8 x 8 Method For Chest Training
Conventional bodybuilding wisdom tells us that we can’t build muscle and
lose fat at the same time and any such overly ambitious effort will only
lead to frustration and even loss of precious muscle mass, and it’s much
smarter to separate these goals into two separate phases of the training
process.
Yet a deeper inspection into the subject reveals that accomplishing both
ends simultaneously is not an impossible goal after all, at least not for
individuals who have the right combination of favorable genetics,
substantial amount of experience and rigorous dietary discipline
But what about the normal guys like yourself, who lack one or more of
these requirements
THE 8×8 PROGRAM METHOD
The eccentric bodybuilding guru Vince Gironda strongly believed that
anyone, yes anyone, can increase his lean mass while getting rid of excess
fat for good at the same time.
And he didn’t only believe that to be true – he created a simple
regime based on an 8×8 training pattern that can allow any dedicated
lifter to accomplish this goal.
And why not? Believe it or not, your genetics are not the most
important factor in determining your bodybuilding success.
Training hard with the right tools can help you make the most out of what
you were born with and get you as close as possible to the physique of
your dreams
The 8×8 program basically means that you will perform 8 reps of an
exercise for 8 sets.
You can use this approach to effectively train any body part by using
relatively heavy weights and short rest pauses between sets
Since we know how much you love training your chest, we created this
killer chest workout based on the 8×8 approach.
Use 70% of you 1RM and take only 30 seconds of rest between each
set.
If the weight is too heavy, you’ll soon know it. Still, be prepared to
drop reps before lowering the weight, and strive for week-by-week weight
progression.
Thanks to the high intensity of the workout, you’ll experience great
metabolic ramping, rapid chest growth and stunning fat loss benefits
Barbell Bench Press
Unrack the bar and slowly lower it towards your chest until it almost
touches it.
It should take you around 3 seconds to perform this part of the
lift.
Without pausing at the bottom, explosively lift the bar back up until
your elbows lock out
Repeat the movement for 8 reps, then rest for 30 seconds and go again
until you complete a total of 8 sets.
It’s okay if you can’t pull off 8 reps on every set – just try to give
your maximum and don’t go below 5 reps.
A severe burning sensation in the chest will indicate that you’ve done it
right
Make sure to get a spotter as it’s highly likely that you will fail
Dumbbell Flyes
Lie down on a flat bench and lift the dumbbells in front of you at
shoulder width, making sure that the palms of your hands face each
other.
Slightly bend your elbows, then slowly lower your arms out at the sides
in a wide arc until you feel a good stretch in the chest
muscles.
Raise the weights back to the starting position and repeat
Aim to complete 8 sets of 8 reps with 30 seconds of rest between
sets
Incline Dumbbell Press
Lie back on an incline bench set to a 30-degree angle, holding a pair of
dumbbells.
Lift the weights above you at shoulder width with the palms facing
out.
Slowly lower the weights down for 3 seconds, then explosively push them
back up.
Make sure to perform the movement under maximum control
Repeat until you complete 8 sets of 8 reps with 30 seconds of rest
Smith Machine Decline Press
By now your chest should be pretty decently fatigued, so it’s time to
hit it even harder and squeeze out all remaining power from your muscle
fibers
For this movement, you will place a declined bench under the Smith
machine and set the bar at a height that’s reachable from a lying
position with almost fully extended arms.
Using a grip that’s only slightly wider than shoulder width, unlock the
bar and slowly lower it down until it touches your chest.
Pause for a moment before returning to the starting position, then go
again until you complete 8 sets of 8 reps.
Take no more than 30 seconds of rest between sets
Incline Cable Flyes
This will be your finisher, so make it brutal
Place an incline bench (45-degree angle) between two pulleys.
Grab a handle with each hand, lie on the bench, extend your arms and
bring your hands together in front of your face.
Maintaining a slight bend at the elbows, slowly lower your arms out at
the sides in a wide arc until your chest is fully stretched.
Bring the arms back to the starting position and repeat until completing
8 sets until failure, allowing yourself only 20 seconds of rest between
sets
The 8×8 workout routine has fantastic results for many
bodybuilders from all types of backgrounds, so as long as you are
consistent there’s no reason why it shouldn’t work great for you
too.
You can apply it to any body part to get a really good pump and improve
conditioning, and it works especially great for arm training.
Use it until you get the results you’re looking for, but not more than
twice per week, as you will need plenty of rest to repair the damage
That being said, if your objective is increasing strength, it’s best to
skip this regime and find a workout that’s more suitable for strength
gains.
But if you’re trying to lean down while increasing muscle size at the
same time, this workout will prove to be the most effective one you’ve
ever tried
