How to Get Arnold's Chest

Arnold Schwarzenegger has long been known for his impressive pectoral muscles. From the very beginning of his bodybuilding career, Arnold wooed audiences with massive side chest poses of striated muscle. These days, few bodybuilders really possess the same quality of pectoral development that Arnold had, but here is a sample workout routine that will help you build huge pecs like him.

Exercise #1: Bench Press - A favorite of Arnold, and a staple in any chest workout. Arnold liked to pyramid the resistance up to around 400 pounds for reps. Start with a couple of warm-up sets, then perform the following:

4 sets of 8 to 10 reps, progressing with heavier weight for each set.
On the 5th set, do one giant drop set to really feel the burn.

Exercise #2: Incline Bench Press - Using a high angle to really target the upper pecs.

4 sets of 8 to 10 reps

Exercise #3: Flat Dumbbell Fly - Keep the elbows bent at around a 45 degree angle, and really focus on stretching the pectorals. Use a fairly heavy weight and keep your chest expanded during the movement.

5 sets of 12 to 15 reps

Exercise #4: Wide-Bar Dips - The wider bar placement transfers more of the work to the lower chest, helping to carve out the separation of the chest to the armpit. If you have shoulder pain, do not go below the upper arms being parallel to the floor.

3 sets to failure using bodyweight.

By incorporating the variety of angles used in these exercises, you can develop an impressive chest that Arnold would envy. With the amount of sets and heavier weights that are being used, ample nutrition is essential to muscle recovery and growth. Protein and branch chain amino acids are key nutrients for recuperating from this intense workout.

With time, commitment, and proper nutrition, you too can build a chest that impresses just about anyone.