Cable crossovers?

T

trevor

Guest
I just read in a training magazine that cable crossovers are a waste of time. Does anyone do these and gain any noticeable benefit/burn from doing them? I used to do them but scrapped them from my workout regimen.
Trevor :)
 
What was their reasoning behind that statement? Why did you scrap them? Did you feel they were doing you any good?
 
It's in summer 2002 issue of Muscle Media Special Issue Training Guide page 27. Someone wrote in and asked about the crossovers and the answer was "the pecs were designed for power, and teasing them with this silly move is a waste of your time." But they give no reason for why they consider it silly.
I always felt I got the same effect from flyes so I just stopped doing 'em.
Anyone here do them and like them?
Trevor
 
I seem to recall learning somewhere that the fly is more of a shaping movement and that the press is a (muscle) building movement. My guess is that this was the opinion of someone who is committed to putting on size and doesn't feel the cable cross over contributes towards this goal as effectively as other movements. I'd say you are fine with or without the cable crossovers. But I'd be sure then to do the fly for some chest variation. Although... you'd think that there is something beneficial about the constant tension of the cable...

There is a chest move I do that I have only seen done by Margaret Richard of Body Electric. You hold a dumbbell in each hand, having your arms straight down from the shoulders, along the sides, in a hammer curl position (palms facing the sides of your body). Now, simultaneously think about contracting the chest muscles really hard while your arms rotate in front of your body; your palms will now be facing you. That's it. There may be a variation of body building pose that uses this finish position to show off the chest.

I swear, I really feel this in the inner portions of the chest. It is all in the squeeze of the muscles. I often through in a set of these at the end of my chest workout. Because it is the squeeze that is so important, you don't need a lot of weight.

Jeanne
 

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