Broad shoulders = weak chest? Upper body only steroid cycle.

[HansNZ]

Has anyone noticed a connection between having broad shoulders and a weak upper body? Guys with broad shoulders seem to be able to bench press much less weight. My legs are mega strong, but my torso is weak.

I have also struggled to get my chest to grow more. I was discussing this with someone and they pointed out that if I had shoulders which aren't so broad that my chest would probably be in proportion. I looked at a friend of mine who is about the same weight and LBM. He has an excellent chest. But his shoulders are quite narrow. Do you think this observation is correct?

I am considering doing an upper body only cycle, as I have huge legs. In the past I have done this and it made a big difference. I have been training my legs just as hard as my torso for the last year and they have become out of proportion again. Would an upper body only cycle cause problems with muscle balance? I figure a good 3kg (7lbs) of lean mass in my upper body should bring things into line.

Beauty is all about symmetry. So I am a bit of a symmtery freak, i.e. upper and lower body in proportion, chest in proportion to shoulders, etc, etc.

Any feedback or observations would be welcome.

 

[bazilbb]

i also have same prob, i think that there is some connection between wide shoulders and week chest.
behind the neck barbell presses= 230 lbs
bench press= 275 lbs

 

[bigdelt69]

Damn, I thought I was the only one! Yes my shoulders are very wide and strong. My chest sucks though. Guess there is some relationship?

 

[tyguy]

I have strong and broad shoulders, and very strong back, but a weak chest too...... it is frustrating because all of my other buddies chest will go up in weight, but mine won't.

Damn it

 

[B-legit]

wow,
this is a funny correlation. I have narrow shoulders, but my chest overpowers the rest of my body. I would trade you guys though, because broad shoulders in a t-shirt looks good.

 

[redlorid]

Amen, I also thought it was just me. My shoulders are extremely broad and I just can't seem to see the same type of gains on my chest as all other body parts. Glad to know I'm not the only one.

 

[tyguy]

Guys? Want to start a gang? We can be be the "broad shouldered badasses with not so strong chests." Seriously, we got to stick together... If you don't like the name I offered cause it is kind of long, I am open to more ideas.

PS... I want to be the leader.

 

[Hugh Gellatts]

well, I don't hold T-mag in high regard, but they did have a very good periodized chest specialization program that I did once. It is a program for the whole upper body, but it really does make your chest grow disproportunately. I just printed it all out and brought a stopwatch to the gym.

http://t-mag.com/html/body_91super.html

http://t-mag.com/html/body_93super.html

http://t-mag.com/html/body_95super.html

http://t-mag.com/html/body_98super.html


don't overthink it and try to change stuff...just follow the program exactly, and it will work. You really have to do it when the gym is pretty empty, as you use multiple pieces of equipment at the same time.

 

[Fantom604]

I am so in your gang! I have the widest shoulders and back of any of my weightlifting friends, but my bench sucks balls compared to the rest of them! I definitely think you are all onto something here!

 

[muscle_geek]

Bench Press is a compound movement that involves several different muscles. Its important to mentally focus on the muscle you want to emphasize. If you already have strong shoulders you might instinctually recruit your shoulder strength on heavy lifts rather than using your pecs. I had a similar problem with triceps. I could close grip bench as much as I could normally bench because my triceps are very strong. I widened my grip and completely focused on my pecs and I had great results.

 

[Nathan]

If you have large shoulders it's more than likely that they are doing the brunt of the work in your bench which is why the chest won't respond as well. You may want to try decline movements to minimize shoulder recruitment. Also, try concentrating on squeezing the pecs - it's obvious but that is the problem. I never feel my shoulders working and they never get sore the next day, but they are easily my strongest bodypart. My chest isn't too smal in comparison but for some reason I can shoulder press almost what I can incline and flat press with db's.

 

[ironmaster]

The last 2 replies (Nathan and Geek) above are good. The old fashioned way to correct a lagging chest was to incorporate excercises that isolate the pecs from the shoulders. Try dumbell presses with palms facing in, flys, declines, cable crossovers, close grips and the like....anything that takes the shoulders out of it.
Now, if I was really smart, I'd know how to fix my f@#king calves.

 

[strong island]

Two words:

"PRE EXHAUST"

Some people do not get an optimal CHEST workout from benching first in their workout. I think this may be caused by long arms which cause the triceps to exhaust first during the bench.

this makes all the difference as those last few reps are the ones which make the bodypart grow.

The key is to start off your chest workout with flyes. Try doing 5-6 sets...then hit the bench. Your chest will be screaming and will be very sore.

I just started this recently. My chest is also lagging. I would have started earlier but my ego would not let me. I like benching a lot and this is not possible if you pre exhaust...BUT you will have a better CHEST workout..which is our goal.

