I've been working out for 8 weeks and have seen some satisfying progress in my chest, however as time goes on, it's apparent that my right pec is smaller than my left. Obviously, not cool.

Here's what I think my options are:
1) When training my chest, should I do a few extra sets with just my isloated right side?
2) Or should I train the right side by itself for a few workouts to catch it up to the left?
3) Or should I just keep lifting as normal and hope the right side catches up naturally?

I'm worried that as time goes on, the difference in size will grow exponentially, so I'm hesitant to train the left side further. Has anyone else experienced imbalances in the chest or any other region?

Also, how could this have happened, especially when I use barbells for chest, which would prevent one side from getting trained more than the other? Genetics maybe?

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Gino

I have the same thing...Are you left handed ?

I'm left-handed and my right pec is smaller, especially higher up, toward the shoulder.

I doubt that they're going to get exponentally worse. I'd bet that the gap actually closes as you get bigger.

Even so, I'm thinking about spending about 20 minutes a week doing some exercises to target that area.

What else can you do ? :D

I've been working out for 8 weeks and have seen some satisfying progress in my chest, however as time goes on, it's apparent that my right pec is smaller than my left. Obviously, not cool.

Here's what I think my options are:
1) When training my chest, should I do a few extra sets with just my isloated right side?
2) Or should I train the right side by itself for a few workouts to catch it up to the left?
3) Or should I just keep lifting as normal and hope the right side catches up naturally?

I'm worried that as time goes on, the difference in size will grow exponentially, so I'm hesitant to train the left side further. Has anyone else experienced imbalances in the chest or any other region?

Also, how could this have happened, especially when I use barbells for chest, which would prevent one side from getting trained more than the other? Genetics maybe?

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Gino

Use dumbells, Gino. Start relatively low weight to get the motion down (and to not blow out your shoulder :tu: ) and move up each week. It's the way to go.

Myself, I actually noticed that my right side (especially quads, calves, traps, hammies, shoulders) are a little bit larger, that's why I now perform every exercise hitting each side individually (ie 1 legged leg press, etc)

Yeah, I have the same "problem". My left pec is slightly rounder and more filled than my right one in the upper/inner part of it. It's more symmetrical in a way. It's not very visible, but I see it when I go close to a mirror or feel my pecs with my hands (that didn't sound quite right). I suppose it's genetical, but I do use dumbells quite a lot, so perhaps my form is a little off. What's weird is that my right shoulder is noticeably stronger than my left (I can do more reps with my right).

Yeah, I have the same "problem". My left pec is slightly rounder and more filled than my right one in the upper/inner part of it. It's more symmetrical in a way. It's not very visible, but I see it when I go close to a mirror or feel my pecs with my hands (that didn't sound quite right). I suppose it's genetical, but I do use dumbells quite a lot, so perhaps my form is a little off. What's weird is that my right shoulder is noticeably stronger than my left (I can do more reps with my right).

Yeah, I know. Very frustrating I tell ya. That's why I haveta lift in front of a mirror (even if its a flat bench because I'm still able to somewhat see how low I'm going down with my dumbs).

Use dumb bells and make sure your form stays perfect with your left arm.

My pecs used to be off. Very noticeable because one nipple was lower than another. I just stuck it out keeping perfect form, and they are still slightly off, but it isn't noticeable unless you sit there staring.

The body isn't symmetrical. Ears are often off, as are eyes. One arm may be slightly longer than another. If you really want, you can add some work for the side that is smaller if it is also the weaker side.

I've been working out for 8 weeks and have seen some satisfying progress in my chest, however as time goes on, it's apparent that my right pec is smaller than my left. Obviously, not cool.

Here's what I think my options are:
1) When training my chest, should I do a few extra sets with just my isloated right side?
2) Or should I train the right side by itself for a few workouts to catch it up to the left?
3) Or should I just keep lifting as normal and hope the right side catches up naturally?

