Want A Bigger Chest? Try This Gym Workout To Build Bigger Pecs

The chest is predominantly made up of the pectoral muscle group which is the large muscle that covers the breast area in both males and females. When you do exercises such as the bench press or pectoral flies this is the major muscle you are working, but there are others which are used to support the movement of the chest such as the biceps, triceps and deltoids. It is important to work on these too to make sure that your muscle balance is equal because this can lead to injuries or poor posture.

The Workout

The gym workout that will really boost your chest strength and size is broken down into different training systems to add variety and avoid you getting bored. The systems used are a super set, which is two exercises back to back with no rest, a tri-set which is three exercises back to back with no rest and a drop set which involves completing as many reps as possible at a given weight.

Make sure to have a good warm up before attempting resistance exercises. Try running or jogging for at least 10 minutes and stretch the arms, chest and back before moving onto this part of the session.  

Super Set 1

In the first super set you have two exercises; Incline fly and Incline Chest Press. For these exercises you need a space in the gym with a bench that can be set to about 45 degrees and a set of dumbbells that you are comfortable lifting but is a challenge.

Incline Fly: Sitting on the incline bench hold the dumbbells with your arms fully extended so they are above your chest. Slowly lower them out to the side, keeping your palms facing inwards until your arms are open wide, hold and then slowly return to move the weights closer together.

Incline CP: Turn the wrists so that the palms face away from you and bring the weight to your shoulders, push them upwards until your arms are straight but do not lock the elbow, hold and lower to start position.

Tri-Set 1

This tri-set is made up of 3 exercises; push up, cable crossover and bodyweight flies. You need a cable machine and bench to complete these exercises.

Push up: Try to use a "male" push up with toes on the floor and a straight back, make sure to lower yourself to within an inch or two of the floor before raising.

Cable Crossover: Set the cable machine pulleys to their highest position and connect the horseshoe handle (single hand grip). Stand in the center with one foot slightly in front of the other, grab the handles and pull them down until your hands meet in the center of your body — ideally around hip height. Slowly move the arms out to side until at shoulder height and then move them back in together again.

Body Weight Fly: Set the bench to the same incline as in the super set and lay on your front allowing your arms to dangle to the floor. Use your toes to support your legs and keep your body tight. With a dumbbell in both hands hold them close together with your palms facing inwards at arms length. Slowly lift the arms until they are at shoulder height and then return to the start.

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Exercise Your Way To A Bigger Chest

Super Set 2

This super set is designed to work on the supporting muscles and targets the biceps and triceps. This set uses the cable machine again and comprises rope pull downs and rope curls.

Rope Pull Down: Set the cable pulley to its highest setting and connect the rope attachment. Stand with feet shoulder width apart and grab the ropes. Keeping the elbows tight into the body, slowly pull the ropes until you arm is straight and then raise back upwards. Try to keep the upper arm still and just move from the elbow.

Rope Curls: On the other cable arm set they pulley to its lowest setting, and connect another rope pull. If 2 are not available you can substitute a bar. Hold the ropes and keep the elbows tight into the body like you did with the pull down. Raise the ropes until your arms are fully bent. Hold and return to the start.

Drop Set

This set uses a traditional chest exercise such as the bench press and is designed to cause maximum damage to the fibers of the pectorals, maximizing the improvements. The more micro tears you can make the stronger the muscle gets, but there is a fine line between sore muscles and injured muscles so make sure you judge your limits.

A drop set is performed by completing four sets of the same exercise and changing the weight with no rest. The bench press is performed on a flat bench and using a barbell rather than dumbbells. Lay flat on the bench with your feet flat on the floor and knees at right angles, take the bar and lower to your chest hold and then raise until arms are straight.

To complete the drop set, you need to pick four weight settings which decrease each set for example 30kg, 20kg, 10kg, single bar. For each set you need to complete as many reps as possible which is known as "to failure". Then lower the weight and do another failure set all the way through the 4 settings. It may sound like you would be able to complete loads on the last one with low weight but after the 3 sets before it's very tough.

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Once you have completed the above systems you need to do a cool-down to give your muscles a head start in recovery. Perform a gentle cardio exercise such as a walk or cycle and then allow 10 minutes to stretch the chest and upper body. You will find it helps to promote recovery and avoid as much soreness the next day.