 

[MaxBiceps]

i think you guys are all paranoid.

 

[Ash]

Damn I also have the same problem as all of you guys. My shoulders and back are my gift when it comes to body parts. They both grow very fast but my chest lags behind.
-----------------------------

Ash

 

[JayBro]

Guys? Want to start a gang? We can be be the "broad shouldered badasses with not so strong chests." Seriously, we got to stick together... If you don't like the name I offered cause it is kind of long, I am open to more ideas.

PS... I want to be the leader.

How about "The Broad Shoulderd Bad Ass Bitch Tit Boys"

 

[The Architect]

I second that notion

 

[Victor]

yep I love my shoulders but I fucking hate my chest ....now , my friend doesn't have very good shoulders like mine but he has and outstanding chest development


Victor

 

[Minitor2]

same prob here

my bench sucks but i do like in human weights on legs 1400lb calves press and 750 leg press to workout with 4 sets 10 reps and my shoulders are very very broad but my chest is by far my worst feature. (aside from my gut) lol

minitor2

 

[2Thick]

That's weird, I have wide shoulders and a strong chest. I think that my front delts make my bench even more than it would have been otherwise.

 

[drrman]

yep, i got wide ass shoulders and decent delts, my chest is up to par and looks good, but its WEAK

 

[tyguy]

How about "The Broad Shoulderd Bad Ass Bitch Tit Boys"

I don't know........ what about " The Broad Shouldered He-Man Woman lovers" Different approach there you see?

 

[HansNZ]

That's weird, I have wide shoulders and a strong chest. I think that my front delts make my bench even more than it would have been otherwise.

hey, bud. It sounds like you're one of those annoying exceptions that disprove every rule, hehe.

btw, are your shoulders broad because of good delt development or are your bones actually really broad like mine are?

 

[HansNZ]

Some people do not get an optimal CHEST workout from benching first in their workout. I think this may be caused by long arms which cause the triceps to exhaust first during the bench.

This is freaky. I have long arms and incredibly well developed triceps. They say a strong bench press is about tricep and lat strength more than (my puny) pecs.

I find that my triceps exhaust first when doing chest. My triceps are so big that I never work them directly, yet people still comment on how big they are.

It's all falling into place now.

Broad shoulders + long arms = weak chest and big Tris.

 

[Juice Tiger]

Learn how to bench properly,involve your lats in the BP and you can get your bench up! Albeit it dont come as easy as those narrow shoulder'd,barrel chested and short armed bastards who rep 315 for 10 Arggh.
Anyways that wont exactly help your symetry fettish but it will get your strength up.

 

[shifti]

This is freaky. I have long arms and incredibly well developed triceps. They say a strong bench press is about tricep and lat strength more than (my puny) pecs.

I find that my triceps exhaust first when doing chest. My triceps are so big that I never work them directly, yet people still comment on how big they are.

It's all falling into place now.

Broad shoulders + long arms = weak chest and big Tris.

I have very broad shoulders and a weak chest, and giant triceps.. karma for you!

 

[HansNZ]

Learn how to bench properly,involve your lats in the BP and you can get your bench up! Albeit it dont come as easy as those narrow shoulder'd,barrel chested and short armed bastards who rep 315 for 10 Arggh.
Anyways that wont exactly help your symetry fettish but it will get your strength up.

Well i did some compound exercises such as pre-exhausting with flyes and then doing bench. The goal was partly to isolate my chest from my shoulders and to deactivate my shoulders.

What I am now coming to believe as a result of this thread is that it is my triceps which are the culprit. I might try pre-exhausting them so that my chest gets hit harder.

 

[dootyd3]

i had the same problem long arms,wide shoulders & weak(flat) chest.i continuously overtrained my shoulders & chest because they wouldn't grow(dah).i spent some time talking to a sports trainer & powerlifter to try & get advise from both sides of weight training.they both came to the same conclusion.
my diet was ok but,my mechanics & program stunk so, i went back to the basics.i corrected my weight training posture with basic fundamentals & mechanics.i also changed my workout program. .i.e on heavy cycles 1 body-part once-a week on light cycles 1body-part twice-aweek.the most important thing to remember is a week last 7 days not monday thru friday.

 

[2Thick]

hey, bud. It sounds like you're one of those annoying exceptions that disprove every rule, hehe.

btw, are your shoulders broad because of good delt development or are your bones actually really broad like mine are?

I have wide shoulder structure (but not extremely wide) The rest of the width of my shoulders is made up of delt development.

 

[Charles Ray]

i have wide shoulders too...big shoulders and thick tri's and my chest lags ONLY when I decide not to contract my chest when i lift. You must contract HARD. Ton's of flys too! If you don't feel the fly's in your chest then move your arms or your body in a position where u do feel it.