Strong Curves- thoughts?

SAHNinja

I've seen a a few posts that recommend the book Strong Curves for building a booty. I know it also has a program for more than just the booty. Does it also help with shaping and firming the chest? Also, I am still way overweight. Should I start it now or wait until I'm a little closer to goal bmi?

smolmaus

I'm just finishing up week 4 of the advanced plan and there are bench press variations for chest work, standard, incline and single arm. But it definitely focuses on glute/leg work with some abs/ back too.

I have a very VERY small chest and have noticed no real improvement, though I have gained muscle elsewhere. I don't think bench presses have any real effect on your boobs tho if that's what you're looking for.

I think you should start whenever you like, but strength work will help you retain muscle as you're losing weight so you don't then have to try and rebuild it after. I definitely wish I had started lifting earlier!

canadianlbs

smolmaus wrote: »

I don't think bench presses have any real effect on your boobs tho if that's what you're looking for.

upper back and shoulder work can improve your posture which does make subtle differences to your appearance, and of course benching seriously will grow the pecs themselves. but unfortunately your actual boobs are not muscles, so yeah.

SAHNinja

smolmaus wrote: »

I'm just finishing up week 4 of the advanced plan and there are bench press variations for chest work, standard, incline and single arm. But it definitely focuses on glute/leg work with some abs/ back too.

I have a very VERY small chest and have noticed no real improvement, though I have gained muscle elsewhere. I don't think bench presses have any real effect on your boobs tho if that's what you're looking for.

Thanks! I am blessed with a bigger chest, but have a rather flat butt, other than the fat around it. My goal is to build a booty to somewhat match the chest and to prevent sagging of the front.

You told me what I needed to know: add in more chest exercises while following this.

SAHNinja

canadianlbs wrote: »

smolmaus wrote: »

I don't think bench presses have any real effect on your boobs tho if that's what you're looking for.

upper back and shoulder work can improve your posture which does make subtle differences to your appearance, and of course benching seriously will grow the pecs themselves. but unfortunately your actual boobs are not muscles, so yeah.

I understand they are not muscle, but the surrounding muscle can help lift and otherwise make them more presentable, right? At least that's what I'm hoping for.

smolmaus

SAHNinja wrote: »

canadianlbs wrote: »

upper back and shoulder work can improve your posture which does make subtle differences to your appearance, and of course benching seriously will grow the pecs themselves. but unfortunately your actual boobs are not muscles, so yeah.

I understand they are not muscle, but the surrounding muscle can help lift and otherwise make them more presentable, right? At least that's what I'm hoping for.

I was hoping that too but so far no dice. I can flex my chest and you notice but it does nothing for how perky the girls are (not very). It can't hurt to get into bench pressing, I could make more effort with mine, but I wouldn't get your hopes up too much that it will significantly change how lifted your boobs are.

rainingribbons

SAHNinja wrote: »

I understand they are not muscle, but the surrounding muscle can help lift and otherwise make them more presentable, right? At least that's what I'm hoping for.

This is definitely true. When losing weight you're going to lose fat all over, so utilizing the Strong Curves program and eating an adequate amount of protein will help you retain (and even build at first due to newbie gains) a lot of muscle you currently have. Weight lifting helps shape your body as you're losing, and will give you a bit of a head start compared to if you wait until after losing the weight to begin a program (as Smolmaus mentioned, you won't have to worry about rebuilding any muscle lost while losing weight). If you find that the program isn't working the chest as much as you would like it to, you can always add in a chest exercise each workout, or check the back of the book for a chest exercise you can sub in instead.

SAHNinja

smolmaus wrote: »

SAHNinja wrote: »

canadianlbs wrote: »

upper back and shoulder work can improve your posture which does make subtle differences to your appearance, and of course benching seriously will grow the pecs themselves. but unfortunately your actual boobs are not muscles, so yeah.

I understand they are not muscle, but the surrounding muscle can help lift and otherwise make them more presentable, right? At least that's what I'm hoping for.

I was hoping that too but so far no dice. I can flex my chest and you notice but it does nothing for how perky the girls are (not very). It can't hurt to get into bench pressing, I could make more effort with mine, but I wouldn't get your hopes up too much that it will significantly change how lifted your boobs are.

That's sad news. Well, I can try it anyway. It can't hurt to do upper body and chest exercises. Main goal: be healthy. While I'm trying to obtain being healthy I may as well do my best to get my body how I want it within the healthy range. If the looks don't match up perfectly, well even models are photoshopped.

smolmaus

SAHNinja wrote: »

That's sad news. Well, I can try it anyway. It can't hurt to do upper body and chest exercises. Main goal: be healthy. While I'm trying to obtain being healthy I may as well do my best to get my body how I want it within the healthy range. If the looks don't match up perfectly, well even models are photoshopped.

That's a great attitude imo You can only be the best version of yourself! And working chest/ shoulders and back is great fun anyway, there is no downside!

not_a_runner

canadianlbs wrote: »

smolmaus wrote: »

I don't think bench presses have any real effect on your boobs tho if that's what you're looking for.

upper back and shoulder work can improve your posture which does make subtle differences to your appearance, and of course benching seriously will grow the pecs themselves. but unfortunately your actual boobs are not muscles, so yeah.

