Assymetry Problems

[Kabeetz]

So I took some progress pics this morning and my right side is LITERALLY 100% bigger than my left side. I don't see it in the mirror but off of a camera it is completely and disappointingly obvious.

Does anyone else have a similar problem and does anyone have any tips for overcoming?



I should note that this is definitely genetically linked as my left hand is completely uncoordinated, and my left foot smaller than my rigth foot etc. Damn.

 

[Protobuilder]

Load the left side of the barbell w/ more weight than the right side.

 

[Kabeetz]

Load the left side of the barbell w/ more weight than the right side.

Hmmmm. I've always heard that it is bad to work one side more than the other to over compensate but I gotta try something I guess.

 

[ZGzaZ]

HAHAAHAHA!! This thread is awesome!

 

[SgtSlaughter]

Does anyone else have a similar problem and does anyone have any tips for overcoming?

Yes. No.

I'm a very dominate righty as well... I don't know how it happend but it did. You're probably overanalyzing things WAY too much... calm down and start using your left hand more

 

[SgtSlaughter]

btw: this thread is worthless without pics... let's see if you really have 100% larger side or it's just in your head.

 

[Kabeetz]

btw: this thread is worthless without pics... let's see if you really have 100% larger side or it's just in your head.

Yeah I'm trying to avoid posting pics til my current 5x5 concludes, for the sake of my own ego... but don't worry I definitely will post pics soon man.

 

[fortunatesun]

If you don't want to post pics I would try testing w/ unilateral work just to see if one side is stronger than the other. Dumbell bench one arm at a time, dumbell overhead press, leg press one leg at a time and so forth.
Either way, imbalances can be narrowed by working out this way. This shouldn't take the place of your basic lifting, but as second or third exercises. You can also try working in an extra set or two for your weak or small side but don't overdo it. It's a gradual process.

Of course, you may want to consider spot injections. In a week you'll have accomplished what would have taken months or years.

 

[Kabeetz]

Sounds good... I'll definitely do some one arm dumbell work.. would I say stick with weaker side only, or do the stronger side but only at the level of the weaker side?

I use this principle in dumbell work I've done with regards to curls, dumbell rows etc.... but never did a one arm bench or leg press etc.

Those Bulgarian squats or whatever they are calle with the one leg supported on the bench might be good too.

If you don't want to post pics I would try testing w/ unilateral work just to see if one side is stronger than the other. Dumbell bench one arm at a time, dumbell overhead press, leg press one leg at a time and so forth.
Either way, imbalances can be narrowed by working out this way. This shouldn't take the place of your basic lifting, but as second or third exercises. You can also try working in an extra set or two for your weak or small side but don't overdo it. It's a gradual process.

Of course, you may want to consider spot injections. In a week you'll have accomplished what would have taken months or years.

 

[motoxer125]

i have the same problem,
do some sets with a lighter weight so that you really focus on that weaker side. use that side to lift the weight the most, and use the other to help guide/ spot the weaker side. use the strong side only to keep the bar balanced

 

[Protobuilder]

This thread is fucking ridiculous. The body tends to grow symmetrically. If you weigh less than 200, I wouldn't even THINK about worrying about whether your left delt is smaller than your right delt. And for godsakes don't let this perception of assymetry drive your training. Add some meat, period. Then evaluate down the road. Everyone has some parts a little bigger than others. It's not a big deal. You aren't stepping on stage next week and nobody else is going to notice. Trust me. Girls sure won't notice if one trap is bigger than the other. Just train and grow.

 

[Kabeetz]

Dude,

with all due respect, the point of the thread was looking for a solution to the problem, or at least preventing further disparity for a problem that I've heard is somewhat common but for which I don't have any plan of attack for.

If the best way to deal with it is to not worry about it and keep doing what I am doing then that's GREAT and that's probably the best solution I could've hoped for in response to my concern.

But the fact is, I've gone from 195 to now 206 since September 2nd, and as I look at my pics... my right pec looks TWICE the size of my left one and my right arm looks TWICE the size of my left. I just don't see how it's "fucking ridiculous" to ask for advice now before the disparity gets worse.

And it may stay consistent or it may narrow, I don't know as I lack experience and that's why I asked.

My bad.

This thread is fucking ridiculous. The body tends to grow symmetrically. If you weigh less than 200, I wouldn't even THINK about worrying about whether your left delt is smaller than your right delt. And for godsakes don't let this perception of assymetry drive your training. Add some meat, period. Then evaluate down the road. Everyone has some parts a little bigger than others. It's not a big deal. You aren't stepping on stage next week and nobody else is going to notice. Trust me. Girls sure won't notice if one trap is bigger than the other. Just train and grow.

 

[fortunatesun]

Sounds good... I'll definitely do some one arm dumbell work.. would I say stick with weaker side only, or do the stronger side but only at the level of the weaker side?

No, first work out in a normal fashion. Protobuilder is right that the body seeks to balance itself out. Even with unilateral work, you need to work the other side almost just as hard . This way the strong side wont stagnate or atrophy and will assert support to the weaker side. By working the weaker side by itself, you're making sure it's carrying it's full share of the load and not being overassisted by the dominant side.
So, say for instance a leg workout- first your main effort, squats, you would do in a normal fashion. Then, on your next exercise, say leg press, do them one-legged, alternating each leg for 3-4 sets. Then, if you want to do extra, do a couple one leg presses on just the weak side but as I said, don't overdo it. It's just an extra aid that may help over the 6-8 weeks, it's not something that happens overnight.
Also, if this problem is genetic, as you say,there's nothing you can do anyway.

 

[Sassy69]

Not seeing pictures, couldn't really say how much it is that obvious - but for me -- my left bicep is 1/2" bigger than my right and has a much better peak on it. I think the same can be said about my quads as well. My left foot is 1/2 size bigger than my right as well - so there's a natural asymmetry that I have. But I do a balanced effort in my training - both arms/legs and alternating arms/legs like fortunate son said.