsofhopeinc/photos/a.447134074413.232775.299390749413/10153369830034414/?type=1). Bockenheimer’s syndrome. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-the-gigantic-popeye-forearms/431722.md?page=1)