Discussion
Right, so apparently there's no 'top' section to the chest, it's all one muscle.
I've been benching, and presup-ing, and the lower part of my chest is there - solid as you like.
But there's no line running up the middle! Well, there is but it only runs half way!
Where's my upper chest?! I want my line, damnit! ; )
Will incline pressups help?
I've been benching, and presup-ing, and the lower part of my chest is there - solid as you like.
But there's no line running up the middle! Well, there is but it only runs half way!
Where's my upper chest?! I want my line, damnit! ; )
Will incline pressups help?
didelydoo said:
Are you using your chest to lift?- or are you using delts and tri's? You'd be surprised what a few tweaks on the bench can do for muscle's used. (I was all delt's/tris- now trying to remedy that)
Feels all delts/tris, actually. The chest doesn't really feel used at all, but sure I'm lifting with proper form?MocMocaMoc said:
Feels all delts/tris, actually. The chest doesn't really feel used at all, but sure I'm lifting with proper form?
It probably is- you can be doing it with great form and not really use the chest- try pulling your shoulder blades back, so that at lock out your chest is higher up than your delts. I'd noticed my shoulders were always above my chest and I wasn't really using my chest much at all- keep them lower than the chest.I think this makes sense....
Incline is also good.
I always found that DB press worked my pecs more than BB press did, so perhaps give that a try (particularly incline)!?
Plus, with DBs you can really push your hands together (I always used to turn them so my palms were facing at the top of the movement) and concentrate on contracting the muscle hard in the area you want to develop.
Plus, with DBs you can really push your hands together (I always used to turn them so my palms were facing at the top of the movement) and concentrate on contracting the muscle hard in the area you want to develop.
And of course it's worth remembering that we're all unique, so where you've seen a kind of development and separation in someone else does not mean you can achieve the same; you have what you have. Just train hard, eat well and get plenty of rest and you will get what your genes will allow you! Good luck!
Opara said:
Can you build a good chest just from bodyweight exercises? I work out mainly with DB's at home so the max I can do is a pair of 26kg DB's, chest is an area that's lagging for me.
Yep you can, and from the comfort of your own home as well. If I can't get to the gym, I can do press ups - feet up on sofa or bed, hands on floor, 50 at a time, couple of minutes rest. After 20 odd minutes you're up to 400 reps no probs. Or if you can get to a gym or local park even, dips are another good way of building thickness to your chest.Opara said:
Is 50 at a time not a little excessive? It seems to go against the usual 8-12 range you would use if lifting weights.
I was thinking of adding weights to my press ups but can't find a good way of balancing them on my back.
My chest started to 'come back' after a decade or so of not training it just from push ups - some high rep sets, some 'batches' every hour or so etc. - quite a variety. I was thinking of adding weights to my press ups but can't find a good way of balancing them on my back.
What really worked for me was (a) using bars instead of just palms on the floor - better stretch etc. and (b)altering the angle, esp feet raised, sometimes quite high.
You could also try using bands/cables around you to make them harder if you're light (at my weight they are hard enough anyway!) or do supersets with your dumbbells (press and/or flyes) following straight after. If that doesn't hit the chest I'd be surprised.
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