newbie needs some help

[SnakPac]

Maybe someone in this board will actually help me. i've posted in others and know one replys.

i don't know much about correcting muscle imbalances. i think my left arm may be weaker than my right causing my chest to work more on the left side to overcompensate for the left arm. it's making my left pec larger, so, how do i go about making my arm strength equal on both sides. i know i need to use dumbells, but do i use light or heavy, how many reps, do i still keep increasing the weight, more reps with the weaker side? thanks for any help.

 

[Lord_Suston]

I recommend not using dumbells at all since your imbalance will be more evident. I really think you should work on your form. have a spotter help you balance out your pressing movements so that the bar is always evenly flat. and try to focus on the laggin side. Don't go up in weight untill both sides can handle the weight for some decent reps 8+.

 

[rjl296]

always work the weaker side first (if unilateral movemnet)

do the same number of reps for both sides. eventually (long time prolly, 6 mos the imbalance will even out

 

[gymtime]

I recommend not using dumbells at all since your imbalance will be more evident. I really think you should work on your form. have a spotter help you balance out your pressing movements so that the bar is always evenly flat. and try to focus on the laggin side. Don't go up in weight untill both sides can handle the weight for some decent reps 8+.

Agreed. But you must remember that the human body is naturally imbalanced. We are stronger on one side, plus our limbs are never exactly the same length, etc. Trying to compensate for that is extremely difficult if not impossible.

So I agree with LS. I think this is more of a form, technique issue than anything else. One side should not be bigger or smaller assuming you're doing the same weight amounts for the same number of reps.

 

[Citruscide]

You could take an ambidexterity class... j/k

I concurr with LS and GT... but probably with different reasons and solutions.

If you're pushing up the bench bar like so many people I see now a days, with your right arm thrusting the bar up higher, while the left arm is lagging behind ... you are using too much weight. Go to a weight that you can keep the bar level... (same goes with every exercise)... naturally, this will probably be a weight you can do 8+ reps on.

Alot of the problem has to do with muscular control as well. Beginners (not saying you ARE), tend to have trouble controling the weights until their muscles develop the coordination to handle the lift... your muscles might be at this stage... and may require this developmental period in order to have the proper technique.

C-ditty

 

[SnakPac]

i've actually had spotters compliment me on my form. i can keep the bar even the whole time, but my chest is still really uneven. i got the idea of an imbalance when i read this article that was posted here:

http://www.elitefitness.com/ubb/Forum8/10-2000/000606.html

let me know what you guys think.
thanks again.

 

[SnakPac]

i have been lifting off and on for the past 3 years, and i've actually had spotters compliment me on my form. i can keep the bar even the whole time, but my chest is still really uneven. i got the idea of an imbalance when i read this article that was posted here:

http://www.elitefitness.com/ubb/Forum8/10-2000/000606.html

let me know what you guys think.
thanks again.

 

[DrBones]

Maybe you have gynocemastica...
Is the pec bigger close to your nipple? Maybe kind of flabby?
I had gyno from puberty and got it chopped out... my pec looks pretty good now.. I'd have to say better than my other one.. lol

 

[SnakPac]

dr bones,

what is gynocemastica? when i went through puberty my that area around my nipple did swell up, and i kinda wandered if the way it looks now had something to do with that. is this the same is what you are talking about? if so, what exactly did you have done? how much does it cost?

thanks.

 

[Nonerz]

why wouldn't you use dumbells? I always heard (not that it is correct...just always heard it) that db's would "force" you to use push the same amount of weight, not allowing you to compensate with the use of a bar. It makes sense to me in a very basic way...maybe there is another issue causing the significant imbalance of muscle size. (that is your concern, right?)