My left side growing faster than my right side!!! Help! (1300+ reps)

[ZincYellow03]

Ok guys, My right shoulder, arm and pec is slightly smaller than my left side. I am weaker on the right side as well. I always do dumbell bench presses to even them out but still right side is smaller.

Today i did some push ups and took some pics and noticed my right trap is smaller and less defined than left one and it pisses me off!!

any suggestion on how to even them out? I really am planning to stop working the left side completely and just work the right side with dumbells untill they are even.

I will post pics as soon as I upload them tonight so please keep an eye to this thread.

thanks!

P.S. I am right handed

[Mr.BigLegs]

Just do 2-3 more reps on the right side than the left. It should catch up. Also make sure on the exercises you are using both sides to push or pull evenly. Don't push with the left side on the bench press more than the right side for example.

[8footballQB]

Ok guys, My right shoulder, arm and pec is slightly smaller than my left side. I am weaker on the right side as well. I always do dumbell bench presses to even them out but still right side is smaller.

Today i did some push ups and took some pics and noticed my right trap is smaller and less defined than left one and it pisses me off!!

any suggestion on how to even them out? I really am planning to stop working the left side completely and just work the right side with dumbells untill they are even.

I will post pics as soon as I upload them tonight so please keep an eye to this thread.

thanks!

maybe try dumbbells for thins like bench press. this way you wont be pushing with one side more than the other

[Lifter4Life59]

i personally think that stopping your workouts for ur strong side is not a good idea. I've seen many people post about this type of prob and I feel the best answer to ur problem is to continue working your two sides but possibly add more sets to ur smaller side. I would also say to continue to use dumbells in ur bench and many of ur exercises. If you are bulking just keep eating and training. You may also want to switch up your workouts and see if they can help you train your smaller side better.

Do you favor your left side when you do exercises with barbells? If so you can try to concentrate using your weak side more on exercises such as pull ups (maybe do one arm ones) one arm push ups, bb upright rows (or switch those to dumbells) and bb rows (or again switch these to dumbells). Hope this helps ya out. Remember to genetics can be a b*tch sometimes

edit: here is a forum that could help, also use the advanced search function just type in uneven and it will give you a ton of threads.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...ghlight=uneven

[Jim_C]

Pics?

Alot of times this stuff is all in our heads. Not saying that you don't have an imbalance, it just may not be as bad as you think.

When doing dumbbell exercises you could try using a dumbbell 5 pounds less on your strong side for the same amount of reps as the weak side.

That or do an extra set on the weak side. (Like has already been said)

[TheSoldier]

Ok guys, My right shoulder, arm and pec is slightly smaller than my left side. I am weaker on the right side as well. I always do dumbell bench presses to even them out but still right side is smaller.

Today i did some push ups and took some pics and noticed my right trap is smaller and less defined than left one and it pisses me off!!

any suggestion on how to even them out? I really am planning to stop working the left side completely and just work the right side with dumbells untill they are even.

I will post pics as soon as I upload them tonight so please keep an eye to this thread.

thanks!

P.S. I am right handed

I have the exact same problem
Just keep doing the dumbbell presses and if you deadlift try using double overhand or switch up the reverse grips

Hope you fix the problem

[void0308]

There are three main ways in which to improve these kinds of imbalances:
1. Use dumbbells instead of barbells (you are doing this already)
2. Do additional sets of each exercise on the weaker side
3. Make sure you get the form right. Incorrect posture (i.e. always leaning to one side during sets of shrugs, etc.) as well as improper form can lead to such imbalances. Sometimes a medical issue is to blame (i.e. scoliosis) so you may want to rule this out as well.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

[drd0013]

I have this issue with my abs... scoliosis, but as they get more defined and i focus more on the right it's less noticable.
Also messes with my shoulder presses as my right arm will go higher than my left unless i really focus... sucks
Not sure if it can cause your whole body to be different but may get it checked out.

Could just be form such as tilting the bar higher on one side etc. if you keep working with dumbells and so a couple extra reps on the weak side should even out.
Don't stop the left. That's stupid lol.

[ZincYellow03]

thanks guys!

here are the pics I was talking about:



right arm smaller:



again right arm smaller and right trap not defined:





relaxed standing back pic, it is clear that my traps arent balance

[ZincYellow03]

smaller pec and trap clearly visible here as well (I just had breakfast and large protein shake on top of it so my stomach looks like fat but it is not really like that. FYI)

[void0308]

The imbalance is definitely there, but if you hadn't pointed it out in this thread it wouldn't immediately be noticeable. Just follow the 3 suggestions I outlined above and you should bring the symmetry in no time.

[8footballQB]

i do notice the imbalance that's interesting, it is pretty common but im not sure how to solve it. could be genetic or maybe if you are a lefty that side gets worked more

[ZincYellow03]

those who haven't gotten any reps from me yet, I want you to know, I am waiting for recharge.

when I workout, I push more with my left arm automaticly because it is stronger and I feel more burn fron the left side compare to the right side. I try to avoid it but it still happens. I will try to do nothing but use dumbells.

