Since I’ve started lifting, my left pec has been significantly smaller than my right one. For a while (4 months or so) I used dumbbells only, because it seemed to be the right idea. Then I realized that it didn’t bother me enough to stop using the barbell since my strength increases were dwindling without it.
My form is pretty good, shoulder blades clenched, both arms going up at the same time. My problem is that after a workout, my left pec is not as sore as my right pec. I realize that soreness is “not a good indicator of workout quality”, but in this case, I think it is a good comparison since it’s the same muscle group.
I don’t think it’s genetic as it doesn’t seem to be a deformity; it’s of a normal shape, it’s just not growing as much as my right side. It happens with dumbbell press, barbell press, flies, and dips. Even when I’m doing the exercises, it just doesn’t seem like I’m recruiting the fibers in the left as much as the right.
I believe it was CT’s recent article that mentioned neural activation. Is maximal training the key here? Change my form? Try to become left-handed for a while? I’ve tried training one side of my chest but to no avail.
[quote]kevbo wrote:
Since I’ve started lifting, my left pec has been significantly smaller than my right one. For a while (4 months or so) I used dumbbells only, because it seemed to be the right idea. Then I realized that it didn’t bother me enough to stop using the barbell since my strength increases were dwindling without it.
My form is pretty good, shoulder blades clenched, both arms going up at the same time. My problem is that after a workout, my left pec is not as sore as my right pec. I realize that soreness is “not a good indicator of workout quality”, but in this case, I think it is a good comparison since it’s the same muscle group.
I don’t think it’s genetic as it doesn’t seem to be a deformity; it’s of a normal shape, it’s just not growing as much as my right side. It happens with dumbbell press, barbell press, flies, and dips. Even when I’m doing the exercises, it just doesn’t seem like I’m recruiting the fibers in the left as much as the right.
I believe it was CT’s recent article that mentioned neural activation. Is maximal training the key here? Change my form? Try to become left-handed for a while? I’ve tried training one side of my chest but to no avail.
Thanks guys…[/quote]
Why would you stop doing dumbbell presses? You have to give things time and it doesn’t sound like you are doing that. How much body weight did you gain while doing dumbbell presses? How much has your strength increased? If the answer to either is “not much”, then you ahve the answer as to why you haven’t seen much of a difference. This isn’t a sprint as far as significantly changing the way your body works. This is a long term process.
[quote]bulletproof_ wrote:
Just keep using the barbell and do some extra sets of dumbell presses (or any other single arm exercise you can use) on your lagging side[/quote]
That is the one thing I would NOT recommend he does. Many bodybuilders consider the barbell press to be less than optimal for muscle growth. It is an ego lift. It may be great for basic development up to a point but it isn’t necessary if the main goal is hypertrophy.
[quote]kevbo wrote:
Since I’ve started lifting, my left pec has been significantly smaller than my right one. For a while (4 months or so) I used dumbbells only, because it seemed to be the right idea. Then I realized that it didn’t bother me enough to stop using the barbell since my strength increases were dwindling without it.
My form is pretty good, shoulder blades clenched, both arms going up at the same time. My problem is that after a workout, my left pec is not as sore as my right pec. I realize that soreness is “not a good indicator of workout quality”, but in this case, I think it is a good comparison since it’s the same muscle group.
I don’t think it’s genetic as it doesn’t seem to be a deformity; it’s of a normal shape, it’s just not growing as much as my right side. It happens with dumbbell press, barbell press, flies, and dips. Even when I’m doing the exercises, it just doesn’t seem like I’m recruiting the fibers in the left as much as the right.
I believe it was CT’s recent article that mentioned neural activation. Is maximal training the key here? Change my form? Try to become left-handed for a while? I’ve tried training one side of my chest but to no avail.
Thanks guys…[/quote]
This is an alternative approach… but I consider it helpful. Maybe you’re probably not activating your left pec as much as you’d want to. Consider using isometric contractions, wherever you are, to just randomly try and flex only your left or right pec whenever you can.
You’ll increase nervous transmission and proprioception. Then when you’re lifting apply that and you can flex both individually while lifting, or the left more when you need to, and you’ll get quite an impact on it.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
bulletproof_ wrote:
Just keep using the barbell and do some extra sets of dumbell presses (or any other single arm exercise you can use) on your lagging side
That is the one thing I would NOT recommend he does. Many bodybuilders consider the barbell press to be less than optimal for muscle growth. It is an ego lift. It may be great for basic development up to a point but it isn’t necessary if the main goal is hypertrophy.[/quote]
I wish more people or trainers would realize this. Dumbbells are a much better exercise for hypertrophy. Barbells are good initialy and for strength, then they are pretty much useless after awhile for most people. The only thing I use a bench press for is 40 warm up reps.
Agree 100% Professor X, this Bench Press thing has become so over-rated and will just keep the threads coming.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
kevbo wrote:
Since I’ve started lifting, my left pec has been significantly smaller than my right one. For a while (4 months or so) I used dumbbells only, because it seemed to be the right idea. Then I realized that it didn’t bother me enough to stop using the barbell since my strength increases were dwindling without it.
My form is pretty good, shoulder blades clenched, both arms going up at the same time. My problem is that after a workout, my left pec is not as sore as my right pec. I realize that soreness is “not a good indicator of workout quality”, but in this case, I think it is a good comparison since it’s the same muscle group.
I don’t think it’s genetic as it doesn’t seem to be a deformity; it’s of a normal shape, it’s just not growing as much as my right side. It happens with dumbbell press, barbell press, flies, and dips. Even when I’m doing the exercises, it just doesn’t seem like I’m recruiting the fibers in the left as much as the right.
I believe it was CT’s recent article that mentioned neural activation. Is maximal training the key here? Change my form? Try to become left-handed for a while? I’ve tried training one side of my chest but to no avail.
Thanks guys…
Why would you stop doing dumbbell presses? You have to give things time and it doesn’t sound like you are doing that. How much body weight did you gain while doing dumbbell presses? How much has your strength increased? If the answer to either is “not much”, then you ahve the answer as to why you haven’t seen much of a difference. This isn’t a sprint as far as significantly changing the way your body works. This is a long term process.[/quote]
Prof - that’s the thing. I gained 20-25lbs in those 5 months and I’ve seen little progress. I really don’t think I’m being picky, it’s pretty noticable. I’ll take everyone’s advice one step at a time here and keep you updated. I’ll dump the BB press. Thanks a lot.
Prof - that’s the thing. I gained 20-25lbs in those 5 months and I’ve seen little progress. I really don’t think I’m being picky, it’s pretty noticable. I’ll take everyone’s advice one step at a time here and keep you updated. I’ll dump the BB press. Thanks a lot.[/quote]
Good job on the gains then, but I would still give this more time. Five months isn’t very long in the life of a weight lifter. that’s less than half a year and most won’t see MAJOR changes in their physique until the point at which you are just now reaching. If anything, take pictures now and put them away somewhere. You will likely be the last to even notice a change for the better due to seeing yourself all day long everyday.