Chest muscle question

withchaco

Okay. I have a problem.

I have very little fat on my upper torso. In my upper chest area just above the boobs, you can see hints of the ribs!!!!! Yet the rest of my body has plenty of fat to lose. My lower belly, in particular, is bulging out.

How can I fix this? I don't want no ribs pokin' out, and I don't want all this flab around my waist, either.

If I build more chest muscle, will that cover up the ribs?

kevinsherrell

that sounds more like your Obliques. Generally though you want to target all muscles to grow, especially the big mucle groups like Chest, Back, Legs. Focus on big compound exercises and the smaller muscles will follow.

kvhmc

It isn't the oblique muscles, those are below your breasts, it's your pectoral muscles (pecs) that are above so yes if you exercise them then they will increase in size and so your ribs will become less obvious. To lose the fat it's just the same as what everyone says; eat healthily, perform a range of cardio and strength exercises, and just make sure you're burning more calories than eating

doughnutwretch

You can't spot reduce on fat so continue to maintain a caloric deficit to lose fat everywhere and strength train to build muscle. Training chest will certainly help define and build the muscle but won't necessarily cover the view of ribs.

withchaco

Thanks. Yeah, I know spot reduction is impossible, hence the problem. I guess I'll have to really increase the size of my pecs, which is going to be a challenge since I'm a woman...!

ninerbuff

Okay. I have a problem.

I have very little fat on my upper torso. In my upper chest area just above the boobs, you can see hints of the ribs!!!!! Yet the rest of my body has plenty of fat to lose. My lower belly, in particular, is bulging out.

How can I fix this? I don't want no ribs pokin' out, and I don't want all this flab around my waist, either.

If I build more chest muscle, will that cover up the ribs?

You're talking the breast bone?

withchaco

Okay. I have a problem.

I have very little fat on my upper torso. In my upper chest area just above the boobs, you can see hints of the ribs!!!!! Yet the rest of my body has plenty of fat to lose. My lower belly, in particular, is bulging out.

How can I fix this? I don't want no ribs pokin' out, and I don't want all this flab around my waist, either.

If I build more chest muscle, will that cover up the ribs?

You're talking the breast bone?

Not 100% sure what it's called, but it's between the collar bones and the breasts. I think it's part of the ribcage.

ninerbuff

Breast bone. Okay so then building chest muscle will help to cover it up, but to build muscle you'll have to be in calorie surplus which means you'll probably stop losing weight. Kinda sucks, but it's almost impossible to do both at the same time.

withchaco

Breast bone. Okay so then building chest muscle will help to cover it up, but to build muscle you'll have to be in calorie surplus which means you'll probably stop losing weight. Kinda sucks, but it's almost impossible to do both at the same time.

Well, it's good to know there's hope at least. I'll do both, just not simultaneously.

trelm249

Go ahead and start doing the bench presses and other strength training to condition the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The muscle you have already will firm up and enlarge somewhat because it is actually used.

That way it is ready when you are ready for the next phase.

withchaco

Thanks! I will do that