Home | Community | Message Board
You are not signed in.
Sign In New Account
Forum Index Search Posts Trusted Vendors Highlights Galleries FAQ User List Chat Store Random Growery


This site includes paid links. Please support our sponsors.

Community > Physical and Mental Well-Being
Threaded Mode Threaded  Previous topic Previous  View all topics Index  Next topic Next 

Welcome to the Shroomery Message Board! You are experiencing a small sample of what the site has to offer. Please login or register to post messages and view our exclusive members-only content. You'll gain access to additional forums, file attachments, board customizations, encrypted private messages, and much more!

Jump to first unread post Pages: 1 | 2 |  [ show all ]
Pushups and bench press troubles
    #14178447 -

Bench is my weakest lift. Even pushups are hard for me. Its not hard for me to do pushups, but to do them with perfect form rarely ever happens.

What I mean is that my right arm is always pushing so much harder than my left.

I did 3 sets of 20 pushups the other day. The next morning I was sore on both sides but in different ways. I was sore in my left lat but on my right side my peck and arm was sore.

When I bench its just crazy how terrible my left side is. It doesnt seem to be able to push half as well as my right side.

How can I fix this? I want to be able to do perfect form pushups. What is a good way to go at this?

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Pushups and bench press troubles [Re: XUL]
    #14178487 -

Sounds like you need to isolate your left arm and chest more.  curls and tri pull downs and dumbbell press.  when ever you do these exercise's put a few more reps on your left.  Maybe more weight.  I think that would help alot.  Also dont forget basic nutrition - Protein and a good dose of vitamins daily.  You would be surprised how far that takes you.  :smile:


--------------------

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Pushups and bench press troubles [Re: XUL]
    #14178488 -

I don't work out or any of that really so this might mean nothing.

But maybe try lifting some dumbbells but do twice as many reps with the left arm as the right.


--------------------
All drugs should be legal

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Pushups and bench press troubles [Re: XUL]
    #14178518 -

If different sets of muscles are sore on either side then you're not doing the exercise symmetrically, both sides are moving in two different ways. You need to strengthen your left side and work on having perfect form.

Lie on a bench with a light dumbbell and do one handed dumbbell presses with your left side. Go for a weight that you can rep 10 - 12 times and work on perfect form.

Or you can do left handed push-ups with your knees on the ground to make them easier.

Work on that until you feel both sides are becoming more even

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Pushups and bench press troubles [Re: Superide]
    #14178550 -

I just did 20 pushups to follow up on this thread.

What I noticed was...

I did not feel my left peck getting a good workout. I used a mirror and made sure I was even. I then started to notice a different burn in my left arm. Burn in my bicep all the way up to my shoulder. I felt a little burn in my left peck but not as much as my right. This problem has been pissing me off for years and im so tired of it. My left side lags so much compared to my right. Its started to anger me.

Using a mirror seems to help. I can then tell if I am out of line.

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Pushups and bench press troubles [Re: XUL]
    #14179963 -

just keep excersizing and it will even out.


--------------------

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Pushups and bench press troubles [Re: Hakim0777]
    #14181289 -

Hakim0777 said:
just keep excersizing and it will even out.


lol

That is not how it works, unless you do even training, which most people don't.

I can literally press an extra 20 lbs with my right than my left, for more reps, too. For some reason my right hand takes dominance, whether its pushups, deadlifts, benchpress, pullups or what have you, my right hand will always pull harder naturally from the left. I can also flex my right much harder than my left..

:shrug:

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Pushups and bench press troubles [Re: Uzziel]
    #14181390 -

Uzziel said:
Hakim0777 said:
just keep excersizing and it will even out.


lol

That is not how it works, unless you do even training, which most people don't.

I can literally press an extra 20 lbs with my right than my left, for more reps, too. For some reason my right hand takes dominance, whether its pushups, deadlifts, benchpress, pullups or what have you, my right hand will always pull harder naturally from the left. I can also flex my right much harder than my left..

:shrug:


I dont think its very probable to expect to be perfectly even on both sides. I was talking to Lou Schuler the writer of The New Rules of Lifting and he also told me the same thing as Hakimo0777. He said "Research going back quite a few years suggests that strength imbalances should even out over time with heavy strength training."

Honestly, its getting better, but my left side still lags.