[void0308]

If you're forced to, you might want to lower the weight a bit on both arms. Use a weight that would be your 8-10 rep max for your weaker side and continually upgrade this weight until the 8-10 rep max weight is even for both arms. Your stronger arm won't be maxing out/feeling the pump for a while, but that is how you will know your weaker side is catching up.

[DJAuto]

The imbalance isn't as noticeable as you may think.

However, correct your technique and push/pull evenly.

[caboosegoboom]

uni-lateral movements?
maybe u have scoliosis, just a thought

[Justios]

Hey zincyellow
I have this same problem, my left chest is bigger while my right shoulder, trap and back is bigger. I don't understand it, it is quite frustrating. I hate chest day.
BUT from your pics, you really aren't that bad, I know..I know people tell me that too but its annoying when you put on a shirt and one side feels like its sticking out further!
Anyways, I don't have any advice as I haven't figured mine out yet, but you have good chest development over all, what does your chest routine look like?
BUMP for a good thread

[Lifter4Life59]

can definitely see the imbalance, its not terrible and i really didnt notice the difference in the pecs until i saw the arms folded across ur chest. im assuming ur bulking since ur trying to grow so just follow the earlier advice i gave and what many others are saying and keep eating. Hopefully as you grow it will catch up, good luck dude!

[Frankdaddy]

Ok guys, My right shoulder, arm and pec is slightly smaller than my left side. I am weaker on the right side as well. I always do dumbell bench presses to even them out but still right side is smaller.

Today i did some push ups and took some pics and noticed my right trap is smaller and less defined than left one and it pisses me off!!

any suggestion on how to even them out? I really am planning to stop working the left side completely and just work the right side with dumbells untill they are even.

I will post pics as soon as I upload them tonight so please keep an eye to this thread.

thanks!

P.S. I am right handed

Well honestly bro if you learn anything about bodybuilding within the next few years of your lifting career, you will learn that symmetry is a big deal with competing. The reason symmetry is a big deal is because its the balance of eachside of your body, left to right, top from bottom. Everybody has a symmetry imbalance, but some people improve it (and its IMPOSSIBLE to make perfect) so you can balance it out more, which you will want to attempt to do before getting too much muscle on one side, which will make it very hard to catch the lacking side up. Focusing on that side more during all lifts will help a lot. Stopping to work that entire side will just kill your fun during a workout by making it very difficult. Have fun, and just focus all on that side with more squeezing. You arent that off so you shouldnt worry, nobody will ever notice when you walk around with your shirt off!

Keep up the good work as you have a good base, but focus on them now that they are apparent to you, and you can fix them easier! Good luck bro

[Hatmanii]

I second, third, and fourth the extra 2-3 reps per set on unilateral movements. Everyone has an imbalance, it's just a matter of evening things out. Don't worry about it man, it will get there if you put the effort into it. Just make sure form is picture perfect, and that you are keeping things even when using barbells.

*edit* Also get that mind muscle connection going, and make sure if you use any alternated grips on exercises, be it shrugs, deadlifts, etc... make sure you are switching it up every set. Good luck man!

[httrdd007]

Try doing a drop set every set on the weak side for a while! Hope this helps!

[Attacus]

I've never thought that not exercising one side or doing extra sets on another was a good approach to solving this problem.

To start evening it out, I would stick to dumbbells for awhile. This will force your weak half to work independently of the other half and thus stimulate it harder. With barbells, you can use one side to bear more of the load.

Second, I would pick a weight within the hypertrophy range (8-12) for your weak side and stop when it gets tired, even if your strong side can go on. This way you still work out the strong side and focus on the weak side, without exercising asymmetrically.

Third, and IMO most important. These types of problems have a tendency to correct themselves over time. Eventually you will begin to reach a plateau at which point the weaker side will have a chance to catch up. Just keep working hard, don't neglect the DBs and focus on evenly contracting\squeezing your muscles.

Also, it is important to bear in mind that a lot of the pros struggle with symmetry, so don't worry so much about it. Most of the time you are your own worst critic with these things. Honestly, had you not mentioned I probably would not have noticed. Of all the imbalances, your traps seem to be the most obvious.... DB Shrugs!

Good luck

[AaronJF]

It looks like your posture might be affecting how the traps look. But everyone has imbalances/asymetry to some extent, even the pros. The bigger you get the less noticable it becomes and it isn't even noticable now.

[lancs_hotpot]

I have the same problem everything on my left side is exactly half an inch smaller than my right and slightly weaker. I think the only thing you can do is keep training as you are. Your left side should catch up eventually, if not then it may just be how you are. Although my left is still slightly smaller it has improved greatly.

Dont train one side of your body, silly idea.

[Kaz85]

At a glance the only thing noticeable is your trap, but even I wouldnt worry too much about the rest, I have a left arm 1 inch smaller then my right, we just gotta keep working at it.