I'm worried that as time goes on, the difference in size will grow exponentially, so I'm hesitant to train the left side further. Has anyone else experienced imbalances in the chest or any other region?

Also, how could this have happened, especially when I use barbells for chest, which would prevent one side from getting trained more than the other? Genetics maybe?

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Gino

1. Start using unilateral movements - i.e. one-armed dumbbell bench press for your pec, one-armed flyes, etc
2. Always train the weak side first
3. Use the same weight for the strong side but never use more reps. In other words, if you fail at 10 reps with the weak side, only do 10 with the strong side

This allows the weak side to eventually catch up to the strong side.

Jeremy

What a great forum...such quick and informed replies. I am left handed, and find that I can usually squeeze out 1 or 2 extra reps with my left when doing arms, so maybe that's the reason.

For the past 2 workouts I've been doing extra dumb bell sets on my right side, so I guess I'll stick with that and see how it goes.

If I don't do something about this, I imagine a scenario where I'm at a bar, and simultaneously approached by one really attractive girl on my left side, and a ugly one on my right side. Hmmm, that could be fun. :)

Very detailed and helpful, thanks.

1. Start using unilateral movements - i.e. one-armed dumbbell bench press for your pec, one-armed flyes, etc
2. Always train the weak side first
3. Use the same weight for the strong side but never use more reps. In other words, if you fail at 10 reps with the weak side, only do 10 with the strong side

This allows the weak side to eventually catch up to the strong side.

Jeremy

no one is perfectly symmetrical. you could possibly have slighly differnent bone structure from your right to left side making the muscle appear smaller. if you find that after working the weak side first your supposed strong side is the same strength this could be the situation. i wouldnt attempt to compensate by making one muscle larger than the other. trust me you are your own worst critic and no one else is likely to notice. the only people that will probably notice are the people you ask and they will see it after staring into your chest and trying to figure out exactly what the hell you are talking about.

Also, how could this have happened, especially when I use barbells for chest, which would prevent one side from getting trained more than the other? Genetics maybe?

Gino
Just to fill in a note here that I didn't see anybody answer.

Using a barbell does not mean working both sides equally unless your form is near perfect. Yes, it would mean doing the same amount of reps/sets, but if you slant the barbell slightly to your left during the lift, your left side would lift a bigger proportion of the weight. This could cause your left side to grow more than the right. If you use a barbell, you have to make sure that the centre of the bar is always in the centre of your motion, and that your hands are equally spaced. Moving one hand in a little would also cause imballances.

Just to fill in a note here that I didn't see anybody answer.

Using a barbell does not mean working both sides equally unless your form is near perfect. Yes, it would mean doing the same amount of reps/sets, but if you slant the barbell slightly to your left during the lift, your left side would lift a bigger proportion of the weight. This could cause your left side to grow more than the right. If you use a barbell, you have to make sure that the centre of the bar is always in the centre of your motion, and that your hands are equally spaced. Moving one hand in a little would also cause imballances.
Bingo!

Since my left arm is longer then the right if I were to do barbell bench presses the weight would sink more towards my shorter right arm and in turn it would do more work then the left.

Using dumb bells has alleviated that problem.

Oddly, my left pec is more developed, but my right pec is stronger. Anyone ever have that happen to them?

I'm right handed. My left pec, and arm as well, is slightly more developed. I can really tell when I do alternating dumbbell curls.

Here is my theory, though I have no clue if I'm correct since I've never studied this. I constantly use my right arm more than my left (okay keep it clean folks!!). So when I work out my left arm/side is actually doing more work because my right arm/side is stronger and more used to it. More work equals more overload equals more growth.

I might be way off but that's what I always guessed could be the reason.

Could also be that your right shoulder is shorter than your left shoulder. I have that problem but I'm too old to fix it.

Oddly, my left pec is more developed, but my right pec is stronger. Anyone ever have that happen to them?

Sort of, the shoulder on the side of my lesser-developed pec is stronger than the other.