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Pushups and bench press troubles [Re: XUL]
    #14181832 -

That's how it is for me. My left arm is weaker, probably because I'm right handed, my dominant hand. I just figure since I use my right more than my left that's why it's stronger. Over time, my left arm has become stronger, but is still considerably weaker, though it's gained more strength than when I started.

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Pushups and bench press troubles [Re: McTwist]
    #14182217 -

Ineed mctwist. I actually started to use my left arm as much as a can throughout the day. I shovel coal with my left, I open the fridge with my left, drive with my left, lunge with my left, and When I split wood I make sure I switch back and forth from left to right.

I think it just takes time. My body took years and years to devolop a right dominance and it will take a years to develop more evenly.

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Pushups and bench press troubles [Re: XUL]
    #14182517 -

Ya I also do more things with my left now to try and work her in shape, like masturbate =P

no but seriously like most things all it takes is time. Living in a society where lots of people seek instant gratification makes it tough sometimes, but patience is what I'm after. I guess I should work out now, and no panzy workout either like I did yesterday.

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Pushups and bench press troubles [Re: XUL]
    #14188352 -

How strong is your back? Pull-up/chin-up abilities?

IMO, the best way to fix muscle imbalances is simply to do heavy compound lifts while concentrating on perfect form preferably with a spotter to help. Do you know the correct form for power lifting style bench press? Are you pushing your feet hard into the ground and arching your upper back while retracting your scapula to from a solid base on the bench? Do you ever mix up hand placement?

It sounds to me like you may have a common beginner problem I like to call "muscle amnesia" where you have the necessary muscle mass to perform a lift but your nervous system simply doesn't know how to efficiently fire. Strength is so much more than muscle fibers. The nervous system is just as important and must be trained. It's incredible how state of mind or a steroid such as halotestin can affect your strength without any changes to mass. So many people have glute amnesia from sitting in a chair all day and it prevents them from ever even trying to squat. It's a travesty. Isometric calisthenics are great at fixing this imo.

Isometric calisthenics can help a great deal especially with getting your form correct and correcting imbalances. Consistently requiring your muscles to maintain tension for long periods of time really helps to train your nervous system. Visualizing and keeping mentally focused on the muscles you need to be contracting can really help.  Examples: Stay in top pushup position for as long as you can as many times as you can throughout the day while concentrating on retracting your scapula, remaining flat, and keeping tension in all your muscles but especially your abs. You specifically should really try to contract your left pec as hard as you can since that is what seems to be giving you the most trouble. Hang from a pullup bar at the top position as much as you can every day while focusing on keeping tension in all your muscles but especially your lats. Squat down as far as you can while focusing on keeping tension in all your muscles but especially your glutes and lower abs. Over time you will gain greater and greater control over your muscles in term of contraction strength without adding mass. Keep in mind that this shit ain't meant to be easy. You should be staying up to the point that your whole body is shaking. Expect pain.

Fuck, that was more of rant than I intended. Damn adderal. I'd be glad to answer some specific questions if you have any.

Just to be clear: the squat is the most important lift


--------------------
I'm a nihilist. Lets be friends.

bang bang

Edited by d33p (03/26/11 07:22 PM)

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Pushups and bench press troubles [Re: d33p]
    #14192812 -

My left arm was alot weaker than my right when i started KB's, but now with consistent one arm swings and presses the imbalance is much less.

Obviously you need to do more work with your left, until it evens out.


--------------------
GO OUTSIDE.

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Pushups and bench press troubles [Re: PDU]
    #14196527 -

Try using a light weight dumbell that you can complete 3 sets of whatever you like using one arm at a time.

Isolate each pec seperately and gradually work the weight up until both are on an even keel.

Do everything from isolated flys, to a standard press, to any chest variation you can think of.

It doesnt matter how much weight, just focus on perfecting the movement and flexing the muscles on the contraction.

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Pushups and bench press troubles [Re: YellowOne]
    #14202367 -

Masturbate with your weaker hand until you can bench and do pushups evenly.

Problem solved.


--------------------
"As a man who has devoted his whole life to the most clear headed science, to the study of matter, I can tell you as a result of my research about atoms this much: There is no matter as such. All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force which brings the particle of an atom to vibration and holds this most minute solar system of the atom together. We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent mind. This mind is the matrix of all matter."  --Max Planck

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Pushups and bench press troubles [Re: tyler_0_durden]
    #14203128 -

While im working my left more accuratly and often is it common for me to have discomfort in my shoulder area?

I dont have pain. I have discomfort in my shoulder joint area.

