Lee Priest, renowned bodybuilder and fitness expert, recently shared a video imparting crucial advice on how to effectively train the chest.
His emphasis on not overcomplicating training aligns with his overall philosophy that bodybuilding is essentially a simple sport, reminiscent of the old saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Lee underscores the importance of personalized training and diet, noting that individuals must find what works best for them instead of simply adopting someone else’s regimen.
In his own journey, he learned through experimentation and trial-and-error, emphasizing that what works for one person might not work for another.
When it comes to chest training, Lee recommends focusing on keeping the chest up during exercises to maximize efficiency.
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A common mistake he observes is people sinking their chests during exercises like presses or flies, which compromises the effectiveness of the workout and could potentially lead to injuries.
In his video, he demonstrates various exercises, emphasizing on proper form and technique:
- Incline Chest Press: Keep your chest up throughout the movement and never fully lock out your elbows at the top. Instead of sinking down, push with your chest up.
- Fly Machine: Similar to the incline press, the chest should be kept up while squeezing, making sure not to sink in.
- Press Machine: Maintain an upright posture, chest up, and squeeze through the movement.
He also highlights that the focus on chest training tends to overdevelop the front delts, leading to shoulder injuries.
As a preventive measure, he suggests starting workouts with rear delt exercises to warm them up effectively.
When it comes to Dumbbell Flies, he gives an invaluable tip he got from Lou Ferrigno and his training partner: instead of merely opening and closing the arms, he emphasizes on turning the palms in and squeezing the chest as you come up. This small change can significantly stimulate the chest muscles.
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Lee Priest also shows how to do chest dips correctly. Instead of a typical form, which often emphasizes the triceps, he recommends leaning forward, pointing your toes down, and maintaining this posture throughout the movement, claiming that this variant is excellent for chest development.
Furthermore, he advocates the use of push-ups, describing them as an underrated but effective exercise for the chest, depending on the grip variation.
Lastly, he emphasizes consistency, patience, and sticking to the basics.
Lee Priest’s key message is to find what works for you, take advice but tailor it to suit your needs, and understand that bodybuilding is not a one-size-fits-all sport.
While there’s value in learning from others, it’s crucial to adapt it to your personal needs. He ends with the inspiring words, “Train hard, train smart,” which perfectly encapsulates his philosophy on bodybuilding.
