can you do pushups without getting a big chest?

Post Reply New Topic

Push ups give you a big chest??? Wow I must really be doing them wrong then xD

Just my opinion, but body weight exercises are virtually useless for me, at least at this point, as I workout with weights.

For my first few months I did plenty of body-weight exercises and made gains, now, I'm too strong that they don't push my muscles hard enough at all.

I have a super fast metabolism, but for some reason when I get into a workout routine and actually stick with it, my chest muscles grow insanely fast, yet my arms remain skin and bones lol. While I'm working out, my arms pump up with blood and get pretty big, but they always shrink down not long after I finish exercising.

I know I'm one of those guys that needs to spend like 2 grand + a month on weight gainer, protein shakes, and special foods just to get big...too big a pain in the ass to be worth it for me.

I have a high metabolism too. I'm basically skinny fat right now. When i actually try to lose weight and burn fat it usually happens fast.most of my life i have either been a little chunky or super skinny.i was only obese in high school.i heard their are three body types,ectomorph(skinny),mesomorph( muscular),and endomorph (fat).
my family's body type seems to be ectomorph. Except for me,all the males in my family are over six feet tall and skinny. I think just about every type of exercise has some value.i think body weight exercises are good for endurance conditioning and reving up your metabolism.weight training helps develop strength and build muscle. Currently there is a debate about wither
It is better to use free weights or machine weights. I think both can be benefical . Some fitness experts believe a person starting weight training should use machine weights in the beginning because they are safer and then progress to free weights. I've heard there are two types of of muscle fiber,slow twitch and fast twitch. Fitness experts says plyometrics and lifting 80%of your one rep max for four to six reps help develop fast twitch muscle fibers.i think lifting 40%-60%of your one rep max works out your slow twitch muscle fibers. I think even isometrics can be benefical because they strengthen your joints and tendons.there is evidence isometrics develop your fast twitch and slow twitch muscle fibers. Swimming is also said to be benefical because it exercises your slow and fast twitch muscles simultaneously and it is easy on your joints.i agree with outlander that it is detrimental to focus solely on strenth training. I read a article by a muay thai coach who recommended strength training but only for three to four monthes at a time. After that period he said weight training would ret*d ones balance and agility. He said taking periodized breaks would give your body adequete time to fully recover and reduce risk of overtraining.iit also keeps you from reach a plateu in your work out.i think it would also be a good idea to incorporate
Yoga,pilates and self messaging to maintain flexability and increase blood flow to the muscles .i think it would be benefical to have a well rounded exercise program that incorporates a wide variety of exercises.

Have you tried doing weighted pullups?those might help you develop
size in your arms. I read pull ups activate more muscle fiber in your arms than bicep curls.i think genetics also play a role in body makeup.

"I have a super fast metabolism, but for some reason when I get into a workout routine and actually stick with it, my chest muscles grow insanely fast, yet my arms remain skin and bones lol. While I'm working out, my arms pump up with blood and get pretty big, but they always shrink down not long after I finish exercising."

That's called getting pumped and simply means the muscle has had a good workout, but not a sign of strength gains.

I think it has something to do with the fact exercise releases more adrenalin - our muscles will tense naturally rather than having to do it manually.

And, fast gains are common in the first 6-12 months of training, commonly referred to as 'noob gains'.

I'd say it's a great way to get people started and motivated - they gain strength fast, no matter what their diet is or how little sleep they get, gains will be fast.

But once noob gains are up, it's time to decide whether you want to get more serious about it or not.

"I know I'm one of those guys that needs to spend like 2 grand + a month on weight gainer, protein shakes, and special foods just to get big...too big a pain in the ass to be worth it for me."

Not necessarily as expensive as you may think. I have a fast metabolism due to being a teen, but the gains still come slowly. It's important to eat a high amount of healthy food. You've got to be eating in a calorie surplus.

Usually eating more food than your body needs results in fat gain, but by eating only slightly more food than you need and training the muscles intensely, your body will realize muscle production is the priority for 'survival' and muscle vs. fat gain will probably be at a 2:1 ratio rather than 1:1.

I'll Pm you my diet and routine. I don't use weight gainer or any of that rubbish. I do use some supplements, but they last months and aren't as costly as one may think.

"I have a high metabolism too. I'm basically skinny fat right now. When i actually try to lose weight and burn fat it usually happens fast.most of my life i have either been a little chunky or super skinny.i was only obese in high school."

I'm a former skinny-fat and started by losing weight, and then working out to gain muscle. I'm far more muscular now, but starting to slowly gain fat over the months (read above for extra details) and have a bit of a small belly. It pisses me off that my stomach has always been past my chest, no matter how hard I train my chest I gain fat too fast, or gain other muscle so fast my chest looks small and weak in comparison.

"i heard their are three body types,ectomorph(skinny),mesomorph( muscular),and endomorph (fat)." Most people can actually be a mix of 2-3 of the types. I seem to be very equal in all three.

"I think just about every type of exercise has some value.i think body weight exercises are good for endurance conditioning and reving up your metabolism.weight training helps develop strength and build muscle."

Agreed. Just today I had high-intensity swimming, because not only do I enjoy it but it helps with cardio. Just exercising at all is far more beneficial than not doing it at all.

"After that period he said weight training would ret*d ones balance and agility. He said taking periodized breaks would give your body adequete time to fully recover and reduce risk of overtraining.iit also keeps you from reach a plateu in your work out."

I think a prolonged break though is not beneficial as one won't maintain strength.

Even bodybuilders though take what's called a 'de-load' every so often. This is usually 1-2 weeks break from any sort of weightlifting.

And yes, it's a very good idea. Weight training not only affects your muscles, but your Central Nervous System, joints and ligaments, etc. It gets rid of plateaus and is the solution to over-training.

I'd advise against a prolonged break though - even if you do other forms of exercise, after 2 weeks or so it may not compensate for working the muscles and you may lose some.

"Yoga,pilates and self messaging to maintain flexability and increase blood flow to the muscles .i think it would be benefical to have a well rounded exercise program that incorporates a wide variety of exercises."

Mm, flexibility, stamina, etc. are also all important parts of health and fitness. i'm personally naturally extremely flexible anyway (possible hyperflexibility, in fact), and practice this flexibility from stretching, dancing (cardio) and swimming.

And I've wanted to incorporate pullups, but have no way to do it at home without a visit to the local gym, which requires membership.