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Pushups and bench press troubles [Re: XUL]
    #14203532 -

XUL said:
While im working my left more accuratly and often is it common for me to have discomfort in my shoulder area?

I dont have pain. I have discomfort in my shoulder joint area.



Sound like you may not be retracting your scapula correcting. Are you leaning and trying to get better leverage to make the lifts easier?


--------------------
I'm a nihilist. Lets be friends.

bang bang

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Pushups and bench press troubles [Re: d33p]
    #14203820 -

d33p said:
XUL said:
While im working my left more accuratly and often is it common for me to have discomfort in my shoulder area?

I dont have pain. I have discomfort in my shoulder joint area.



Sound like you may not be retracting your scapula correcting. Are you leaning and trying to get better leverage to make the lifts easier?


I dont know what you mean by leaning.

I typically do pushups and try to lower myself by retracting my scapula till my elbows hit 90 degrees.

I often just dont feel like my weaker side is able to push as easily. It doesnt burn like my strong side and it doesnt seem to function as well.

I cant pinpoint the problem. I do everything to try and find the problem. I use mirrors, I go slow, I concentrate, but still I am just not sure.

I admit since I have been thinking about retracting my scapula I have had more success but something is still off. I feel that shoulder joint discomfort.

Maybe even my torso is too much weight!

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Pushups and bench press troubles [Re: XUL]
    #14203851 -

XUL said:
d33p said:
XUL said:
While im working my left more accuratly and often is it common for me to have discomfort in my shoulder area?

I dont have pain. I have discomfort in my shoulder joint area.



Sound like you may not be retracting your scapula correcting. Are you leaning and trying to get better leverage to make the lifts easier?


I dont know what you mean by leaning.

I typically do pushups and try to lower myself by retracting my scapula till my elbows hit 90 degrees.

I often just dont feel like my weaker side is able to push as easily. It doesnt burn like my strong side and it doesnt seem to function as well.

I cant pinpoint the problem. I do everything to try and find the problem. I use mirrors, I go slow, I concentrate, but still I am just not sure.

I admit since I have been thinking about retracting my scapula I have had more success but something is still off. I feel that shoulder joint discomfort.

Maybe even my torso is too much weight!


Well I just did 10 pushups to follow up on this thread.

I actually felt great. No discomfort at all. A really tight core and I felt even also.

I think im getting better. I have been holding the top pushup position like you said. It feels really great when I do that. I can really feel an eveness. I love that.

All in all I think things are getting better.

Thanks!

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: Pushups and bench press troubles [Re: XUL]
    #14203860 -

Maybe try doing one armed pushups,like only lowering one arm and using the other one just for balance or whatever.


--------------------

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Jump to top Pages: 1 | 2 |  [ show all ]

Community > Physical and Mental Well-Being
Threaded Mode Threaded  Previous topic Previous  View all topics Index  Next topic Next 

Similar ThreadsPosterViewsRepliesLast post
* .
( 1 2 3 all )		 z_x_x_z 4,680 50 11/14/05 02:05 PM
by goobler
* Pushup questions RandalFlagg 1,614 12 06/15/06 02:35 PM
by goobler
* Extreme Stomach Discomfort shrooma 1,082 4 07/05/05 12:31 AM
by LiquidSmoke
* Got Socked in the Face, Press Charges? *DELETED*
( 1 2 all )		 Anonymous 4,149 26 12/22/03 01:17 AM
by Chills420 version2
* ? on Pushups/Sit-ups NewbieS 1,054 3 07/07/06 07:15 PM
by Newbie
* discomfort in testicles Grav 1,812 10 02/10/05 03:02 PM
by Society
* close-grip bench press... wrist pain adamj 1,573 6 07/06/07 10:06 AM
by RoosterCogburn
* girl trouble just doesn't end
( 1 2 all )		 Tangerines 2,770 34 11/18/05 12:23 AM
by Divided_Sky

Extra information
You cannot start new topics / You cannot reply to topics
HTML is disabled / BBCode is enabled
Moderator: CherryBom, Asante, Rose, mndfreeze, yogabunny, feevers, CookieCrumbs, Northerner
3,085 topic views. 0 members, 9 guests and 17 web crawlers are browsing this forum.
[ Show Images Only | Sort by Score | Print Topic ]
Search this thread:

Copyright 1997-2026 Mind Media. Some rights reserved.

Generated in 0.041 seconds spending 0.009 seconds on 17 queries.