Vince Gironda | Bodybuilding Muscle Fitness Trainer | Wild Physique

Contrary to popular opinion, you cannot produce localized spot reduction by performing a few sets of sit-ups every day. Only nutritional dieting and high activity training with minimum rest periods will cause weight loss. Heart and lung function are very important to emulsify fat.

Because they obtain the best blood supply in the body, the abdominals do not have to be worked with dozens of sets of high reps every day. Simply work the abs using 8-12 reps with 4-5 sets per exercise.

I've never understood why male bodybuilders want to build huge, bulbous chest muscles. The pectorals or "pecs" run across the top of the rib cage and should be slablike in appearance, not bulging and hanging from sheer weight.

You have to add muscle in the proper places. Slap it on where it counts.

Was there ever a hero who didn't have broad shoulders?

Remember that the shoulders are a three headed muscle. The front, side and rear deltoid heads are joined around the shoulder area to form a rounded, melonlike mass.

For full development, each head has to be trained individually with specific exercises.

One of Vinces favorite exercises for the side delt was a variation on the upright row. He called them "high pulls."

- Overhand grip on the bar about shoulder-width apart.

- At the "low position" the bar rests on the front of the thighs and the elbows are slightly bent.

- With the elbows pulled high the bar is raised to about the top of your head.

- At the raised position, the bar should be about 12 inches (30 cm) in front of the head.

The most overworked muscle is the Front Deltoid (presses); bringing out this aspect of the Deltoid does not add to your width, it only makes you look thicker! How do you develop the lateral head of the Deltoid? Lateral Raises. However Lateral Raises improperly performed develops Front Deltoid. the proper way to bring out the Side Strand is to start the Lateral Raise touching dumbbells in front of the thighs with all four bells touching; elbows slightly bent and raise to the side, keeping the weights in front of the body all the way up to ear level (no higher).

Now for the most important part of the movement: The Front Bell must be lower than the Rear Bell. If the Front Bell is higher you are working the overworked Front Deltoid again. Remember, all bench presses and dumbbells work with the dumbbells held with palms facing the lower body are 90 degree Front Deltoid.

Another aspect of Laterals is to round your shoulders forward and also use your elbows as a concentration point. In other words, lead with your elbows - and last, but not least - keep your knees slightly bent during the exercise. And always work in front of a mirror to catch any flaws in your performance.

(IronMan Magazine Jan 1977 Vol. 36 No. 2)