Chest Training

Maybe you just blend in with the

crowd. Or perhaps you’re that

distinguished person who stands

apart and catches peoples’ eyes. So much of

our physical presence has to do with how

we hold ourselves. And a prominent part of

how we hold ourselves is our chest.

A well-defined chest establishes a strong

“presence” and sends a message to the

world that we are confident and competent.

The pectoral muscles, or “pecs,” are an

important symbol of physical strength: A

powerful chest is something everyone

recognizes. For the exercises we chose to

help you develop a strong chest, we

followed the tried-and-true philosophy

that basics are best. Of course, some of

them, like the classic bench press, can

boost your ego as well as your muscle

mass. But remember, form is everything.

Without proper form, you may lift

more weight, but you won’t get the

results you desire. If you succumb to the

temptation of overloading the weight,

you’ll shift the focus away from your

chest and make yourself more susceptible

to injury. Your goal is to build your best

body—not set Olympic records.