Incline Press

[Robboe]

I've told you why i do more than one exercise - they help my "big" lifts. If my big lifts are progressing then i'm growing.

Not to mention the fact that certain exercises have weaker links than others that can hinder the "sufficient" stimulation of the target muscle. For example, my delts are strong as fook, but they're weakest part of my bench (except for the stinking point about 5" off the chest) and this can prevent my pecs getting the "sufficient" stimulation they require. I then do the decline machine press where my delts are taken out of the movement more and i can put more focus on my chest.

I haven't done inclines in a year in July and every wednesday (i do push days on tuesday nights) my entire chest is sore. As is my training partners who stopped doing inclines around about the same time. Ironically he has gotten best chest growth (all over - including upper, lower, outer, inner, upper right, lower-inner-bottom-middle left etc) since he stopped the inclines and put more focus onto movements with less delt involvement.

 

[Yanks20]

just a question to CD, then why hasn't your bench increased? hell looking at your online journal all your major lifts seem to be progressing very well (Kudos!) but looking at your bench results it seems like it has gone no where, it just doesn't add up!

maybe you need to relook at your chest workout!

 

[Robboe]

How do you mean?

I just switched back to BB bench last week. I was doing DB's for a while. I was onto the 110lbers. I'm still just getting back into BB benching. I progressed this week too. I progressed steadily on the DB's too.

If you're wondering why i switche in the first place, it's cause i hurt my shoulder fucking about when i was pissed with my mates one night (ace night tho) and BB benching was the only thing that aggrivated it more, so i just switched to DB's.

 

[Yanks20]

yeah, i read how the DB were increasing as you set your goals which i have to give you credit for!

i was just wondering even with switching back to BB recently with your training you should be well past this weight.

listen i'm not here to get all over you. i give you a lot of credit from looking at your journal. trust me you have made some really good progress in the time you started tracking it.

it is just when you start talking about how you cannot isolate the upper pecs doing incline presses that i questioned your chest routine.

yes i agree with you in that flat bench is for overall development but inclines isolate the upper pecs while declines stimulate the lower region. hell after my workout which varies from week to week sometimes starting with flat bench sometimes with inclines i can definately tell the difference the next day.

if you do just flat and declines of course your entire chest is going to be sore but you are not isolating the upper portion of the pecs to induce growth.

then again to each his own, so i'm sure you will continue to have your beliefs while i have mine!

 

[Robboe]

I'm not gonna push benching cause i wanna make sure my shoulder pains don't come back. Not to mention that this time round i wanna work with a slightly higher rep range.

My legs and pulling exercises have always been stronger than my pressing in comparison.

Oh, and even Gopro knows that inclines don't "isolate" the upper chest!

 

[gopro]

I'm sure that when he says "isolate" he simply means "emphasizes."

 

[Yanks20]

you took to words right out of my mouth!

 

[Yanks20]

pro - check your PM!

 

[Robboe]

Emphasis doesn't mean anything

 

[Yanks20]

not in your mind we all know that

 

[gopro]

Originally posted by The_Chicken_Daddy
Emphasis doesn't mean anything

Oh man...it so does! Where did you get your education on bodybuilding and related matters Chicken? I feel bad because you seem to love this stuff and you will be holding back your fullest potential.

 

[Robboe]

Basic physiology.

If you could emphasise and cause localised growth, then there's nothing to stop the muscle being all lumpy, bumpy and not smooth as it always is.

 

[gopro]

Originally posted by The_Chicken_Daddy
Basic physiology.

If you could emphasise and cause localised growth, then there's nothing to stop the muscle being all lumpy, bumpy and not smooth as it always is.

Oh, don't be silly. The difference would not be to that degree...it is subtle, but does exist. What you are speaking of is "true isolation," which is impossible...what I am speaking of is emphasis...different story.

 

[Robboe]

Not at all.

If the upper chest does exist, where does it start and end? If emphasis did cause that part to grow, what's to stop it outgrowing the lower region? How come despite inclines probably being the most favoured chest exercise (in every gym i've ever been in - i'd be willing to bet that this is the case for pretty much every other gym too) that people still have larger lower chests in comparison to upper?

Look at the pros. even they have larger lower chests in comparison. The upper portion is more aparent, but purely because their entire chests are huge.

 

[gopro]

The lower chest would be even more out of proportion if it were not for incline work. The lower pecs simply have a greater propensity for growth no matter what.

Quick question: Since I am ALWAYS sore in my upper pecs after a day of all incline chest work...and not very sore in my mid to lower pecs...what is the reason for this? Forgetting that soreness does not always lead to growth, how and why would it appear that incline work "selectively affects" my upper pecs far more than my mid/lower pecs?

 

[Yanks20]

The lower chest would be even more out of proportion if it were not for incline work. The lower pecs simply have a greater propensity for growth no matter what. - AMEN TO THAT!

secondly it is because CD hasn't figured it out yet.

Quick question: Since I am ALWAYS sore in my upper pecs after a day of all incline chest work...and not very sore in my mid to lower pecs...what is the reason for this? Forgetting that soreness does not always lead to growth, how and why would it appear that incline work "selectively affects" my upper pecs far more than my mid/lower pecs? - I AGREE TOTALLY IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT I WORK MORE INTENSELY THAT DAY, FOR INSTANCE IF I START OFF WITH INCLINES I GUARANTEE THAT THE UPPER CHEST IS GOING TO BE MUCH MORE TENDER THE FOLLOWING DAY AND VICE VERSA.