Group: General Fitness & Exercise

Created: 2011/12/31, Members: 382, Messages: 54581

Various general exercise related discussions. Find out what it takes to reach your fitness goals through daily effective exercise. With so many options we try to find out what works best.

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muscles

BRETTO
BRETTO
Posts: 201
Joined: 2002/05/25
United States
2002/07/19, 10:05 AM
I'm having trouble singling out a specific muscle when trying to "flex hard at the top of a movement." I'll be bench pressing, as an example, and when I reach the top of a press, I try to squeeze just my chest muscles, but it feels like I'm flexing my arms and abs and other muscles as well. I know that's not a bad thing, but I can't seem to isolate just the muscle I'm exercising...like those big guys that can stand there and flex each of their pecs individually. Is this just something that comes in time when your muscles are more developed?
rpacheco
rpacheco
Posts: 3,770
Joined: 2001/12/13
United States
2002/07/19, 10:15 AM
Have patience. Just get used to the movements and continue to isolate certain muscles that you want. Remember that the bench press is a compound exercise, which means many muscles are targeted (forearms, triceps, lats, chest and even back).

Try doing bench flyes to help target your chest more. Bench flyes take the tricep muscles out of the equation.

Good luck!

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**_Robert_**
Pain is temporary; glory is forever!
jbennett
jbennett
Posts: 1,558
Joined: 2001/02/28
United States
2002/07/19, 12:22 PM
It will take some time for you muscles to get coordinated to do that. When you do bench, try moving your grip in a bit (hands a little closer together). You should be able to squeeze your pecs then. Robert also has a good suggestion: do more flyes. Try to do a couple of sets BEFORE you do bench and I guarantee you'll feel it!!!

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--JBennett
"I've up-ed my intensity.... now up yours!"
"Pain is only weakness leaving the body."