My workout + some issues

[G.T]

Hi all

For me, generally this workout works for what I want it to be. I don't want to be overally large - I just want to be a reasonable size (in my eyes) so I'm not going to go all out and go to the gym. I have noticed my chest has got bigger ( a lot of my friends have too) but my arms seem to be a bit thin (not as bad as before) and I have a bit of a belly once I've eaten/drank something (my friend doesn't at all when he's drank so much...) so I'm trying to work on those at the moment. I weight 9 stone 3 5"10, so I'm pretty thin anyways - about 2-3 pounds have been put on probably on muscle I've built already.

Currently

For a few months I do 50-55 push-ups. Usually this is when my muscles give away. I used to only be able to do 25-30. I do these every 2 days, then stop one day, then do it for another 2 days. But currently I've been doing them every day.

Bench-dips - I've only been doing these for about 2 weeks. I can do 60 reps if I really try. Do these every other day.

Situps - this is where my issue lies. A few years ago when I was able to do them properly I was able to do about 30-35 before I literally couldn't do anymore. The workout felt even. But ever since I've started doing them nearly daily again a few years later, I can barely reach 30 before it feels like muscles elsewhere are giving away and I can't lift myself up anymore. I can't really pinpoint which muscles they are, but it's before I feel I've worked my abs properly.

So I've tried doing my situps a lot more slowly (like 1 rep in 5 seconds, staying lifted for like 4 seconds) and feel my abs being worked better that way. But I've noticed I only seem to be able to work out the right side of my abs a lot more than my left. I've tried different angles to compensate but the same thing happens. I've thought it might be something to do with my body and looking closely I seem to have uneven abs, like this:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A1SOiiMNEJA/RpQFQzlN8WI/AAAAAAAAAms/Ef5yDy4xs5U/s400/dannythorn01.jpg

I'm not sure how this would affect me but it seems like the best explaination since my left abs look a lot longer and chunkier than my right ones. Longer = stronger = doesn't feel like I've worked them out as much as my right?

Also, I sometimes use dumbells on my arms to build my biceps, which has only seemed worked correctly on my right arm. I can feel the whole of the bicep getting worked out on my right arm, but only the left side of it on my left arm? I swear I'm doing the reps at the exact same angle, so I'm not sure what is going on...

Sorry if this sounds a little long winded. I hope someone can help me out or have any suggestions? Maybe I just have slightly deformed muscles on the left side of my body?

I'm just really jealous of friends who don't work out and are generally stronger and look larger than me (and they weight very similar!).

Thanks!

 

[Omnis]

What made you post a pic of that guy?

Plenty of pro BBers have asymmetrical abs. It doesn't affect strength or anything like that.

 

[G.T]

Haha I don't even know who he is

But does anyone have some good work out tips for the abs which might work better for me?

 

[Der Alta]

When you come up during sit-ups, are you exhaling? Proper breath control can improve the workout considerably. When I do crunches, barely lifting off the floor, and blowing all the air out I can, makes the muscle contract quite hard. Not sure on the offset Abs, though. That is odd.

Biceps can be tricky. Have you done them with a barbell, instead of bumbells? This would give you a clearer idea of what you might be doing wrong. I hav ea similar problem, in that my right arm is slightly bigger than my left, but my left is much more defined. To conteract this, I have to start all my bicep exercises with my left arm. When I reach the rep failure point, I can't exceed that with my right arm. Also remember that the majority of people have one arm more developed than the other.

Push-ups. Have you thrown in some variations? On days that you do Dips, you can do Diamond Push-ups. Both exercises target the triceps and will help gain size and strength. In addition, you can do the push-ups with your feet on a bench to add a different angle and some muscle confusion to your workout. We used to do an exercise in the Army, called "Walking the Stairs". You set-up in Push-up position with your fingertips touching the edge of the bottom stair. You "step" up to the next step, one hand at a time, then back down. Usually in sets of 40-50. Doesn't sound tough, until you try it.

 

[G.T]

Hmmm oddly enough I forget the breathing pattern while doing situps - I usually remember while doing push-ups so maybe that's why I can do them fine. It's not been a huge issue lately because I've been combining situps with Reverse Crunches, which seem to work out more of my abs than situps alone. But I've still never managed to get my abs to a failure point... but it must be close.

I would love to use barbells but I really don't have the room for them. I think my brother has one in the garage he used to use but there's nothing to lie on or anything in there, so it's not really possible to use it.

I tried Diamond situps for the first time over the next few days, and they're very hard to do... so much effort required to feel my triceps getting worked. But a lot less reps are required at least. Maybe I'll get better at them as time goes on. And pushups with my feet on a step - gotta have the room for that too! My staircase is right next to a wall.

 

[Der Alta]

Hmmm oddly enough I forget the breathing pattern while doing situps - I usually remember while doing push-ups so maybe that's why I can do them fine. It's not been a huge issue lately because I've been combining situps with Reverse Crunches, which seem to work out more of my abs than situps alone. But I've still never managed to get my abs to a failure point... but it must be close.

I would love to use barbells but I really don't have the room for them. I think my brother has one in the garage he used to use but there's nothing to lie on or anything in there, so it's not really possible to use it.

I tried Diamond situps for the first time over the next few days, and they're very hard to do... so much effort required to feel my triceps getting worked. But a lot less reps are required at least. Maybe I'll get better at them as time goes on. And pushups with my feet on a step - gotta have the room for that too! My staircase is right next to a wall.

Glad to know its working. As for the Push-ups on a step, you could use a chair instead of a step. Just something to elevate your toes higher than your shoulders.

 

[G.T]

I do have another question.

My ribs tend to show a lot, and I tried searching the internets for a solution but there doesn't seem to be any other than "eat more". My ribs tend to show a lot, and it's more apparent now that my chest is a bit bigger. Is there a way to help them dissappear a little? I do literally hate the sight of them...

 

[Der Alta]

Steak and Pasta.

Your lean muscle hasn't fully developed, and your body fat is low. You can hide them with Fat, or muscle. One's quicker than the other, but not pretty.

You can also do this exercise: Dumbell Pull-overs. Any weight will work. Concrete Block, Heavy Book, little Brother... Not just a dumbell. This exercise will also work your triceps.

 

[G.T]

Okay thanks a lot for your help! 👍