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.