Do Weak Body Parts Really Improve?

Work with what you have. Be the best version of yourself. No one gives a damn if you have slightly lagging biceps or chest in real life unless you compete. We can’t deny that genetics affect everything life greatly, including your intelligence. If you are struggling at math and sciences then you probably won’t be the next nobel prize winner, but you probably can get an engineering or science degree if you work hard.

Just like if you are struggling to build muscle, you probably won’t be a successful bodybuilder, but you sure can look better than an average person, unless you have genetics condition like muscle dystrophy or sickle cells anemia.

1 Like

To be specific to the topic, didn’t Arnold specifically develop his upper chest, because he didn’t like the way his pecs disappeared when he put his arms up?

I’d never heard that, but News of his calf implants was pretty widespread.

S

So there is hope!

How long did you make it a priority?

Definitely possible, difficult maybe, yes, but very possible.

1 Like

I remember I always thought I was a “hard gainer” because I was tall and skinny and it was a word thrown around a lot when I started lifting weights. It wasn’t until I met my first mentor who would religiously text me every three hours to ask if I was eating that I realized I wasn’t a “hard gainer” I just wasn’t putting in the effort that was required (or eating as much as I thought I was).

On point with the thread my brother had “weak” arms and I told him he had twiggy alien arms all the time. One day he got fed up and started training his arms every day at the end of his workouts and eventually got his arms over 17 inches (17 1/4 if I remember correctly). Not saying that is a viable strategy for weak points but what was perceived as a weak point actually wasn’t until some wholehearted effort went into it.

1 Like

Damn, I’d like to jam a round peg into a square hole if you know what I mean…

4 Likes

More on topic, I’d say I tend to agree with Dante (of DoggCrapp fame) which is that generally speaking you end up with a bigger version of what you start with. Unless you purposefully neglect certain areas of your body, I just dont really think you can add significant mass to a specific area out of proportion to what you start with.

For example, my arms are shit. Not that anything on me is particularly amazing, but for someone who is 15 years in to this, my arms barely looked trained in a T-Shirt. Truly demoralizing if I spend too much time thinking about it.

I have tried many, many techniques for arms. Blasting them DC style, Mountain Dog style, High frequency (every day), etc… Every exercise known to man. They are bigger than when I started by about 3 inches, but they look the same in proportion to the rest of my physique than when I started.

1 Like

They do if you hammer them then give them 48 hours rest and repeat.

My calves are ironically developed much better than rest of mu body.

And I never train them directly…

1 Like

I remember when you first joined this site a few years ago. You were a lot more positive. And you also made a lot of progress. Why are you so negative now? Everything I’ve seen you post recently has just been whining and talking about what can’t be done, limits and shit.

Yes, genetics are important. Genetics make certain body parts grow better/faster than others. But I can’t imagine that you have reached your genetic potential in any area. If that’s the case, then what we’re talking about here is just proportions. I find it extraordinarily hard to believe that your chest is now completely tapped out for growth.

I don’t know if you’ve seen early pictures of me from years ago on here, but I definitely had lagging body parts. Before I started posting any pictures, my legs sucked. Then I made them a strong point. My delts used to suck. My traps were non existent. But my chest and arms looked good. Over time, a LOT of time, I figured out how to balance these things out. So can you.

5 Likes

Progress stalled, positivity stalled maybe?

2 Likes

Sounds about rite…

1 Like

I think that was a little tough love by ED, and I don’t disagree with him. A gauntlet of sorts has been thrown down, and you’re turning your back on it. There is an opportunity for you to learn by doing here, so don’t let a little butthurt get in the way of something good.

I’ll give you what I have on the subject with the understanding that I’ve never built a competition ready physique, and even @The_Mighty_Stu can vouch for the fact that irl I’m not very impressive- but here’s what worked for me-

Prioritization- Put the body part you want to improve first in your work out week after your rest day/s and hit that part 2x per week. I originally picked that up from Ian King, but I’m sure that there are a lot of similar recommendations.

I did that for about 6 mos.and rotated various parts through the same treatment, and it worked to my satisfaction. I think that the added volume and hitting that group fresh (recovered well) are key.

I don’t actually know anything about genetics so I can’t comment on that subject, other than that I was originally a chicken chested scotch/Irishman that managed to build a so-so physique after years of hard work.

Your mileage and opinions on this subject will definitely vary.

2 Likes

You called?

3 Likes

An often (these days it seems) forgotten source for quality, non-BS/latest gimmick info IMO.

I often find myself looking back over what was being suggested by true experts years ago and how it still works but no one cares because of the latest blah blah blah…

S

1 Like

What do you bench and incline?
Can you do either of these for close to 400?
What numbers progress have you made on your main compound chest move on the past year?

Do you really believe you have to lift enormous amount of weight to build a body part?
I am 165 pounds. How can i lift 400? I am not a WSM competitor.

If what you’re doing isn’t working, try something else!

2 Likes