CHEST WORK

[mari27]

Hi Cathe,
I have noticed in most of the weight training you teach you do alot of chest work.
I love weights but my problem is when I am lifting and do chest my breast shrink to almost nothing(don't like that.)
So how bad would it be if I did chest only once a week or minimized it severely or completely remove it from my exercise routine.
Can you give me the pros and cons.
Thank you,
Marisol

 

[FitnessGoddess]

Hi Marisol,

Obviously not Cathe but I think I might be able to put your mind at rest with chest work--kind of.

I don't think it is the weight work that is reducing the size of your breast. What is more likely happening is a reduction of body fat (that's what breast tissue is made of, unfortunately). I know there are many women that complain of reduction in breast size being the first thing to go when losing weight (myself included). In fact, you got me thinking. Look for a new post over in Open Discussion. It will be a "poll" type question.

 

[kathryn]

I agree with Deborah, it's overall body fat reduction that is reducing the size of your breasts. If you eliminate chest work, not only will you risk muscle imbalance, you will not gain the benefits of developing the pectoral muscles, which will help support what breast tissue you have and give you some "muscular cleavage." It's too bad we can't keep our breast size while reducing the amount of fat our bodies carry. I always gain last and lose first in the chest, with the opposite happening in the lower half!