From a Pear: building upper body mass while keeping lower body slim and toned

[running strong]

I know this question has probably been asked and is in the minds of many a person attempting to get in the best shape possible.

I recently lost 10 pounds due to health problems and have gained most of it back, thankfully. While I loved the slimming effect it had on my legs, my arms and chest looked too skinny (I am also small chested). My body fat percentage is low, and I would like to gain 5-10 pounds of lean muscle mass.

I understand that you cannot choose where extra weight goes, however what is the KEY to gaining upper body mass and strength while keeping the legs, hips and glutes slim and toned??

I believe I am in very good shape, love to workout and eat clean 90% of the time. I love STS and LIS.

I would so appreciate yours, or anyone else's help and advice.

Thank you from a fellow pear

 

[maddiesmum]

Hi:

there is no rule out there that you need to train the whole body according to one particular approach. I haven't done so for years. I am not a pear, but I am a runner and therefore I am more interested in increasing the endurance training for my lower body, whereas my scrawny upper body needs muscle! So I prefert o train the upper body with the heaviest weights I can lift.

So for a long while I used Cathe's Slow & Heavy exclusively for upper body, for several months at a time. It is the only program of Cathe's really (except maybe STS now) that allowed me to add muscle to my upper body frame. Then, I train the lower body for endurance with high reps, or medium weights, high intensity, frequent workouts.

it works for me. Build your own program.

Clare