can you build up pecs substantialy just using dumbells?

Answer 1

You sure can! I know guys thats all they do.. Because of a back injury, I don't bench anymore. I do use a Precor bench machine and dumbells.. Dumbells give you a better range of motion too.

Answer 2

to analyze an exercise, look at the muscle group and what it's there to do...then duplicate that natural action with more and more resistance...the muscle group, if successfully targeted will respond to the higher workload by becoming stronger, and in most cases, larger.

Remember, all muscle tissue can do is contract and relax. muscles by themselves cannot 'push'..to push, they have to go across a fulcrum point in a joint, and pull.

the pec's anchor along the mid-chest at the sternum, and terminate on the top of the humerus. when the pec's contract, they draw the humerus in toward the center of the chest, and the lower portions of the pecs also draw that bone down toward the waist.

focus your workout by varying the pitch of the bench on which you lay...head elevated focuses more work on the upper part of the pec's...and that relationship continues even to when you go beyond horizontal, and go feet up, which works the lower sections of the ab...extreme inversion works the 'undercutting' of getting the pec to roll under on the bottom side.

be aware that the muscle mass you build will need a life-long maintenance program, religiously followed forever, or your fine young pecs will become 'man-boobs' as you age.

dumbells are fine. work with light enough weight to protect your rotators in your shoulders. if you hurt your shoulder joints, you won't be working out at all.

remember, it's not how much you lift, but how rigidly you perform your exercises and how diligent you maintain your long-term workout.

good luck, and be careful.

Answer 3

Yes, you can also build up your legs, back and shoulders using the same dumbells

Answer 4

Yes absolutely. Provided that they are heavy enough to properly challenge your muscle. A little trick you can do is to regularly use your dumbells to do butterflys (use a lower weight). These will stretch your chest muscles allowing them to grow faster.

Answer 5

absolutely. I think freeweight training results in more natural looking results because you use more muscle groups per exercise due to the need to control the weight. I keep a pair at work to burn off stress or keep me awake, depending.

Answer 6

You need other forms of exercise also.