To "SQUEEZE" the chest or not

FrankWank · 03-11-2005, 12:32 AM

Should i be squeezing the chest muscle at the top during my pressing movements? Flex the pecs basically? I currently dont, and this is probably why my chest is lagging. I do flex on fly or cable movements but not pressing.

If squeezing is the answer, i guess i'll be dropping to lower weight.

MrFitness880 · 03-11-2005, 07:16 PM

dont worry about flexing your pecs at the top of the movement. thats hardly the key to strong pecs.

stick to focusing on the heavy pressing movements, keep the the strength gains coming and eat big.

Heizen · 03-11-2005, 07:48 PM

Full contraction= more effective workout.

It can really be a preference. It all relates to total time the muscle is contracted and the stress it goes through. If you do that on top of heavier weights, you will get better results.

Squeezing at the top of a rep for bicep curls will give you peakier biceps.

Overall though, if your chest is lagging it is something else; not squeezing at the top of the rep is not why your chest is lagging.

dastal · 03-11-2005, 10:23 PM

Happens to me too. Dunno, but doing the flys seems to be a more intense exercise than pressing.

thefonz · 03-12-2005, 04:14 PM

ya but flys tend to work my shoulders more, and i wanna do shoulders on shoulder day. What you could do if your chest is lagging is get on the decline bench and do some heavy weight (anything you can do 8-10 of) and then havesome light weights like 20-30 lb dumbells on the side and do about 15 to 25 of those. there is no reason to complain about your chest size if you do supersets, thats all i have to say.

03-11-2005, 12:32 AM	#1
FrankWank Don Juan Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 112	To "SQUEEZE" the chest or not Should i be squeezing the chest muscle at the top during my pressing movements? Flex the pecs basically? I currently dont, and this is probably why my chest is lagging. I do flex on fly or cable movements but not pressing. If squeezing is the answer, i guess i'll be dropping to lower weight.

03-11-2005, 07:16 PM	#2
MrFitness880 Senior Don Juan Join Date: May 2004 Location: South Eastern MI Age: 27 Posts: 203	dont worry about flexing your pecs at the top of the movement. thats hardly the key to strong pecs. stick to focusing on the heavy pressing movements, keep the the strength gains coming and eat big.

03-11-2005, 07:48 PM	#3
Heizen Senior Don Juan Join Date: May 2004 Location: Vienna, VA Posts: 426	Full contraction= more effective workout. It can really be a preference. It all relates to total time the muscle is contracted and the stress it goes through. If you do that on top of heavier weights, you will get better results. Squeezing at the top of a rep for bicep curls will give you peakier biceps. Overall though, if your chest is lagging it is something else; not squeezing at the top of the rep is not why your chest is lagging.

03-11-2005, 10:23 PM	#4
dastal Banned Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Atlanta Age: 24 Posts: 191	Happens to me too. Dunno, but doing the flys seems to be a more intense exercise than pressing.

03-12-2005, 04:14 PM	#5
thefonz Master Don Juan Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: boston Age: 30 Posts: 1,156	ya but flys tend to work my shoulders more, and i wanna do shoulders on shoulder day. What you could do if your chest is lagging is get on the decline bench and do some heavy weight (anything you can do 8-10 of) and then havesome light weights like 20-30 lb dumbells on the side and do about 15 to 25 of those. there is no reason to complain about your chest size if you do supersets, thats all i have to say.