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The workout to pump up your pecs

Pack on serious mass with this five-move chest workout by utilizing the "mind-muscle connection".

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Incline Bench Press
Darrin Klimek / Getty
Incline Bench Press
Darrin Klimek / Getty

For a lot of serious bodybuilders, it’s simply not enough to lift the weights—they take the extra mental step of actively thinking about the body parts they’re working, too (an effort intended to will the muscles into cooperation). Of course, it’s not something science can prove—at least not yet—but thousands of successful lifters with incredible physiques swear by the so-called “mind-muscle” technique. (Who are we to argue?)

Here’s a workout designed to help you tap into that unexplainable yet undeniable connection, and grow a bigger chest in just six weeks.

How it works

When you train biceps or calves, you feel the muscles working and burning right away. But many guys have trouble feeling their pecs work in the same fashion. Exercises like the hex press force you to concentrate on the contraction in your pecs throughout the entire set, increasing the muscle activation. This program also uses dumbbell and pushup movements that offer more range of motion than barbell-pressing does. We haven’t neglected strength, however: The incline bench press targets the chest even more intensely than the conventional flat bench press, and it’s easier on the shoulders. You can load it up and go heavy to give your pecs the maximum growth stimulus.

The Deep Chest Workout

The deep chest workout

Build up your pecs in just four weeks.

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Directions

Perform this workout once per week, and give yourself at least two full days of rest before any extra shoulders training. Perform the exercises as straight sets, completing all the sets for one move before going on to the next. Rest as needed between sets, but keep the pace intense throughout.

For more pecs workouts:

Check out 10 exercises to develop the best pecs in the gym, the deep chest workout, and the chest workout for huge, defined pecs.

For a complete archive of our daily quick-hit routines, go to mensfitness.com/todaysworkout.

Routine

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Today's Workout

The workout to pump up your pecs

Exercise
Equipment
Sets
Reps
Rest
Exercise 1 of 5

Dumbbell Hex Press

Equipment
Dumbbells
Sets
3
Reps
10
Rest
90 sec.
Exercise 2 of 5

Dumbbell Bench Press

Equipment
Dumbbells
Sets
4
Reps
8
Rest
90 sec.
Exercise 3 of 5

Incline Bench Press

Equipment
Barbell
Sets
3
Reps
6
Rest
90 sec.
Exercise 4 of 5

Incline Dumbbell Flye

Equipment
Dumbbells
Sets
3
Reps
12
Rest
90 sec.
Exercise 5 of 5

Pushup

Equipment
Sets
3
Reps
As many as possible
Rest
90 sec.
How to
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