Uneven left-right

I'm 24, naturally quite muscular and have been going to the gym for about 6 months, for weight control, definition and a little for muscle growth. Lately, my right hand side has been growing bigger, in particular the latissimus dorsi and the front of the shoulder to the outside of the pecs and underneath. I try and make my exercise even, but don't want to make the matter worse.

Any advice would be really appreciated. Many thanks.

I'm guessing you're right-handed. This is normal.

Not really sure what to tell you for a "solution", you can try working your left side more, but you are probably favoring your right side all the time out of habit, maybe even while you're lifting.

My solution to the problem is just not to worry about it. I'm left handed, my left side is bigger.

I am right handed yes. I guess it isn't too big a deal and I have to put up with it. But the way I see it is that as I am only now starting to put on some bulk, I want to move forwards with a better programme in place so that I don't get uneven. Will doing more reps at lower weights be better, since all I really want is better definition? Thnx, Warmuz...

More reps/lower weight is supposed to be better for definition, but that's of course also assuming you don't have a bunch of subcutaneous (under-the-skin) fat killing your definition.

I haven't seen any really big guys with noticible asymmetry, I would guess that as you get bigger, you get more symmetrical.

Thanks mate. My definition is pretty good, always had good muscle mass without having to work out. Only need to lose aronud 3-4lbs for stomach to show a little more muscle. Will try and impressed by the forum, so will keep checking this out.

My definition is pretty good, always had good muscle mass without having to work out.

I hate you

ORIGINAL: Powerhaus

More reps/lower weight is supposed to be better for definition.

Are you sure, I thought that was a myth and only lower bodyfat would increase definition

No, I can't say I'm sure about that. I've heard some theory for it about traning the slow-twitch fibers as well as the fast-twitch fibers, but it does seem to me that losing the fat would be a bigger factor. I've also seen a program where oyu use very low weight and do 100 reps, and I have a very build friend of mine who was doing that as a break from his normal bulking routine, but I can't really say if it does anything. It hurts like hell, that much I know, and I tend to believe that anything that hurts that much must have some benefit

The other day I was thinking about the athletes who seem the most defined, I think it's gymnasts.

Which brings up a discussion I had earlier. That stiff leg deadlifts are building power moves and hamstring curls are shaping.

I said there's no such thing as a shaping exercise.

You either build the muscles

Or you lose the fat and make it show better

But I don't think concentration curls will do anything different for your bicep then a barbell curl. A bicep is a bicep and it has a range of motion. No one motion is going to do anything better in terms of shaping it.

It's a bicep. I can define it by losing the fat around it but I do not believe in a shaping vs building exercises.

In the case of warmuz, Welcome to DB! Unless it's really noticeable to others, don't' worry about it. One side is stronger and slightly bigger. I'm left handed so.. my left is stronger and larger.. but not noticeable to others really.

What you can do is if you did say.. 70 lbs curls 5 reps on your left.. and you are right handed.. don't do 10 reps with the right.

Start off with the weaker side when doing single movements like that and let the weaker side dictate the reps. Otherwise, the right just gets stronger while you struggle to keep up with the left.

This works for single movements.. dumbbell curls, single leg hamstring curls, concentration curls and any cable exercise where you do one side and then the other.

Marc C. David - NGA CPT
Author of NoBull Bodybuilding
www.nobullbodybuilding.com

This is all interesting stuff. If anyone has any idea as to how to get better stomach definition without dropping the 4lbs I need to get it, please let me know.

I think there's no other way around that one, warmuz. The only way to have those abs showing nicely is to lose any fat that might be covering them.

Fat sucks..

They're still working on the surgical procedure to give people abs. Apparently right now it either works, or leaves you looking really weird, permanently.

I am trying to imagine who they are practicing on...

4lbs is nothing, you should be able to drop that in 2-4 weeks with just a bit of work.

Wild thing about this entire thread is that I'm right-handed but my left side seems bigger. The definition and size in my bicep, tricep, and forearm is better than my right. Doesn't really concern me since I thought the left would lag noticeably.

Get this....

my lower body, my left side is bigger than my right. My upper body, my right side is bigger than my left! Working my left side on my upper body first on isolated movements has really helped with keeping my right side from growing any more. The strength is starting to become almost even.

"Try and fail is the manner of losers. Try and learn is the way of the strong." -- Unknown

[image]http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/8302/opensuse2oi.jpg[/image].