^ This

Back and shoulder work for strength/posture is especially important if you are larger chested. I would say more important than working the chest muscles actually.

Many women have a tendency to have tighter muscles in front, compared to their back and shoulders. (If you have a lot of weight in front, you're more likely to hunch forward, which can create muscular imbalance.) It's not uncommon for men who lift weights to have the same problem. Always working on their chest but neglecting their back.
If you are going to add any movements for your chest, be sure you are also adding some for you back and shoulders to balance.

Hopefully that made sense and didn't create more confusion..




Definitely start lifting now. That way you can maintain, or even build a bit more muscle while you work towards your goal weight.

SAHNinja

not_a_runner wrote: »

canadianlbs wrote: »

smolmaus wrote: »

I don't think bench presses have any real effect on your boobs tho if that's what you're looking for.

upper back and shoulder work can improve your posture which does make subtle differences to your appearance, and of course benching seriously will grow the pecs themselves. but unfortunately your actual boobs are not muscles, so yeah.

^ This

Back and shoulder work for strength/posture is especially important if you are larger chested. I would say more important than working the chest muscles actually.

Many women have a tendency to have tighter muscles in front, compared to their back and shoulders. (If you have a lot of weight in front, you're more likely to hunch forward, which can create muscular imbalance.) It's not uncommon for men who lift weights to have the same problem. Always working on their chest but neglecting their back.
If you are going to add any movements for your chest, be sure you are also adding some for you back and shoulders to balance.

Hopefully that made sense and didn't create more confusion..




Definitely start lifting now. That way you can maintain, or even build a bit more muscle while you work towards your goal weight.

I didn't think about that. Definitely noted, and will look into the back and shoulders as well! I'm brand new to weight lifting. I am rather scared to do so by myself. Any ideas for how to safely do them alone? Lesser weights than my max? Stop just before failure? I cannot afford a personal trainer and don't have anyone who can go with me at the moment.

not_a_runner

SAHNinja wrote: »

not_a_runner wrote: »

canadianlbs wrote: »

smolmaus wrote: »

I don't think bench presses have any real effect on your boobs tho if that's what you're looking for.

upper back and shoulder work can improve your posture which does make subtle differences to your appearance, and of course benching seriously will grow the pecs themselves. but unfortunately your actual boobs are not muscles, so yeah.

^ This

Back and shoulder work for strength/posture is especially important if you are larger chested. I would say more important than working the chest muscles actually.

Many women have a tendency to have tighter muscles in front, compared to their back and shoulders. (If you have a lot of weight in front, you're more likely to hunch forward, which can create muscular imbalance.) It's not uncommon for men who lift weights to have the same problem. Always working on their chest but neglecting their back.
If you are going to add any movements for your chest, be sure you are also adding some for you back and shoulders to balance.

Hopefully that made sense and didn't create more confusion..




Definitely start lifting now. That way you can maintain, or even build a bit more muscle while you work towards your goal weight.

I didn't think about that. Definitely noted, and will look into the back and shoulders as well! I'm brand new to weight lifting. I am rather scared to do so by myself. Any ideas for how to safely do them alone? Lesser weights than my max? Stop just before failure? I cannot afford a personal trainer and don't have anyone who can go with me at the moment.

I'll admit I haven't read the Strong Curves book myself... but from what I've heard it's pretty comprehensive and would most likely answer a lot of your questions. Seems like a solid program for a beginner.
The movements are explained in detail, and I'm sure they touch on how heavy/close to failure you should be lifting.
The templates I've seen incorporate back and shoulder movements, etc.

rileyes

I did strong curves and it was great for full body. I thought about the boobs too when losing fat and building muscle. The result was my boobs shrank -- less weight/less sag in my case.

rainingribbons

One of the great things about the Strong Curves book is that Bret provided a massive glossary at the back of the book for each exercise (above image is an example of what to expect from the reference pages). In each of the programs he tells you exactly what page of the glossary you can find the exercise on. My recommendation is to look at each exercise for the day's workout in the glossary before you begin so that you can read up on his tips and how-to's. You can always use lighter weights to practice the form, and if you're still having issues performing form correctly or don't understand something in the glossary reference YouTube videos. (:

HoneyBadger302

SAHNinja wrote: »

I understand they are not muscle, but the surrounding muscle can help lift and otherwise make them more presentable, right? At least that's what I'm hoping for.

Probably depends on their build on your body, but for me (I do not have a large chest) between the size loss (my boobs are the first tribute to any weight loss LOL), and building up the muscles, they start to appear a LOT "perkier" than they do without

Niki_Fitz

SAHNinja wrote: »

I've seen a a few posts that recommend the book Strong Curves for building a booty. I know it also has a program for more than just the booty. Does it also help with shaping and firming the chest? Also, I am still way overweight. Should I start it now or wait until I'm a little closer to goal bmi?

I bought the book, followed the beginner program, and although I never lifted on my own before I got hooked on the workouts and the results. I’d recommend it! It gives you aesthetic results and good muscle balance, in my opinion. I just started the beginner program for a second run with more resistance.

DebLaBounty

Don’t wait to exercise. It’ll help you retain muscle mass.