disproportionate growth

[6-heads lewis]

my back is growing at a much faster rate than my chest, which grows at a snails pace.

the other dya i deadlifted 215 for 5 reps pretty easily, im guessing i can do about 275, this coming from a 150lb beginner whose done deads around 6x in my life. i used to do stiff-legged deads, and had an even easier time with 215.

my bench press if girlish. i do it with dujmbbells (socially inept, no spotter lol), and havent been able to do 5 reps with any more than 55 right hand, 50 left hand. worse yet, my left pec never seem to burn or tire, i just cant do anymore at some point, while the right pec feels like its about snap the whole time. my standing military press max for 5 reps is around 80. i got stuck under a flat bench barbell at 140lbs (ugh). my shoulder and chest have barely improved since i started training them months ago. it didnt change at all during a 3-week injury break.

when i try and stand up straight, my sohulders are pulled towards my disproportionately huge back. from the front i look 100lbs, all my shirts fit me loose in the front and sides yet skin tight in the back. ive started to walk like a gorilla you know the type, head slinked down with eyes up, arms sticking out and dangling akwardly, mild forward hunch.

for years all i really did was weighted pullups, especially wide grip, along heavy bag work, thats probably why.

any advice? this is very frustrating and discouraging.

thanks

 

[DXX]

cut out all back work. Use 50lbs dumbbells for bench

good luck

 

[Throttle]

rotfl... that's great advice. make sure you listen to him.

your next to last line nailed it. you've never really worked your back like this, so you're making huge gains in the beginning. if you've done deads 6x in your life, your problem isn't that your back is growing too fast. it's that your expectations are out of whack.

standing like a gorilla comes from bad posture. stand tall. it has absolutely nothing to do with your muscles being out of proportion.

you probably will have to buy new clothes as you adjust to this.

or take dxx's advice, it's priceless.

 

[mrRuckus]

Just keep doing compound lifts. You have to build the house before you decorate the house. Everything will end up evening out more or less. Definitely don't stop doing back stuff.

Adequate rest. More food. You're no where near big enough to worry about weak parts.

 

[dirtyvibe]

i suggest bicep curls in the squat rack

 

[Teflon_Mcgee]

my back is growing at a much faster rate than my chest, which grows at a snails pace.

the other dya i deadlifted 215 for 5 reps pretty easily, im guessing i can do about 275, this coming from a 150lb beginner whose done deads around 6x in my life. i used to do stiff-legged deads, and had an even easier time with 215.

my bench press if girlish. i do it with dujmbbells (socially inept, no spotter lol), and havent been able to do 5 reps with any more than 55 right hand, 50 left hand. worse yet, my left pec never seem to burn or tire, i just cant do anymore at some point, while the right pec feels like its about snap the whole time. my standing military press max for 5 reps is around 80. i got stuck under a flat bench barbell at 140lbs (ugh). my shoulder and chest have barely improved since i started training them months ago. it didnt change at all during a 3-week injury break.

when i try and stand up straight, my sohulders are pulled towards my disproportionately huge back. from the front i look 100lbs, all my shirts fit me loose in the front and sides yet skin tight in the back. ive started to walk like a gorilla you know the type, head slinked down with eyes up, arms sticking out and dangling akwardly, mild forward hunch.

for years all i really did was weighted pullups, especially wide grip, along heavy bag work, thats probably why.

any advice? this is very frustrating and discouraging.

thanks

You're back will def. get size and strength from weighted (wide grip) pull-ups. It's one of the the best things you can do.

As for your pecs. When you lift I bet you are just going through the motions (IOW, you are doing junk reps.) Next time you're doing DB benchpress go slow and really focus on feeling/using just your pec muscles. Also keep them contracted as you go through the movement.

Building the mind-body connection is just as, or even more, important as actually lifting the weight.

 

[6-heads lewis]

standing like a gorilla comes from bad posture. stand tall. it has absolutely nothing to do with your muscles being out of proportion

lol thats good to know... i am a very neutoric guy, its all in my head i guess.

and telfon you're actually right about chest press form. ive been doing some research on it and my form has been off, elbows too wide and far and excess shoulder use. my shoulders often feel as sore as my chest or even more so, and i could be overtraining them when i shoulder press 2 days later as per Rippetoe.

appreciate the comments.

 

[DXX]

what was wrong with my advice. Cutting out back work until the rest catches up is fine

also, using 55 for right arm and 50 for left isn't good. keep it equal